NZ Wind Energy: Hayes Decision Raises The Bar For Wind farms
November 18th, 2009
Wind farm proposals will have to include far more consideration of pure aesthetics, major landscapes, and commerciality if the standards set by the Project Hayes decision from the Environment Court stand. RMA specialists are still pouring over the lengthy decision, but some of the key points to emerge so far include: The Court has found Meridian’s economic cost-benefit analysis was insufficient to demonstrate the Hayes wind farm in the Lammermoor Ranges of Central Otago was a superior option to others. This continues an emerging trend for the Court to take economic rather than purely environmental impact considerations into account in its decisions.
The decision also raises the bar on how to think about landscapes. In the Hayes decision, the absence of people living in or regularly travelling through the area where the giant 630MW project would have gone is not a factor. The landscape was judged to be intrinsically valuable in its own right. The Court also took the view Meridian had been too narrow in only regarding the area of the development as the affected landscape, rather than the whole expanse around the site. Ironically, it seems a development of this size close to a population centre might have stood a better chance of getting a consent. Similar issues have arisen in the Contact Raglan wind farm application, despite the fact almost no one lives on or visits the bleak western coastline where it would be situated. Meridian is expected to appeal the decision.
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