Meridian's White Hill Wind Farm Cleared To Plan

Media Release
For immediate release: 1 February 2005

Meridian Energy clear to plan for White Hill wind farm development

With no appeals against its proposed White Hill wind farm in Southland, stateowned power company Meridian Energy is now turning its attention to how best to implement the project.

The Southland District Council granted consent for the project after a three-day hearing late last year, and Meridian Chief Executive Keith Turner says the absence of any appeals demonstrates the widespread public support for the proposal.

“There seems to be a growing recognition that renewable energy, and particularly wind, is the technology of today and the future and the way to keep New Zealand a clean and attractive country.”

However, he acknowledged the small number of opponents to the scheme, and says the opposing views expressed during the resource consent process would be taken seriously.

“We want to assure those who objected that we have listened to them, and that we look forward to working with them so that we achieve the best outcome for all Southlanders.”

Dr Turner says the company has no date for the start of construction in mind at this stage, but will now focus on detailed planning and procurement.

Meridian has a long-term agreement with Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas which supplied the turbines for its recently-opened Te Apiti wind farm in the Manawatu, although no final decision has been made on what size of machine will be used at White Hill.

At its proposed 70 MW capacity, the development, near Mossburn in northern Southland, could power all the 30,000 houses in the Southland District and Invercargill City area.

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