Renewable Energy? Yes, but not at any price
The outstanding Pauatahanui skyline is currently proposed as the site for one of the largest wind farms in the world. Up to 50 turbines, 130m high are planned on Greater Wellington Regional Council and private land in and around Pauatahanui. The proposed Puketiro wind farm will have significant visual impacts for Pauatahanui, Whitby, and other surrounding areas stretching as far as Porirua and the Hutt Valley. Many homes will be located close to turbines.
What will you be affected by?
- Landscape and visual impacts
- Noise and low frequency vibration
- Shadow flicker
- Flashing aviation lights
- Altered property values & LIM report additions
- Construction and roading disruption?
Use these pages to find out more, get involved and have your say. Our website will be continually updated to keep you informed and let you know how you can take action.
Who are we?
Preserve Pauatahanui Society consists of a group of concerned residents who wish to ensure that any wind-farm development in the Pauatahanui region proceeds only if it is sited in an environmentally sustainable way that is responsible to the community.
Many Pauatahanui residents believe the price we will pay for the planned Puketiro wind-farm project is too high both as a community and especially for those whose homes are located close to wind turbines. Many others are completely unaware that this being planned on their doorstep.
Dr Morgan Williams, 2006 Commissioner for the Environment, in Wind Power, People and Place, has astutely observed. “Large collections of giant turbines alienate communities, damage sensitive ecosystems and destroy cherished landscapes”. He goes on to say sensitively planned, smaller projects are preferable.
Our Goals
- Protect the iconic Pauatahanui landscape from irreversible damage caused by wind-farm development.
- To ensure wind-farm development in Pauatahanui is kept a safe distance from residents and rural residential areas.
- Provide a point for residents to research the planned Puketiro wind farm development.
- Inform residents of key dates in the development of the wind-farm.
- Promote collaboration between the community, local and regional councils with respect to the Puketiro wind farm development.
In essence we oppose unregulated corporate construction and administration of wind farms. We believe they will result in a litter of competing think-big wind installations, not only in our community but throughout New Zealand. This phenomenon is fast becoming an epidemic spreading across the country, affecting many communities in its wake.
With no settled national criteria for accessing wind-farm applications local and regional councils are left developing an ad-hoc approach. A more satisfactory and less costly method rather than relying on the unpredictability of the RMA and environment court urgently needs to be found both for residents and developers.
Market-based solutions to our energy problems are no solution as they create more environmental problems than they solve.
