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Turbines on proposed windfarm on Northern Kaimai Ranges will overlook Paeroa
Credit: Jill Cleave | Waikato Times | July 5, 2017 | www.stuff.co.nz ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
The proposed wind farm on the northern end of the Kaimai Ranges has been a matter of concern for farmers in the Rotokahu Rd area since the announcement at the beginning of the year.
A public meeting was held at Tirohia School in March so residents could find out more and have their say.
Communications manager for Kaimai Wind Farm Mordecai Matan said the company wanted to be as transparent as possible as they investigated the development of the farm.
“We have condensed all questions we have received from the community, into a question and answer format on the website,” he said.
A common concern which arose at the meeting was about the noise the turbines will generate.
Matan said an acoustics engineer, Dr Stephen Chiles, has compared the noise to common everyday sounds.
“At the typical distance of the nearest houses to a wind farm, which is between 500 metres and one kilometre, the overall sound is generally a bland indistinct low-level sound, sometimes compared to the sound of waves on a beach,” he said.
The sound levels outside houses are similar to the sound levels normally experienced inside a quiet library, or from people talking in hushed voices.
Rotokahu Rd resident Des Hunt said the noise might not be loud but it will be persistent.
“Its like someone poking at you with their finger continually, after a while you get sick of it,” he said.
Matan said it was proposed to install up 26 wind turbines on privately owned land with the final number being determined following investigation and consultation.
“After consultation with affected parties this has now been reduced to 24 and no part of the turbines will overhang DOC land and at present data is being gathered and processed to determine species which may be affected by the turbines.”
Normally key species at risk from turbines are bats, New Zealand Falcon and migratory birds. Preliminary results show some bat life further south of the site and no presence of Falcon or migration birds. The analysis will be completed mid 2017 and will be shared with the public.
Positive outcomes for the community include increased security of electricity supply, construction and maintenance work, clean energy for up to 49,000 houses, a reduction of CO2 emissions in the Waikato Region and a contribution to New Zealand climate change obligations.
Further information is available on kaimaiwind.nz
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