West Wind Wind Farm (2006)

Expert Evidence at Council Hearing & Environment Court

Location: Makara, Wellington

Client: Director General of Conservation, Wellington City Council

Hudson Associates was engaged by the Director General of Conservation (DoC) to provide expert advice for the Council hearing from a landscape and natural character perspective of Meridian ’s proposed West Wind wind farm at Makara. John Hudson was then engaged by Wellington City Council as an expert witness for the Environment Court Appeal of the application consented by Council.

The evidence describes the relevant statutory and planning framework, describe the proposal and the existing coastal environment, before considering the proposed wind farm and the effects it will have on natural character. To assist in developing a comparative baseline, it makes reference to a number of specific turbines and relates these to the Awhitu decision, and goes on to analyse effects on amenity values. Consent for 66 turbines was granted by the Environment Court.

Design

Master Planning

Landscape and Visual Assessment       

1. -Coastal
   

2. -Rural
   

3. -Urban
   

4. -Infrastructure
   

5. -Wind Farm
   

Planning and Resource Management

Revegetation