Meridian Energy Mount Munro Wind Farm

Application numbers: 106151, 106152, 106153, 106154, 106155, 106167 and 106168

Meridian Energy seeks all necessary resource consents required from the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council (MWRC), Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), Tararua District Council (TDC) and Masterton District Council (MDC), for the construction, operation, maintenance of the Mount Munro Wind Farm and associated infrastructure on privately owned rural land and public roads in northern Wairarapa and southern Tararua.

In summary, the Mount Munro Wind Farm proposal involves: 

  • A total wind farm site area of approximately 720 ha, made up of three privately owned farms;
  • Installation of 20 turbines up to 130 metres in height (measured ground to rotor tip) with flexibility to locate each turbine within 100 m from the shown locations (on the site plan);
  • Construction of new and upgrading of existing internal roads and tracks;
  • Upgrading of approximately 1.7 km of Coach Road (North);
  • Onsite wind farm earthworks of a cut volume of approximately 836,000 cubic metres with a cut to fill approach taken where possible;
  • Earthworks within the transmission corridor of a cut volume of approximately 8,000 cubic metres with a cut to fill approach taken where possible;
  • The construction, use, and maintenance of one 80 metre permanent wind meteorological monitoring mast, located in one of the two nominated locations; 
  • The construction, and use of lay down areas, and a contractors area, including temporary site offices, ablutions, car parking and storage areas for fuel;
  • The storage and use of hazardous substances;
  • Stream works including upgrade of existing, and installation of new stream culverts;
  • Vegetation removal;
  • Construction related activities including a temporary concrete batching plant, controlled blasting, geotechnical investigation, signage and use of diesel generators; 
  • The construction, operation, and maintenance of transmission equipment including:

- A 17 metre high (approximately 3.5 km long) transmission line linking the wind farm with the National Grid and connecting at a point line near the intersection of Kaiparoro Road and State Highway 2;

- The construction of a substation, including control room switch room buildings, an off-site services site and the general storage of switching gear, insulators and other ancillary items; and

  • An anticipated construction timeframe of 18 months is proposed.

To view the full list of applications applied with Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Tararua District Council and Masterton District Council please click here.

Activity Address: The proposed Mount Munro Wind Farm Site is located approximately 28 km north of Masterton, 5 km south of Eketahuna and 13 km west of Alfredton.  State Highway 2 runs to the west of the site in a northeast-southwest direction, and the Wairarapa rail line runs to the east.

Submission closing date: 4.45pm Tuesday 6 March 2012.

The application and accompanying information may be viewed at the following locations:

Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council

  • Horizons Regional Council Offices, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
  • Or online at www.horizons.govt.nz

Greater Wellington Regional Council

  • GWRC Wellington Offices, 142 Wakefield Street, Wellington
  • GWRC Masterton Offices, 34 Chapel Street, Masterton
  • Or online at www.gw.govt.nz

Tararua District Council

  • Eketahuna Service Centre/Library, 31 Main Street, Eketahuna
  • Pahiatua Service Centre, 136 Main Street, Pahiatua
  • Woodville Service Centre, 45 Vogel Street, Woodville
  • Dannevirke Service Centre (Head Office), 26 Gordon Street, Dannevirke
  • Or online at www.tararuadc.govt.nz

Masterton District Council

  • Masterton District Council Offices, 64 Chapel Street, Masterton
  • Masterton District Library, 54 Queen Street, Masterton
  • Or online at www.mstn.govt.nz

A copy of the application can also be found at www.meridianenergy.co.nz.  You can also request a CD-ROM of the application from Mark St Clair, Consultant Planner (04 473 5310) or via email m.stclair@hyc.co.nz.

The application and accompanying information may be viewed during the hours 8.15 am - 4.45 pm at the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council situated at 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North. To view a full copy or a summary of the consent application please click here.

Submissions

Submissions may be made in writing by any person or can be sent via email to consent.submissions@horizons.govt.nz and followed with a hardcopy. Submissions must be received by Horizons Regional Council no later than 4.45pm on the submission closing date (Tuesday 6 March 2012). A submission form is available and can be requested via the email address above.

The submission must include:

  1. Details of the application in respect of which you are making the submission.
  2. Your name, postal address, telephone number and fax number (if applicable).
  3. Whether you support or oppose the applications.
  4. Whether you wish to be heard in respect of the submission.
  5. The reasons for making the submission and the decision you wish the consent authority to make.
  6. Be dated and signed by the person making the submission.
  7. A copy of every submission must be served on the applicant at the address below and to the Regional Council.

Address for service: Chris Thomson, Consents Manager, Meridian Energy Limited, P O Box 2454, Christchurch 8140.

Please contact Mark St Clair, Consultant Planner, Hill Young Cooper Limited, on 04 473 5310 or by email to m.stclair@hyc.co.nz if you have any questions or would like to discuss this application further.