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Te Uku Wind Park Project – consents granted – July 2008 Simon Berry and Jen Vella have been acting for Waikato lines company WEL Networks Limited (“WEL”) in connection with a proposed wind farm on the Wharauroa Plateau near Te Uku, on the main road to Raglan. The $200 million development would involve 28 turbines generating some 80 megawatts of power which would be used in the Waikato area, producing a range of national, regional and local benefits, including significant displacement of thermal generation sources and reduction in transmission losses. The hearing was held in two phases, commencing in November 2007 and concluding in February 2008. The Waikato District Council and the Waikato Regional Council granted the necessary resource consents for the project at the end of May subject to a comprehensive set of conditions largely in accordance with those proposed by WEL’s team. The WEL Team is very happy with the result. Four appeals have been lodged with the Environment Court against the consents granted. Simon's comments: Having been involved in consents for generation from hydro, gas and geothermal sources, I was very pleased to get involved in a wind farm development, particularly having regard to the significant environmental benefits of the project. I am very happy that we were able to secure the consents needed for the project. However, a few appeals have been lodged by locals who are strongly opposed to the project. Everybody likes the idea of clean, green wind energy ... just not in their back yard. Jen and I look forward to working with the Waikato District and Waikato Regional Councils to defend the consents for this very important project.
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