The potential social effects of MRP’s proposal to build a wind farm on the Puketoi Range in Tararua District, including a 39km long transmission line, were assessed using a best-practice model that covers lifestyle, cultural, community, amenity/quality of life, and health impacts (while avoiding duplication where topics are covered by other technical experts).
The assessment concluded that the project will have limited adverse social effects and create potential benefits in supporting landowners and communities (both locally and further afield – the latter through the supply of electricity from a renewable source). A major factor in this assessment is the willing participation of landowners in the siting of both the wind farm and the transmission line. This means that potential effects have been considered by those most directly involved. For the transmission line this has created a significant separation between the line and dwellings on neighbouring properties for the majority of the route through the size of the properties crossed and extensive common ownership of adjacent land parcels. For the wind-farm, there is significant setback and vertical separation for the dwellings of all but one non-participating landowner on the western side of the Range, while there are few dwellings close to the Range on the eastern side.
The main potential adverse effect is that on the visual amenity of the Range. The major potential social effects identified for other wind farms do not apply in this case in part because of the low density of population and the inclusive approach adopted to the development of the proposal.
There are divergent opinions on the visual impact in the local communities, ranging from disapproval to approval. A number of residents articulate a balancing exercise coming down in favour of the proposal after considering the visual effect (which they do not necessarily like), the need for electricity generation; a preference for renewable sources; and an appreciation of the potential value of this particular resource given their understanding of the wind resource of their locality. It would appear that events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and four other reactors in Japan have also been considered and resulted in some people reversing previously pro-nuclear opinions.
Setting aside matters like visual effects assessed by other experts, the main adverse social effects are anticipated to occur in the construction phase where they will be the subject of a Construction Environment Management Plan and a Construction Traffic Management Plan. Specific recommendations are made for measures to be considered to mitigate potential effects in Makuri and along the Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road along with the establishment of a community liaison group.
An outstanding issue of concern arising through the consultation for non-participating landowners in the vicinity of the proposed wind farm is the possibility of property devaluation. It is recommended that MRP maintain liaison with landowners who consider themselves so affected even though this is not considered an effect under the RMA.
As well as emphasising avoidance in developing the Puketoi Wind Farm Project, MRP has also acknowledged that there can be indirect effects on the wider community within the sphere of interest of the wind farm. It is anticipated that the initiatives that have been supported to date will be followed up by an on-going programme when the project proceeds through a Community Fund supported by MRP.
