Media Release
For immediate release: 1 February 2005
Meridian Energy clear to plan for White Hill wind farm development
With no appeals against its proposed White Hill wind farm in Southland, stateowned power company Meridian Energy is now
turning its attention to how best to implement the project.
The Southland District Council granted consent for the project after a three-day hearing late last year, and Meridian
Chief Executive Keith Turner says the absence of any appeals demonstrates the widespread public support for the
proposal.
“There seems to be a growing recognition that renewable energy, and particularly wind, is the technology of today and
the future and the way to keep New Zealand a clean and attractive country.”
However, he acknowledged the small number of opponents to the scheme, and says the opposing views expressed during the
resource consent process would be taken seriously.
“We want to assure those who objected that we have listened to them, and that we look forward to working with them so
that we achieve the best outcome for all Southlanders.”
Dr Turner says the company has no date for the start of construction in mind at this stage, but will now focus on
detailed planning and procurement.
Meridian has a long-term agreement with Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas which supplied the turbines for its
recently-opened Te Apiti wind farm in the Manawatu, although no final decision has been made on what size of machine
will be used at White Hill.
At its proposed 70 MW capacity, the development, near Mossburn in northern Southland, could power all the 30,000 houses
in the Southland District and Invercargill City area.
[ends]