This important paper investigates the noise and visual effects on local residents from the existing wind turbines in the Manawatu and Tararua region of New Zealand. A total of 1100 urban and rural residents, the majority living within a 3km radius of the wind farms in the Tararua and Manawatu districts were administered a self-reporting survey. The survey asked residents to assess the visual and noise effects of the closest wind farm. This paper presents preliminary results from this study. It demonstrates that 45 percent of respondents living within 2km heard noise from the turbines, and 80 percent thought that the turbines were visually intrusive.

Last December some electrical power generation information for the Wonthaggi wind farm came my way. The information provides the power produced, or used, each hour for each of the 6 turbines between 1 June 06 and 22 June 06. Although it is for a limited period it illustrates, particularly when graphed, where the problem lies with wind power. That is, because it is dependent on wind availability and strength, the power produced is variable and unpredictable, requiring that some other electric power source be available at short notice to supplement what a wind farm produces.

Andrew Chapman's comments:

The attached report clearly shows the complexity of managing the electricity grid. NEMMCO is dealing with a particular situation that resulted in the blackout last summer however it also clearly indicates why wind generated electricity cannot be dumped into the grid just because the wind's blowing at a particular time. Generators have to forecast ahead and then be bound by that as a constraint. All dumping of erratically produced wind power into the grid might do is make light bulbs glow a bit stronger from time to time.

Editor's Note This is an opinion piece located in IWA's resource library as it was submitted in pdf. form.

This indepth 142-page report looks at many dimensions of wind power including its contribution to sustainable energy; New Zealand developments to date; international trends; impacts on landscapes and communities; legal and policy frameworks; and case studies from Auckland, Wellington, and Manawatu.

A compilation as of November 1, 2006 of turbine accidents in the USA and abroad by accident type, date, site, state/country and turbine model.

Harvey Jones addresss aesthetics, shadow flicker, noise, soil erosion, ecology/bird strike, physical breakages and energy supply.

Compliments of Andrew Chapman, the attached pdf files contain extensive documentation particularly with respect to the impact of wind turbines on wildlife as part of an ongoing effort to prevent the construction of the Bald Hills Wind Farm, South Gippsland, Victoria. While it has been approved by the Victorian State Government the presence in the Bald Hills area of migratory species of national and international significance that are protected by treaties with Japan and China in the Bald Hills has placed the final decision in the hands of the Federal Government. This decision is pending.

In its submission today, the department will not reiterate all of the matters raised in the 21 October submission, rather the department wishes to focus largely on the matters arising from this proposal affecting Brolga and Southern Bent-wing Bat.

The Guidelines require that “In order to facilitate a viable wind energy industry, planning applications need to include sufficient information and explanation to allow responsible authorities to come to sound and timely decisions”. Unfortunately, the application for a planning permit by Macarthur Wind Farm P/L fails to include sufficient information. The panel should therefore recommend that the a permit not be granted, and should ask the proponent to resubmit its application with (i) A full estimate of all economic costs of the proposal, both internal and external. (ii) A soundly based forecast of greenhouse gas abatement outcomes, based on the best available data and an independent, peer reviewed computer modelling of the NEM (iii) A full, project specific, assessment of the energy and greenhouse gas costs of the proposal itself, including all directly and indirectly associated activities.