278:. The court received submissions from 72 parties; supporters noted the importance of renewal energy to achieve government policy, while opponents were concerned with damage to the limestone ecosystems and habitats, and the noise and visual impact on locals. The court granted consent to a significantly modified design in December 2011. The judge noted that the area was not "an untouched, pristine natural environment - fire and farming have depleted and degraded the vegetation and habitat for fauna', and that the proposed land offset and conservation management measures would improve biodiversity in the area. The consent was originally due to lapse in February 2020, but was extended until 2025.
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322:
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304:. Marlborough Lines bought a 50% financial interest in the wind farm through its subsidiary Energy Marlborough, which it had created in 2021 to get into power generation. The two entities now jointly owned a company called GreenPower New Zealand which was now behind the project. MainPower said it expected construction to begin in 2024.
273:
By May 2009 the district council had declined the consents, on the basis that the site was an outstanding natural feature of national significance which the wind farm would degrade. Groups such as Forest and Bird and the Mt Cass
Protection Society supported the decision to decline. MainPower appealed
269:
in June 2008, with public consultation on the consent starting in
January 2009. MainPower's managing director said of the 6.5 km long wind farm that it had "the potential to provide enough electricity to supply all the homes in the Hurunui and Waimakariri districts. He acknowledged, though, that
260:
MainPower, a North
Canterbury lines company, initially proposed the wind farm in 2006. It erected a 50 meter monitoring mast in April 2006, with plans to lodge resource consents in 2007. The original proposal was for a wind farm of between 15 and 25 MW, but subsequently increased to between 35 and
307:
In May 2024 Marlborough Lines refused further funding for the project. In July 2024 it ended its involvement in the project, though it still owns 50% of GreenPower New
Zealand. Marlborough Lines would not say why it had left the project. MainPower has not commented on what its next steps will be.
223:
in 2009 but approved by the
Environment Court in 2011. Preliminary work began in 2019 with the intent to be completed by late 2021, but was delayed by animal conservation concerns among other issues. As of July 2024 the project's status is unclear after a major investor pulled out.
297:, and was instead moving to a multi-contract model. In June 2023 MainPower stated that two permanent 76.5m meteorological masts had been installed to provide ongoing wind data, further geotechnical work had been undertaken, and contractors had been engaged for the main works.
281:
Preliminary work on construction began in
December 2019, with the intent to complete construction by late 2021. Work was interrupted in December 2020 by the possible discovery of a colony of critically endangered
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on a nearby property. In April 2021 wildlife monitoring determined that there were no bats present. Construction was then scheduled to begin in late 2021.
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In
September 2021 MainPower announced that the project was "transitioning to an alternative delivery model". The company had intended to operate with a
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of 94.6 megawatts, enough to power 40,000 homes. As of 2019 the proposed wind farm would have been the largest in the
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contract with
General Electric. MainPower said this model had become uneconomic particularly due to the effects of
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MainPower had heard concerns over the ecological impact during its own consultation of the public.
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731:"Construction of South Island's largest wind farm to start soon in Nth Canterbury"
639:"Resource Consent Application - Report and Determination by Hearing Commissioners"
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Generates electricity up to 122 km/hr, and withstands gusts up to 350 km/hr
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region of New
Zealand. The project dates back to 2006, and the current plan by
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430:"South Island's biggest wind farm to be constructed on Canterbury's Mt Cass"
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814:"Lines companies unite to deliver South Island's largest wind farm"
487:"Plans for massive wind farm on South Island ridgeline up in air"
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SWT-DD-120 wind turbines on Mount Cass, Waipara. It would have a
708:"New research confirms there are no long-tailed bats at Mt Cass"
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is to construct 22 wind turbines along a ridge of Mount Cass.
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In
September 2023, MainPower announced a partnership with
399:(Press release). MainPower. 27 April 2009. Archived from
754:"Mt Cass Wind Farm transitions to new delivery model"
527:. 11 October 2006. p. A4 – via EBSCOHost.
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572:. 28 June 2008. p. A21 – via EBSCOHost.
557:. 3 August 2007. p. A4 – via EBSCOHost.
542:. 29 March 2007. p. A4 – via EBSCOHost.
512:. 10 March 2006. p. A6 – via EBSCOHost.
886:Buildings and structures in the Canterbury Region
686:"Threatened bats found near planned wind farm"
394:"MainPower appeals Mt Cass wind farm decision"
201:is a proposed wind farm to be located east of
8:
866:A Ridge Too Far - Mt Cass Protection Society
861:Mainpower - Mount Cass Wind Farm information
644:. Hurunui District Council. Archived from
17:
836:"Mt Cass Wind Farm exploring next steps"
456:"Farm's management to benefit ecosystem"
553:"Super-sized wind farm plan revealed".
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568:"Maelstrom swirls around wind farm".
508:"Wind-farm trials start in N Canty".
428:Emma Dangerfield (16 December 2019).
371:List of power stations in New Zealand
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232:The current design would install 22
684:David Williams (22 December 2020).
881:Proposed wind farms in New Zealand
710:. Mt Cass Wind Farm. 13 April 2021
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454:Gorman, Paul (19 December 2011).
244:, though today the also-proposed
838:. Mt Cass Wind Farm. 21 May 2024
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729:Robyn Bristow (22 April 2021).
538:"Windfarm may launch in 2009".
523:"Consents lodged in new year".
1:
609:David Williams (7 May 2009).
219:was initially refused by the
784:"Project Update - June 2023"
637:Paul Rogers (2 April 2009).
284:New Zealand long-tailed bats
902:
665:. Hurunui District Council
485:Ian Allen (19 July 2024).
138:Rated wind speed
611:"Wind farm plan rejected"
366:Wind power in New Zealand
302:Marlborough Lines Limited
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162:Siemens Gamesa SWT-DD-120
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150:
25:
788:www.mtcasswindfarm.co.nz
758:www.mtcasswindfarm.co.nz
267:Hurunui District Council
221:Hurunui District Council
159:Make and model
356:Renewable energy portal
176:Nameplate capacity
69:43.07500°S 172.83750°E
584:"'Support' wind farm"
489:. Marlborough Express
261:63MW. It applied for
205:on Mount Cass in the
146:Power generation
752:Farm, Mt Cass Wind.
274:the decision to the
199:Mount Cass Wind Farm
74:-43.07500; 172.83750
21:Mount Cass Wind Farm
816:. 28 September 2023
733:. Otago Daily Times
663:"Mt Cass Wind Farm"
246:Southland Wind Farm
130:Rotor diameter
65: /
328:New Zealand portal
238:maximum generation
167:Units planned
651:on 15 April 2012.
590:. 31 January 2009
276:Environment Court
252:would be larger.
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101:Marlborough Lines
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217:Resource consent
188:edit on Wikidata
170:22 x 4.3 MW
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840:. Retrieved
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796:. Retrieved
792:the original
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242:South Island
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180:94.6 MW
15:
820:29 December
616:Stuff.co.nz
250:The Catlins
125:76.5 m
72: /
60:172°50′15″E
48:Coordinates
33:New Zealand
875:Categories
688:. Newsroom
669:1 December
410:6 November
377:References
207:Canterbury
133:120 m
42:Canterbury
570:The Press
555:The Press
540:The Press
525:The Press
510:The Press
265:from the
211:MainPower
97:MainPower
57:43°4′30″S
312:See also
295:COVID-19
228:Proposal
93:Owner(s)
38:Location
842:12 July
798:20 July
768:20 July
737:27 June
714:27 June
692:27 June
622:27 June
594:30 July
493:19 July
465:31 July
436:27 June
432:. Stuff
291:turnkey
256:History
203:Waipara
117:Onshore
88:Planned
30:Country
85:Status
649:(PDF)
642:(PDF)
588:Stuff
460:Stuff
404:(PDF)
397:(PDF)
186:[
844:2024
822:2023
800:2023
770:2023
739:2021
716:2021
694:2021
671:2021
624:2021
596:2024
495:2024
467:2024
438:2021
412:2009
197:The
113:Type
248:in
99:,
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613:.
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190:]
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
