ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY & ENDANGERED SPECIES
ECOLOGICAL
IMPACT
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Bats
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Birds
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Ecological Corridors
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Wetlands
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Water Source
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Natural Rising Springs
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Impact of roading
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Contamination in the food chain
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Turbine Blade Erosion (average working life 10-15 years)
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Wear & tear, BPA's leaching into water & pasture = food chain (toxic)
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NATIVE & ENDANGERED SPECIES
Longtail Bat (Chalinolobus tuberclulatus)
pekapeka-tou-roa
Conservation status: Threatened – Nationally Critical at risk of extinction
Protected under Wildlife Act 1953: offence to kill, hunt possess, molest or disturb bats without authorisation
Due to our community pest control, native plantings and preservation efforts, we are now seeing an increased presence of Tui, Ruru, Kereru, Quail, Harrier Hawkes, Kingfisher, Grey Warbler and have on occasion seen the elusive Bittern. Recently one farm installed two Department of Conservation bat monitors which recorded 1056 passes of the NZ native long-tailed bat – Pekapeka. This was on a relatively small area compared to some in Maioro.
The Pekapeka are absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 under section 63 of the Act, it is an offence to kill, hunt, possess, or disturb bats. Pekapeka produce only one pup per year.
Research has shown wind turbines cause significant fatalities in bat populations and the New Zealand long-tailed bat is known to feed and travel through open areas from roosts in native bush to other areas of native bush and through farm pasture feeding on insects.
Department of Conservation advises that windfarms should not be developed in occupied bat habitats because of the risks to threatened bats from operating turbines.
The proposed windfarm has turbines throughout the Maioro area near significant natural areas on private property. Some of which will be within 300 metres of the bush block recently confirming significant bat activity.
Additionally, the area in and around the windfarm comprises significant QEII bush blocks, wetlands, lakes and a reserve bush block with bat, fern bird and bittern presence.
Additionally, the windfarm borders and is near the Waiuku forest and Waikato River mouth and the West Coast, all home to a plethora of birdlife. Therefore, the proposed windfarm is in the middle of what could be deemed a significant wildlife corridor.
Newsroom - Threatened Bats found near planned wind farm
DOC says the discovery at Mt Cass is significant. “The long-tailed bat’s threat classification is nationally critical... CLICK HERE
The Bird & Bat strikes are frequent and must be considered how much damage which can be caused
Birds, Blades and the Brutal Business of Clean Energy
"wind turbines are often placed along the same breezy ridges that migratory birds and bats depend upon..." CLICK HERE
CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE
EXCAVATIONS AT MAIORO, N51/5, SOUTH AUCKLAND, 1965-1966
The paper documenting R Green's excavations of many sites
This location is an area of cultural significance. Desecration, degradation, and disturbance of cultural taonga causing disrespect to our tangata whenua contrary the terms of the Waitangi Treaty that gave rights of governance i.e., to look after the land, not the right to determine the future of the land irrespective of its well-being.
The area where this windfarm is to be located is of significant cultural importance.
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
There is No Financially viable way to recycle wind turbine blades
"Wind turbines, once touted by the few wealthy & less populated countries as a clean solution for electricity, are now becoming an eyesore, a hazard, and a significant environmental threat."
Will Wind Turbines be Generating More Waste than Electricity
There is 43 million tonnes of blade waste projected to be produced every year globally by 2050
We also are considering the environmental impact of
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Blade Cracks / Delamination / BPA Fibreglass breakdown
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Flicker / Noise
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Commissioning & Decommissioning (landfill/surface dump)
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Blade Breakages / Lightening strikes / Manufacturing / QA Failures
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The Erosion, Pollution and Contamination of our land and pastures, waterways, wetlands, river and ecosystem
The required Infrastructure & Construction for these proposed turbines will also greatly impact our local environment, more information below
INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION
39,000 tonnes of concrete for 18 turbine towers
(900 m3 per turbine)
150 tonnes of reinforcing steel for each tower foundation
2025 concrete truck loads required + return trip
(average truck 8m3)
Excludes track/road construction requiring aggregates across pasture/farmland
Presented as a 'green solution' at what cost to our community and lifestyle, what is the true environmental impact?
Waiuku Wind Farm Bases are 4x BIGGER
(2250 tonne concrete for each base)
Wind Turbine Graveyard found in North Queensland
Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater discovers a wind turbine graveyard with footage revealing dozens of unrecyclable wind turbines
Turbine Graveyards Sprawled Across Texas
“It doesn’t seem like there was much thought into the end of life for a lot of these renewable energy sources.”
The Real Reason America has turned its back on Wind Energy
Today we explore the insane engineering and problems behind offshore wind power.
ROADING
& DISASTERS
Stuff.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News
Truck carrying massive wind turbine blade topples over on SH45
Trucks carrying wind turbine blades topple over frequently. There will be erosion of roads & restricted access; will there be an increase in rates for repairs?
Remember this project is proposing the LARGEST wind turbines in New Zealand, with 120m long pieces being transported through our winding hills and homes.
Maioro Otaua is NOT a suitable location
Truck Carrying Wind Turbine Blade Topples
"Images of the crash emerged as concerns are raised around the practicality of transporting the materials across the country..."
DEVALUATION
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Current and Future Devaluation of Land & Property
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A negative impact on the local economy - tourism, housing, hospitality, farming
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"Local Jobs for Local People" - Wind farms don't generally deliver on the promise. These technicians and engineers are specialists who will be employed to do this work not locals looking for work
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Property & land is already devalued - fact vs fiction
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Local construction projects have been cancelled - would you build a house here?
SAFETY & EMERGENCIES
FIRE & ACCIDENTS
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Fire Risk is real
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Lightening Strikes likely
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Fire Spread - neighbouring Waiuku Forest (1000 hectares) and other ecological corridors & properties
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Emergency Services ???
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Insurance & Liability - sits with the landowner of wind farm?
COMMUNITY HEALTH
This wind farm is proposed to be built within 500m of some houses (and the developer made it clear that some homes located on the windfarm land will be even closer).
Note other NZ councils and countries require further distances, including this reference to Palmerston North.
Wind farms could surround a Tararua community
“All of this would not get consent in Palmerston North.”
Palmerston North’s District Plan includes rules providing for a 1.5km setback between turbines and dwellings.
Infrasound: ‘A Huge Threat to the Entire Biodiversity’, says Doctor
“With ever larger wind turbines, the frequencies are getting lower and lower. This makes infrasound more problematic and dangerous,”
NEWS & LINKS
60 Minutes: Damaging Eyesore or way to a cleaner future?
Wind power might be promoted as a cheap, environmentally friendly source of electricity but it's causing one hell of a stink in once-peaceful little communities.
DOWN WIND - Wind Farm Documentary
Down Wind is the explosive documentary that examines Ontario's industrial wind farm development. We hear personal stories of people experiencing health problems, insomnia, depression; their lives turned upside down by the constant noise and vibrations given off by the massive wind turbines. The documentary also reveals the staggering economic costs of these wind farms to taxpayers with huge subsidies going to big wind corporations.
LOCAL &
GLOBAL
ALTERNATE
OPTIONS
Off Shore Wind project located off the coast of South Auckland and Waikato - CLICK HERE