Puketoi Wind Farm

RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

2 August 2011 2

VOLUME 1 PART A: RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATIONS

APPLICATION FOR RESOURCE CONSENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 88 OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 FORM 9

To: Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons) Regional Council Regional House 11-15 Victoria Street Private Bag 11 025 Manawatu Mail Centre PALMERSTON NORTH

MIGHTY RIVER POWER LIMITED (‘Mighty River Power’) hereby applies for the following resource consents pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 (‘RMA’):

Resource Consents Sought 1. Mighty River Power proposes to construct, operate and maintain a Wind Farm containing up to 53 wind turbines and an associated transmission line (‘the Proposal’) as more fully discussed and described within the Assessment of Environmental Effects (‘AEE’), which follows as Part B of this document.

2. Mighty River Power applies for all necessary resource consents to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal as detailed in the AEE, including but not limited to:

Land and Water Regional Plan a. Land Use Consents – for earthworks and vegetation removal associated with the construction of the Proposal, including access roads, turbine and transmission tower foundations and for ancillary buildings; b. Discharge Permits – for the discharge of stormwater to land, including stormwater from the substation, switchyard, concrete batching plants, workshop, staff ablutions building and fuel storage areas.

Manawatu Catchment Water Quality Plan c. Discharge Permit – for discharge of stormwater from the substation, switchyards, concrete batching plants, workshop, staff ablutions building and fuel storage areas;

Regional Plan for the Beds of Rivers and Lakes and Associated Activities d. Land Use Consents – for works and disturbance within the beds of rivers associated with the construction of bridges, fords and culverts.

Proposed One Plan e. Land Use Consents – vegetation clearance and earthworks, including areas of indigenous biological diversity that may be at-risk, threatened or rare habitats and within the Hill Country Erosion Management Area. Works and disturbance within the beds of rivers for bridges, fords and culverts. f. Discharge Permits – for the discharge of (i) stormwater to land, including stormwater from the substation, switchyard, concrete batching plants, workshop, staff ablutions building and fuel storage areas, and (ii) from the surplus cleanfill from earthwork activities. 4

All plans g. Any other resource consents necessary to enable Mighty River Power to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal.

Type of Resource Consents Sought 3. The following resource consents are sought by these applications: a. Land-use Consents for vegetation clearance and earthworks, and for works and disturbance within the beds of watercourses associated with the construction and installation of bridges, fords and culverts. b. Discharge permits for stormwater, wastewater and from surplus cleanfill associated with the proposed earthworks.

Owners/Occupiers of land to which the applications relate 4. The name, address and contact details of the owners/occupiers of land to which the resource consent applications relate are described in the AEE. The application involves a total of 47 separate privately owned landholdings and some small public land areas (administered by Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Transport Agency and LINZ). Legal descriptions of all privately owned land affected by the Proposal is provided at Annexures A and B of Part B of this document.

Location 5. The Wind Farm will be generally located on the main ridgeline of the Puketoi Range to the east of Pahiatua. As well as wind generating turbines and associated equipment, the Wind Farm will include internal 33 kV overhead and underground transmission network and a 33 kV / 220 kV substation. An external 220 kV Transmission Line will connect the proposed Wind Farm to the National Grid, at a location between Palmerston North and the Tararua Ranges.

6. The land to which the application relates is described in the attached AEE. A location plan is attached in Volume Three of the AEE (refer to Drawing MRP- PKT-0101).

Related Consents/Other Consents Needed 7. Associated resource consent applications for the Proposal have been filed with the Palmerston North City Council and Tararua District Council concurrently. Copies of those applications are attached; they rely on the same AEE as the present application. To the best of our knowledge, no other resource consents are required.

Lapsing Period 8. The default statutory lapsing period for resource consents is five years. However, given the nature of the Proposal and the need to maintain flexibility over construction commencement, Mighty River Power requests that a lapsing period of ten years apply to all resource consents.

AEE 9. Attached in accordance with the Fourth Schedule of the RMA is an assessment of environmental effects in such detail as corresponds to the scale and 5

significance of the effects that the proposed activities may have on the environment.

Information required to be included by the district plan, any regional plans, the RMA or any regulations made under that Act. 10. All relevant information required to be included in this application by the RMA and relevant regional plans is contained as applicable within the application, the AEE, and the accompanying plans and information.

Consultation 11. Section 6.0 of the AEE identifies those persons affected by (or interested in) the Proposal, the consultation undertaken, and the responses of those consulted.

Signature: 2 August 2011 ------Stuart Lush Generation Development Manager

For and on behalf of Mighty River Power Ltd

Address for Service of Applicant Mighty River Power 160 Peachgrove Road PO Box 445 HAMILTON Phone: (07) 857 0199 Fax: (07) 857 0192

Contact Person: Mason Jackson

APPLICATION FOR RESOURCE CONSENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 88 OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 FORM 9

To: Palmerston North City Council 32 The Square P O Box 11034 Manawatu Mail Centre PALMERSTON NORTH 4442

MIGHTY RIVER POWER LIMITED (‘Mighty River Power’)hereby applies for the following resource consents pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 (‘RMA’):

Resource Consents Sought 1. Mighty River Power proposes to construct, operate and maintain a Wind Farm containing up to 53 wind turbines and Transmission Line (‘the Proposal’) as more fully discussed and described within the Assessment of Environmental Effects (‘AEE’), which follows as Part B of this document.

2. Mighty River Power applies for all necessary resource consents to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal as detailed in the AEE, including but not limited to: a) Land-use Consent for the construction, operation and maintenance of a 220 kV electricity transmission line, and b) Land-use Consent for earthworks associated with the construction of the foundations for the transmission line’s support structures. c) Any other resource consents necessary to enable Mighty River Power to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal.

Type of Resource Consents Sought 3. The following are the resource consents sought by these applications: a. Land-use Consent for the establishment (construction), operation and maintenance of a double-circuit electricity line with a voltage up to 220 kV (per circuit) and a design capacity up to 1,330 MVA, and associated earthworks.

Owners/Occupiers of land to which the application relate 4. The name, address and contact details of the owners/occupiers of land to which the resource consent applications relate are described in the AEE. The application involves a total of 47 separate privately owned landholdings and some small public land areas (administered by Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Transport Agency and LINZ). Legal descriptions of all privately owned land affected by the Proposal is provided at Annexures A and B of Part B of this document.

Location 5. The Wind Farm will be generally located on the main ridgeline of the Puketoi Range to the east of Pahiatua. As well as wind generating turbines and 7

associated equipment, the Wind Farm will include internal 33 kV overhead and underground transmission network and a 33 kV / 220 kV substation. An external 220 kV Transmission Line will connect the proposed Wind Farm to the National Grid, at a location between Palmerston North and the Tararua Ranges.

6. The land to which the application relates is the Turitea Reserve. A location plan is attached in Volume 3 of the AEE (refer to Drawing MRP-PKT-0101). The section of the 220kV Transmission Line relevant to the Palmerston North City Council application comprises towers 103 through to 111 as shown generally in MRP-PKT-5210_Sheet 5-A included in Volume 3 of the AEE.

Related Consents/Other Consents Needed 7. Associated resource consent applications for the Proposal have been filed with the Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons) Regional Council and Tararua District Council concurrently. Copies of those applications are attached; they rely on the same AEE as the present application. Any subdivision consents required for the Proposal will be applied for following the detailed design stage. To the best of our knowledge, no other resource consents are required.

AEE 9. Attached in accordance with the Fourth Schedule of the RMA is an assessment of environmental effects in such detail as corresponds to the scale and significance of the effects that the proposed activity may have on the environment.

Information required to be included by the district plan, any regional plans, the RMA or any regulations made under that Act 10. All relevant information required to be included in this application by the RMA and relevant plans is contained as applicable within the application, the AEE, and the accompanying plans and information.

Consultation 11. Section 6.0 of the AEE identifies those persons affected by (or interested in) the Proposal, the consultation undertaken, and the responses of those consulted.

Signature: 2 August 2011 ------Stuart Lush Generation Development Manager

For and on behalf of Mighty River Power Ltd

Address for Service of Applicant Mighty River Power 160 Peachgrove Road P O Box 445 HAMILTON

Phone: (07) 857 0199 Fax: (07) 857 0192

Contact Person: Mason Jackson 9

APPLICATION FOR RESOURCE CONSENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 88 OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 FORM 9

To: Tararua District Council P O Box 115 DANNEVIRKE

MIGHTY RIVER POWER LIMITED (‘Mighty River Power’) hereby applies for the following resource consents pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 (‘RMA’):

Resource Consents Sought Mighty River Power proposes to construct, operate and maintain a Wind Farm containing up to 53 wind turbines and Transmission Line (‘the Proposal’) as more fully discussed and described within the Assessment of Environmental Effects (‘AEE’), which follows as Part B of this document.

Mighty River Power applies for all necessary resource consents to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal as detailed in the AEE, including but not limited to: a) Land-use Consent – for the establishment, operations and maintenance of a renewable electricity generation facility (Wind Farm) and associated infrastructure; b) Land-use Consent - for the establishment, operations and maintenance of a double circuit electricity Transmission Line at a voltage up to 220 kV (per circuit); c) Land-use Consent – for the establishment, operation and maintenance of equipment for meteorological data collection exceeding the permitted height limit; d) Land-use Consent – for the modification, damage or destruction of Category B Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes (being the Skyline of the Puketoi Ranges, Skyline of the Tararua Ranges, the Makuri River and Gorge and the Mangatainoka River); e) Land-use Consent – for land disturbance and earthworks associated with access roads, turbine and transmission tower foundations and other ancillary buildings and activities; f) Land-use Consent – for buildings and structures, including culverts, fords and bridges, within 20m of rivers and streams; g) Land-use Consent – for construction of buildings exceeding 10m height and that protrude into the required recession plane in the Rural Management Area (including wind turbines, meteorological masts, and substations); h) Land-use Consent – for the removal of indigenous vegetation. i) Any other resource consents necessary to enable Mighty River Power to construct, operate and maintain the Proposal.

Type of Resource Consents Sought The following are the resource consents sought by these applications: a. Land-use Consents for the establishment, operation and maintenance of a renewable electricity generation facility (Wind Farm) and associated 10

infrastructure and a double circuit electricity line at a voltage up to 220 kV (per circuit), along with associated activities including meteorological equipment, the removal of indigenous vegetation, earthworks, and the construction and maintenance of associated buildings. Land Use Consent is also required for the modification, damage to, or destruction of, outstanding natural features and landscapes.

Owners/Occupiers of land to which the applications relate The name, address and contact details of the owners/occupiers of land to which the resource consent applications relate are described in the AEE. The application involves a total of 47 separate privately owned landholdings and some small public land areas (administered by Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Transport Agency and LINZ). Legal descriptions of all privately owned land affected by the Proposal is provided at Annexures A and B of Part B of this document.

Location The Wind Farm will be generally located on the main ridgeline of the Puketoi Range to the east of Pahiatua. As well as wind generating turbines and associated equipment, the Wind Farm will include internal 33 kV overhead and underground transmission network and a 33 kV / 220 kV substation. An external 220 kV Transmission Line will connect the proposed Wind Farm to the National Grid, at a location between Palmerston North and the Tararua Ranges.

The land to which the application relates is described in the attached AEE. A location plan is attached in Volume Three of the AEE (refer to Drawing MRP- PKT-0101).

Related Consents/Other Consents Needed Associated resource consent applications for the Proposal have been filed with the Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons) Regional Council and Palmerston North City Council concurrently. Copies of those applications are attached; they rely on the same AEE as the present application. Any subdivision consents required for the Proposal will be applied for following the detailed design stage. To the best of our knowledge, no other resource consents are required.

Lapsing Period The default statutory lapsing period for resource consents is five years. However, given the nature of the Proposal and the need to maintain flexibility over construction commencement, Mighty River Power requests that a lapsing period of ten years apply to all resource consents.

AEE Attached in accordance with the Fourth Schedule of the RMA is an assessment of environmental effects in such detail as corresponds to the scale and significance of the effects that the proposed activity may have on the environment.

Information required to be included by the district plan, any regional plans, the RMA or any regulations made under that Act. All relevant information required to be included in this application by the RMA and relevant plans is contained as applicable within the application, the AEE, and the accompanying plans and information.

Consultation Section 6.0 of the AEE identifies those persons affected by (or interested in) the Proposal, the consultation undertaken, and the responses of those consulted.

Signature: 2 August 2011 ------Stuart Lush Generation Development Manager

For and on behalf of Mighty River Power Ltd

Address for Service of Applicant Mighty River Power 160 Peachgrove Road PO Box 445 HAMILTON

Phone: (07) 857 0199 Fax: (07) 857 0192

Contact Person: Mason Jackson 12

Volume One PART B: ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A: RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATIONS 2 PART B: ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 12 1 INTRODUCTION 21 1.1 THE APPLICANT 22 1.2 THE WIND FARM SITE 25 1.3 THE PROPOSAL 26 1.4 GENERAL DESIGN PARAMETERS 27 1.5 A PRÉCIS 29 1.6 THE RESOURCE CONSENTS REQUIRED 31 1.7 ADDITIONAL APPROVALS REQUIRED 31 1.7.1 Department of Conservation 31 1.7.2 Civil Aviation Authority 31 1.7.3 NZ Transport Agency 31 1.7.4 Palmerston North City Council 31 1.7.5 Tararua District Council 32 1.7.6 New Zealand Historic Places Trust 32 1.8 DEEMED SUBDIVISION 32 1.9 CONSENT LAPSING PERIOD 32 1.10 TERM OF CONSENT 32 1.11 LAND HOLDINGS 33 2 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 34 2.1 GENERAL LOCATION 34 2.2 SURROUNDING LAND USE 34 2.3 GEOLOGY AND GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS 34 2.3.1 Wind Farm 34 2.3.2 Transmission 36 2.4 VISUAL LANDSCAPE 38 2.4.1 Wind Farm 38 2.4.2 Transmission Line 38 2.5 CLIMATE 41 2.5.1 Rainfall 41 2.5.2 Wind Resource 41 2.6 ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT 42 2.6.1 Flora 42 2.6.2 Fauna 43 2.6.3 Aquatic Ecology 45 2.7 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND TRAFFIC 48 2.8 ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE 49 2.8.1 Pre-European Environment 49 2.8.2 Post-European Arrival 49 2.8.3 Recorded Archaeological Sites 49 14

2.9 RECREATION 50 2.10 NOISE 51 2.11 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 51 2.12 EXISTING BUT UNIMPLEMENTED CONSENTS 52 2.13 PERMITTED BASELINE 52 2.13.1 Tararua District Plan: Operative & Proposed 52 2.13.2 Palmerston North District Plan 55 2.13.3 Horizons Regional Plans – Operative and Proposed 56 3 THE ELECTRICITY MARKET CONTEXT 58 3.1 INTRODUCTION 58 3.2 CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY POLICY 58 3.3 BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY 59 3.4 THE ROLE OF WIND POWER IN ENERGY SUPPLY 60 3.4.1 Wind Energy and National Electricity Generation 60 3.5 THE PUKETOI SITE 60 3.5.1 Drivers for the Puketoi Wind Farm Development 60 3.5.2 Connection to the National Grid 61 3.6 SUMMARY 61 4 THE PROPOSAL 62 4.1 KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 62 4.2 DESIGN PROCESS 63 4.2.1 Site Identification and Wind Farm Development 63 4.2.2 Transmission Route Development 63 4.2.3 Layout design process (Wind Farm) 64 4.2.4 Landscape Assessment (Wind Farm) 64 4.2.5 Ecology design approach 65 4.3 THE WIND TURBINES 65 4.4 ON-SITE 33KV TRANSMISSION 68 4.5 SUBSTATION 68 4.6 TRANSMISSION LINE 69 4.7 ROAD ACCESS 69 4.7.1 External Road Network Improvements 70 4.8 STREAM CROSSINGS AND INTERNAL ACCESS 71 4.9 EARTHWORKS 73 4.9.1 The Wind Farm 73 4.9.2 The Transmission Line 74 4.10 OTHER BUILDINGS 75 4.11 CONCRETE BATCHING PLANTS 75 4.12 INDICATIVE CONSTRUCTION TIME TABLE 75 4.13 WATER REQUIREMENTS 76 4.13.1 Construction 76 4.13.2 Wind Farm Operations 76 4.14 WIND MONITORING MASTS 77 4.15 STORAGE AND USE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 77 4.16 MAINTENANCE REGIME 77 4.16.1 Wind Farm 77 15

4.16.2 Transmission Line 77 5 ASSESSMENT OF ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 78 5.1 INTRODUCTION 78 5.2 POSITIVE EFFECTS 80 5.2.1 Increased security of supply 80

5.2.2 CO 2 Emissions 81 5.2.3 Reduction in transmission losses 81 5.2.4 Provision of single transmission solution 82 5.2.5 Economic Effects 82 5.3 LANDSCAPE, VISUAL & NATURAL CHARACTER EFFECTS 84 5.3.1 Wind Farm – Landscape, visual and natural character effects 84 5.3.2 Transmission Line - Landscape, visual and natural character effects 88 5.4 GEOTECHNICAL, GEOLOGICAL AND GROUNDWATER RISKS AND RESPONSES 90 5.4.1 Geotechnical and Geological Risks 90 5.4.2 Groundwater Risks 90 5.4.3 Siting, Construction & Management of Spoil Sites 91 5.4.4 Water Storage Facilities 91 5.5 TRAFFIC EFFECTS 91 5.5.1 The Wind Farm 91 5.5.2 The Transmission Line 92 5.6 NOISE EFFECTS 92 5.6.1 Construction Noise Effects 92 5.6.2 Operational Noise Effects 93 5.7 DUST EFFECTS 93 5.8 RECREATION EFFECTS 94 5.8.1 Construction Effects 94 5.8.2 Wind Farm Operational Effects 94 5.8.3 Transmission Line Operational Effects 94 5.9 HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS 94 5.9.1 Potential effects from EMF 94 5.9.2 Potential Health Effects from Noise and Vibration 94 5.9.3 Potential Health Effects Associated with Water Quality 95 5.9.4 Visual Effects 95 5.10 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE EFFECTS 95 5.11 CULTURAL EFFECTS 95 5.12 ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS 96 5.12.1 Effects on Terrestrial Ecology 96 5.12.2 Effects on Aquatic Ecology 97 5.12.3 Mitigation of Ecological Effects 97 5.13 SOCIAL EFFECTS 97 5.14 COMMUNICATION EFFECTS 98 5.15 SUMMARY 98 6 CONSULTATION 100 6.1 CONSULTATION OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND APPROACH 100 16

6.2 METHODS 100 6.2.1 Parties Consulted 100 6.2.2 Phase One 101 6.2.3 Phase Two 102 6.3 CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMUNITY 102 6.3.1 Affected Party Consultation 102 6.3.2 Consultation in the wider community of interest 103 6.4 IWI CONSULTATION 103 6.4.1 Rangitane o Tamaki nui a Rua 103 6.4.2 Kahungunu ki Tamaki nui a Rua 103 6.4.3 Summary 104 6.5 CONSULTATION WITH TARARUA DISTRICT COUNCIL 104 6.6 CONSULTATION WITH HORIZONS REGIONAL COUNCIL 104 6.7 CONSULTATION WITH PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL 104 6.8 CONSULTATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS 105 6.8.1 Department of Conservation 105 6.8.2 Civil Aviation Authority 105 6.8.3 NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) 105 6.8.4 KiwiRail 106 6.8.5 Telecom NZ Ltd 106 6.8.6 Transpower 106 6.8.7 PowerCo 106 6.8.8 Fish & Game – Wellington Region 107 6.8.9 New Zealand Speleological Society (NZSS) 107 6.8.10 Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society 107 6.8.11 Pongaroa Local Water Supply Authority 107 6.8.12 Schools 108 6.8.13 Waitahora-Puketoi Guardians Inc 108 6.9 WRITTEN APPROVALS 109 6.10 SUMMARY 109 7 STATUTORY ASSESSMENT 110 7.1 INTRODUCTION 110 7.2 NATIONAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS 110 7.2.1 NPS Renewable Electricity Generation 110 7.2.2 NPS Electricity Transmission 112 7.2.3 NPS Freshwater Management 113 7.2.4 Summary 115 7.3 DISTRICT PLANNING DOCUMENTS 115 7.3.1 Tararua District Plan: Proposed and Operative Versions 115 7.3.2 Palmerston North Planning Documents 121 7.4 REGIONAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS 124 7.5 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 132 8 CONCLUSION 139 ANNEXURE A: WIND FARM LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS SUMMARY 143 ANNEXURE B: TRANSMISSION LINE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS SUMMARY 149 17

ANNEXURE C: RESOURCE CONSENTS REQUIRED 152

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED

‘ADP’ means Accidental Discovery Protocol ‘AEE’ means the Assessment of Environmental Effects report ‘The Applicant’ means Mighty River Power Limited ‘The Aquatic Report’ means the report entitled ‘Ecological Effects Assessment: Puketoi Wind Farm’ and prepared by Golder Associates Limited ‘The Archaeological Report’ means the report entitled ‘ Archaeological Assessment: Puketoi Wind Farm’ and prepared by Opus International Consultants Limited ‘The Avifauna Report’ means the report entitled ‘ Puketoi Avifauna AEE ’ prepared by Green Inc Limited ‘The Company’ means Mighty River Power Limited ‘CAA’ means Civil Aviation Authority ‘CEMP’ means Construction Environment Management Plan ‘Cuesta’ means a ridge formed by gently tilted sedimentary rock strata. It is characterised by a steep escarpment on one side of the ridge and a gentler slope on the other ‘CNMP’ means Construction Noise Management Plan ‘CTMP’ means Construction Traffic Management Plan ‘Dialogue’ means Dialogue Consultants Limited ‘DoC’ means Department of Conservation ‘The Ecology Overview Report’ means the report entitled ‘Puketoi Wind Farm – a Mighty River Power Project – Ecology Overview and Assessment of Ecological Effects’ prepared by Blaschke & Rutherford Environmental Consultants ‘The Economic Report’ means the report entitled Economic Assessment of Puketoi Wind Farm and prepared by New Zealand Institute of Economic Research ‘EMI’ means Electromagnetic Noise ‘EMF’ means electric and magnetic fields ‘Enviromedix’ means Enviromedix Limited ‘F&G’ means New Zealand Fish and Game Council ‘The Geotechnical Reports’ means the reports prepared by Tonkin and Taylor Limited entitled ‘Mighty River Power, Puketoi Wind Farm, Geotechnical Investigation Report ’ and ‘Mighty River Power, Puketoi Wind Farm, Transmission Line – Geotechnical & Civil ‘GWhrs’ means gigawatt hours ‘Golder’ means Golder Associates Limited ‘HAC’ means Hegley Acoustic Consultants Limited ‘HRC’ means Horizons Regional Council ‘Hub’ means the point at which the three blades are attached to the wind turbine structure. ‘ICNIRP’ means International Commission for Non-ionising Radiation Protection Guideline ‘Kilovolt’ means a measure of potential energy at a given point in a circuit where one unit is equal to a thousand volts ‘kV’ means kilovolt ‘The Landscape Report’ means the report entitled ‘ Puketoi Wind Farm Project, Landscape & Visual Assessment ’ and prepared by Brown New Zealand Limited ‘m3’ means cubic metre ‘MED’ means Ministry of Economic Development ‘MW’ means mega watt ‘Mighty River Power’ means Mighty River Power Limited ‘NESETA’ means the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities 19

‘NMP’ means Noise Management Plan ‘The Noise Report’ means the report prepared by Hegley Acoustic Consultants Limited and entitled ‘ Puketoi Wind Farm, Mighty River Power, Noise Investigations Report ’ ‘NPSET’ means the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission ‘NPSFWM’ means the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management ‘NPSREG’ means the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation ‘NZHPT’ means New Zealand Historic Places Trust ‘NZIER’ means the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research ‘NZSS’ means New Zealand Speleological Society ‘NZTA’ means the NZ Transport Agency ‘OTDP’ means operative Tararua District Plan ‘Participating Landowner’ means a landowner who has agreed to allow Mighty River Power access to their land for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Proposal ‘the Proposal’ means the proposed Wind Farm, the Transmission Line servicing the Wind Farm, the infrastructure servicing the Wind Farm and Transmission Line, and the construction, operation, and maintenance of the same ‘PNCC’ means Palmerston North City Council ‘PNDP’ means the Palmerston North District Plan ‘PNPSIB’ means the Proposed National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity ‘PRWSB’ means the Pongaroa Rural Water Supply Board ‘PTDP’ means proposed Tararua District Plan ‘The Recreation Report’ means the report prepared by Rob Greenaway & Associates (NZ) Limited and entitled ‘ Mighty River Power, Puketoi Wind Farm Proposal, Recreation and Tourism Assessment of Effects ’ ‘RMA’ or ‘the Act’ means Resource Management Act 1991 ‘Rotor’ means the three turbine blades that are combined to capture the wind. ‘The Social Report’ means the report entitled ‘ Puketoi Wind Farm Social Impact Assessment ’ and prepared by Dialogue Consultants Limited ‘SH’ means State Highway ‘TDC’ means Tararua District Council ‘T&T’ means Tonkin and Taylor Limited ‘The Traffic Report’ means the report entitled ‘ Mighty River Power, Puketoi Wind Farm, Transportation Assessment ’ and prepared by Traffic Engineering & Management Limited ‘Transmission Corridor’ means the 200m wide strip of land in which the 220kV Transmission Line is proposed to be built. ‘Transmission Line’ means the towers, tower foundations and 220kV cables that transfer electricity generated at the Puketoi Wind Farm to the National Grid. ‘Transmission Line Footprint’ means the area of land physically disturbed and/or built upon with the Transmission Line. ‘TSS’ means Total Suspended Solids ‘Wind Farm’ means the turbine structures, internal roads, internal transmission lines, substation and other buildings and infrastructures associated with the proposed Wind Farm on the Puketoi Range. ‘Wind Farm Footprint’ means the area of land physically disturbed and/or built upon with the Wind Farm. ‘Wind Farm Site’ means the total area of land owned by Participating Landowners that will accommodate the Wind Farm.

STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT

Volume 1, Part A, of this report contains the resource consent applications.

Volume 1, Part B of this report contains a summary of the assessments undertaken in support of the resource consent applications lodged by Mighty River Power. In this regard:

a. Section 1 introduces the Proposal and the applicant b. Section 2 describes the existing environment within which the Proposal is located. c. Section 3 describes the electricity market in New Zealand to provide context for this application. d. Section 4 describes the Proposal in more detail. e. Section 5 discusses the Proposal’s actual and potential environmental effects. f. Section 6 outlines the process and outcomes of the consultation undertaken by Mighty River Power. g. Section 7 provides an assessment of the Proposal in terms of the relevant planning instruments and sections of the RMA. h. Section 8 provides the AEE’s conclusion. i. Annexure A provides a summary of the legal descriptions of land containing the proposed Wind Farm. j. Annexure B provides a summary of the legal descriptions of land containing the proposed Transmission Line. k. Annexure C provides the list of the resource consents required for the Proposal.

Volume 2 contains copies of the various supporting technical reports and copies of the relevant planning provisions. Volume 2 forms part of the CD ROM attached to the back cover of Volume 1.

Volume 3 contains the drawings referenced within the AEE and Technical Reports. Volume 3 also forms part of the CD ROM attached to the back cover of Volume 1.

1 INTRODUCTION

This Assessment of Environmental Effects ( AEE) is submitted in support of the resource consent applications made by Mighty River Power pursuant to section 88 and the Fourth Schedule to the Resource Management Act (RMA). The AEE and resource consent applications relate to the construction, operation and maintenance of a wind farm (Wind Farm) and Transmission Line (the Proposal).

The Proposal comprises two interconnected elements:

A Wind Farm consisting of up to 53 turbines sited along approximately 22km of the main ridgeline of the Puketoi Range (the Range), located approximately 20km east of Pahiatua (Figure 1); and

An external 220 kV Transmission Line of approximately 39km in length to convey the electricity generated at Puketoi to centres of demand via the national electricity grid at the Linton substation, near Palmerston North (Figure 2).

A full description of the Proposal is provided in Section 4 of this AEE.

The Wind Farm and the majority of the Transmission Line infrastructure are located within the Tararua District Council (TDC) municipal boundary. A small section of the Transmission Line at the western end (around 2 km) is within the Palmerston North City Council boundary at the western end. Both the Wind Farm and Transmission Line come under the jurisdiction of the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council (Horizons).

The Wind Farm will have a maximum installed capacity of between 159 MW and 326 MW, depending on the turbine chosen for the development. The Wind Farm will generate up to 1,272 GWh per year (based on current technology and expected yield) providing enough electricity to power over 160,000 New Zealand households. The installed capacity, and therefore total power production from the same number of turbines, could increase as technology improvements occur. On this basis, the resource consent applications for the Wind Farm do not specify a “limit” on renewable electricity generation capacity to be installed on the site. Should improved technology allow additional installed capacity to be provided, the resource consents as sought allow for this level of flexibility. This approach is considered consistent with the RMA, provided any increase in installed capacity does not alter the nature or level of adverse effects. Clearly, increasing installed capacity will increase the overall benefits of the Proposal.

The external Transmission Line will consist of 220kV double circuit lines, supported by a mixture of single pole, double pole and lattice tower structures. While the Transmission Line will principally serve the Puketoi Wind Farm, it has been designed with sufficient capacity to convey output from other proposed and consented wind farms nearby, should this be required. Consequently, the Transmission Line has the ability to offer a strategic transmission solution for other renewable energy projects in the Tararua area, while minimising potential cumulative effects associated with more than one transmission line within the wider Puketoi area. In this regard, Mighty River Power is engaged in constructive 22

discussions with other electricity generators and potential transmission providers who have development aspirations in the Tararua area.

1.1 THE APPLICANT Mighty River Power is a New Zealand electricity company with a portfolio of electricity generation assets, a strong national retail presence and a focus on domestic generation and international geothermal development opportunities.

The Company was established following government reform of the electricity sector during 1998 and early 1999. This represented a significant milestone in a series of reforms undertaken by successive governments since the mid 1980s to foster economic efficiency in the New Zealand energy sector.

Mighty River Power now supplies both electricity and thermal energy to major commercial users and has about 20% of New Zealand’s retail market with its brands, ‘Mercury Energy’, ‘BOSCO Connect’ and ‘Tiny Mighty Power’. The Company has over 400,000 customers and currently employs over 800 people.

The Company has assets totalling over $4 billion, including four geothermal stations (all undertaken in partnership with Tangata Whenua) with a total capacity of 387 MW, nine hydro stations on the Waikato River, and a gas-fired co-generation plant. These assets produce approximately 16% of New Zealand’s electricity requirements and approximately 23% of the peak demand of the upper North Island. On average, Mighty River Power generates approximately 6,000 GWh of electricity annually.

Over 90% of Mighty River Power’s installed generation capacity is renewable and the Company is looking to further increase this aspect of its portfolio, as evidenced in the proposal and development of additional renewable generation infrastructure, such as the Ngatamariki power station and the Turitea Wind Farm.

Mighty River Power aims to be a leader in sustainable development through world- class management and utilisation of natural resources. Accordingly, Mighty River Power is committed to managing wisely and sustainably the resources on which it depends to help meet New Zealand’s energy needs. Mighty River Power is also committed to sustainable business practices and environmentally responsible operations, and is a member of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. 23

Figure 1: Location of the Wind Farm 24

Figure 2: Overview of the Proposal (Wind Farm and Transmission Line) 25

1.2 THE WIND FARM SITE The Puketoi Range is a distinctive cuesta type landform approximately 36km in length (Figure 3). The south eastern side of the Puketoi Range is a very steep escarpment, covered in native bush. The north western side slopes more gently and is used for pastoral farming. The Makuri River is the closest major waterway and is an important trout fishery to the region. The closest settlements are the townships of Makuri to the west and Pongaroa to the east. The consented Waitahora Wind Farm site lies close to the northern extent of the Puketoi Wind Farm. The existing environment is more fully described in Section 2 of this AEE.

All Wind Farm infrastructure will be located on the north western side of the escarpment, with turbine locations constrained to the top of the Puketoi ridgeline for the following reasons:

Wind monitoring data clearly shows that the top of the ridge has the best wind resource of the area. The quality of the wind drops rapidly as you move down the western slopes of the range;

Placing turbines on the ridge line results in the avoidance of tomos and sinkholes. These karst limestone features are more prevalent further down the western slopes. In turn, this significantly reduces any geotechnical and water quality risks; and

The ridge top design results in an access road network that requires significantly less earthworks and therefore fewer impacts on areas of significant vegetation or habitats than would be the case if access roads were located further down the slope.

With turbines constrained to the top of the ridge, managing potential landscape effects has been the key driver in determining the Wind Farm layout. Several layouts have been analysed by a landscape architect in a process involving a comparison of photo simulations of different turbine numbers, sizes and spacings to ensure the design is most appropriate for the landform. The resulting proposal consists of up to 53 turbine structures with a maximum tip height of 160 metres. This envelope will provide for a range of turbine models.

Figure 3: Puketoi Range (cuesta type landform)

1.3 THE PROPOSAL

The wind resource on the Puketoi Range is described as outstanding in a national and international sense. More specifically, the wind resource exceeds that of all operational wind farms in New Zealand, and all but a few operational wind farms world-wide. Wind monitoring confirms that the site is ideal for the development and operation of a wind farm.

In addition to the key characteristics that the site possesses in terms of a wind resource, the Proposal has other advantages including:

Negotiated access for a Transmission Line from Puketoi to the site of the Turitea Wind Farm on the Tararua Ranges, and thence to the national electricity grid for the purposes of conveying the generated electricity to centres of demand;

Ready road access for transporting wind farm components and construction equipment to the site; and

A highly modified environment, thereby minimising any potential ecological impacts arising from earthworks and associated vegetation clearance. 27

1.4 GENERAL DESIGN PARAMETERS The application for resource consents is based on a series of general design parameters that define approximate locations and maximum dimensions of the various components. This AEE also defines a range of other aspects of the Proposal including the construction, operation and maintenance of related activities, and provides parameters for other infrastructure that will be required as part of the Proposal.

In relation to the wind turbines, the reason for specifying general design parameters is to recognise that, due to the commercial nature of wind developments, there are aspects of the Proposal (such as the final selection of the type of turbines) that cannot be confirmed at this stage. The general design parameters, therefore, provide the maximum parameters within which activities (and their resulting effects) will occur. This provides certainty in relation to maximum effects of proposed activities while allowing some flexibility during the detailed design phase of the Proposal.

The design parameters of the Wind Farm include:

A maximum of 53 turbines (Figure 4) to be constructed within 50m of the locations specified; A maximum tip height of 160m above original ground level (figure 5); A maximum rotor diameter of 130m (Figure 5); and A maximum ‘hub’ position no greater than 100m above the original ground level.

These maximum parameters allow a range of potential turbines, that are either proven in other wind farms, or are in prototype stage and are expected to become available within the ten year lapsing period that is sought.

Importantly, only one type and size of turbine will be used to populate the entire Wind Farm thereby avoiding a mixture of turbine types or sizes. 28

Figure 4: Puketoi Wind Farm layout 29

1.5 A PRÉCIS Table A sets out the ‘summary statistics’ of the Proposal. Section 4 of this AEE provides a more detailed description, and further definition can be found within the drawings included in Volume 3 and from the various supporting technical reports in Volume 2 of this application.

Table A: Summary Statistics of the Proposal

Component of the Proposal Statistic Area occupied by: - 220 kV switchyard 6,700 m 2 - 33 kv switchyard 4,300 m 2 - substation building 600 m 2 Maximum installed capacity 326 MW Anticipated maximum annual electrical output 1,272 GWh Maximum number of turbines 53 Maximum tip height 160 metres Maximum rotor diameter 130 metres Maximum hub height 100 metres Typical nacelle dimensions 6.5 metres wide by 6.5 metres high by 19 metres long. Typical tower diameter 8 metres Width of formed internal access tracks 7 metres, with a 1 metre shoulder on either side (giving a total width of 9 metres) Approximate length of internal access tracks 43 kilometres (Wind Farm) Voltage of internal transmission reticulation 33 kV Approximate length of internal transmission 23 kilometres reticulation (overhead) Approximate length of internal transmission 25 kilometres reticulation (underground) Voltage of external transmission 220 kV per circuit 1,330 MVA (total) Approximate length of external transmission 39 kilometres Earthwork volumes Wind farm - total earthworks Approximately 2,784,000 m 3 - fill volume Approximately 384,000 m 3 - spoil volume Approximately 2,400,000 m 3

Transmission corridor - access road Approximately 116,000m 3

Figure 5: Maximum Turbine Envelope showing Max Tip Height of 160m 31

1.6 THE RESOURCE CONSENTS REQUIRED The Proposal requires various resource consents from Tararua District Council (TDC), Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) and Horizons (Manawatu-Wanganui) Regional Council (HRC). The consents required are summarised in Annexure C of Volume 1 of the AEE.

The various activities associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of the Wind Farm, Transmission Line and related infrastructure are assessed as discretionary activities.

1.7 ADDITIONAL APPROVALS REQUIRED In addition to the resource consents required, as outlined in Annexure C of Volume 1 of the AEE, other approvals are also needed to develop the Puketoi Wind Farm. These approvals are detailed below.

1.7.1 Department of Conservation The Proposal was specifically designed to avoid land owned by the Crown and administered by the Department of Conservation (DoC), however there are two instances where this has been unavoidable. In this regard, Mighty River Power will seek concessions from DoC for:

a. The 220kV Transmission Line which crosses over DoC Marginal Strips either side of the Makuri Stream; and b. One bridge abutment and a small section of an associated new haul road located on DoC Marginal Strips either side of the Makuri Stream.

1.7.2 Civil Aviation Authority The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for establishing civil aviation safety and security standards in New Zealand. Determinations are required and are being sought from the CAA in accordance with Part 77 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 for:

a. The wind turbines, given that they will be greater than 120m in height, and b. The Transmission Line, which includes conductors (or cables) that are strung over valleys.

1.7.3 NZ Transport Agency Mighty River Power will, prior to construction commencing, seek the necessary permits from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for the transportation of over-dimension and/or overweight loads via the State Highway network.

1.7.4 Palmerston North City Council The western end of the proposed Transmission Line is to be located within land that is designated for the ‘Turitea Water Treatment Plant and Water Supply Reservoir’ purposes. Mighty River Power will, prior to construction commencing, seek the written approval of PNCC, as the Requiring Authority, for the proposed works in accordance with section 176 of the RMA. 32

1.7.5 Tararua District Council Mighty River Power will seek the approval of TDC for the use of, and proposed improvements to, the local road network (including paper roads) prior to commencement of construction.

1.7.6 New Zealand Historic Places Trust No evidence of any archaeological and heritage sites exist within the footprint of the Proposal, nevertheless, it is possible that unrecorded archaeological and heritage sites may be exposed during earthworks. To this end, Mighty River Power proposes an accidental discovery protocol as a condition to any consents granted. An Authority, under section 12 of the Historic Places Act, may also be sought from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust prior to construction commencing to potentially minimise construction delays if sites of significance are encountered during construction.

1.8 DEEMED SUBDIVISION The Puketoi Wind Farm involves the long term lease of private land to enable its construction and operation. This lease is deemed a subdivision pursuant to section 218(1)(a)(iii) of the RMA. Accordingly, a subdivision consent will be required from TDC and PNCC for the Proposal. Applications will be lodged with the Councils upon confirmation of the lease area for turbines, roads and transmission easement with the relevant landowners during the detailed design phase. As such, these applications are not considered within this report.

1.9 CONSENT LAPSING PERIOD Section 125 of the RMA provides that a resource consent lapses on the date specified in the consent or, if no date is specified, five years after the date of commencement.

Mighty River Power seeks a lapsing period of ten years from the commencement of the resource consent. This period will provide the flexibility needed for the design and configuration of the Proposal to be optimised, relative to both the wind resource and site characteristics, and the availability of the various wind farm components at an acceptable cost. A ten year lapse period also allows sufficient time to enable Mighty River Power and other generators to finalise a commercially acceptable transmission solution for the wider Puketoi area. If achieved, this will minimise potential cumulative effects associated with transmission line infrastructure within this region.

A ten year lapsing period is consistent with the lapsing date currently indicated for Mighty River Power’s proposed Turitea Wind Farm, which is intended to provide the western connection point for the Puketoi Transmission Line, before connecting to the National Grid.

1.10 TERM OF CONSENT Section 123 of the RMA establishes a maximum consent term (or duration) of 35 years for all resource consents, except for land use consents where the activities 33

exist outside of riverbeds, lakebeds and the coastal marine area. The duration of these land use consents is unlimited, unless the consent specifies otherwise.

Mighty River Power seeks consent terms of:

a. 15 years for the resource consents required from TDC, PNCC and HRC, and which are needed to construct the Proposal to allow sufficient time for construction to occur, and reflects the ten year consent lapsing period that is also sought. b. 35 years for all of the resource consents required from HRC for the on-going operation and maintenance of the Proposal. c. Unlimited duration for the resource consents required from TDC and PNCC to operate and maintain the Proposal.

1.11 LAND HOLDINGS The Proposal spans a total of 47 separate privately owned landholdings and some small public land areas. The location and extent of landholdings owned by Participating Landowners is shown in Figure 2. The agreement reached with these private landowners is the result of approximately four years of consultation within the Makuri and Pahiatua areas. This approach, particularly in relation to the proposed Transmission Line, has minimised the potential adverse social effects of the Proposal, compared to using Requiring Authority status and the designation process.

The legal descriptions of the properties that will accommodate the Wind Farm and the Transmission Line are provided in Annexures A and B respectively of Volume 1 of this AEE.

2 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

2.1 GENERAL LOCATION The Wind Farm is proposed to be situated on farm land on the Puketoi Range, approximately 40km southeast of Palmerston North (see Figures 2 and 3 above). The Wind Farm will extend over a length of approximately 22 kilometres on the western side of the range, from Towai Road in the north and extending south of the Pahiatua Pongaroa Road.

A double circuit 220 kV Transmission Line will travel from an approximate central point of the Puketoi Range to the eastern slopes of the Tararua Range in the west.

2.2 SURROUNDING LAND USE The area surrounding the Wind Farm site is used for a number of different land uses, but is predominantly characterised by pastoral farming. There are pockets of exotic forestry and a working limestone quarry at the northern end of the site. To the southeast of the ridgeline the range has a steep escarpment largely covered in native vegetation.

There are three radiocommunication sites operating under individual licences in the vicinity of the proposed turbines - two single masts at the north end and a cluster of masts at the southern end of the site.

The nearest major settlements in proximity to the Wind Farm site are Makuri, approximately 2.5km to the west of the nearest turbine, and Pongaroa, approximately 9km to the east of the Wind Farm site.

The proposed Transmission Line will traverse a series of river valleys and alluvial terraces, foothills and the sides of two ranges. The current land use is predominantly pastoral farming with some exotic forestry. The Transmission Line passes approximately 3km to the south of Pahiatua.

2.3 GEOLOGY AND GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS The Geotechnical Reports contained in Sections L and M of Volume 2 of the AEE, describe the geology and geotechnical aspects of the Wind Farm and Transmission Corridor respectively.

The Wairarapa Coast region, including the Puketoi Range, is situated on the margin of an active tectonic system. Here the Pacific Plate is being subducted beneath the Australian Plate some 65km to 125km east of the Wairarapa Coast. The Wairarapa region has been shaped by the tectonic forces exerted at this intra plate margin, and by fluctuations in sea level in the geological past.

2.3.1 Wind Farm The Puketoi Range is formed of a sedimentary sequence of limestones, sandstones and mudstones (see Figure 8). It is a cuesta type landform approximately 36 kilometres in length, ranging in elevation from approximately 300 metres above sea 35

level at the southern end of Coonoor Road to approximately 800 metres above sea level at the top of the main ridge.

Although the Wairarapa is a seismically active area, there are no major faults within 20 kilometres of the Wind Farm Site, or evidence of active faults within this portion of the site. The nearest active fault is the Makuri-Waewaepa Fault located approximately two kilometres to the west of the Wind Farm Site. This fault is a northern extension of the Wairarapa Fault and is located immediately west of Coonoor Road.

The karst (limestone) topography creates a distinct landform including features such as caves and sink holes (see Figure 6). The karst topography significantly influences surface drainage and geohydrological characteristics of the site. The west facing slopes of the Puketoi Range are drained by regularly spaced streams flowing more or less directly down the slope on the limestone based topography, with lateral branches flowing obliquely across the more resistant strata. This gives rise to a rectangular drainage pattern.

Figure 6: Sinkhole example (on western slope of Puketoi Range)

The drainage of the west facing slopes is collected by the Makuri Stream in the north and the Makuri River in the south.

The recharge of the groundwater on the Puketoi Range comes directly from rainfall and infiltration through the surface rocks and soils. Groundwater movement within the Puketoi Range is strongly controlled by the permeability contrasts between the limestone and the less permeable sandstones, siltstones and mudstones. The 36

dissolution of the limestone has also led to secondary pathways, in the form of a drainage network comprised of open cavities within the limestone. The predominant direction of groundwater flow is down the slope, to the west (see Figure 7).

There is no direct connection between limestone drainage networks on the western slope of the range and the water courses or groundwater springs on the eastern side of the range.

2.3.2 Transmission The range of geological materials likely to be encountered along the 220 kV Transmission Line are:

a. Surfical soils (that is, loess or colluvium).

b. Pleistocene aged alluvial (river) terraces comprising variable mixtures of sands, silts and gravels in the low-lying basins and valleys. The main watercourses intercepted are the Mangahao and Mangatainoka Rivers. These watercourses have flood plains of varying width, where alluvial sediments have periodically deposited.

c. Pliocene aged Onoke Group sediments comprising weak limestones, mudstones, siltstones and sandstones. These form hills from the Puketoi site through to Pahiatua.

d. Mesozoic (older) greywacke sandstones and siltstones forming the hills at the western end of the route

Figure 7: Puketoi Range - Typical Water Pathways

Figure 8: Puketoi Geology

2.4 VISUAL LANDSCAPE An assessment of the existing visual landscape environment is contained in Section C of Volume 2.

2.4.1 Wind Farm The Puketoi Range is a distinctive feature within the rural domain of the eastern Tararua District and northern Wairarapa. Its limestone cuesta morphology and wave like profile make it clearly apparent amid the much lower lying foothills that stretch from the base of the Range towards Pongaroa and the eastern coastline around Akitio.

To the west, the Puketoi Range’s form is much more ‘hunched’ and physically dissected by a series of elevated ridges, false peaks, gullies and terraces. Its cuesta origins are much less apparent and the landscape exposed to the ‘back’ of the Range is confined by both the neighbouring Waewaepa Range and the foothills that extend southwards from it.

Other distinctive landforms and areas of residual natural forest cover found close to the Puketoi Range include the Makuri Gorge and Waihi Falls near Waione. However, the foothills, alluvial valleys and terrace landscapes surrounding the Puketoi Range are less distinct and typically comprise ‘working’ rural landscapes.

The only settlements of note are Makuri village at the foot of the Puketoi Range near Makuri Gorge, with limited exposure to the top of the Range, and Pongaroa some 9kms east of the proposed Wind Farm site. The viewing audiences exposed to the proposed Wind Farm thus are largely comprised of local farmers, road users and a more limited number of hunters and trampers making use of the nearby Waewaepa Range.

2.4.2 Transmission Line The proposed Transmission Line will traverse a series of river valleys and alluvial terraces, foothills and the sides of two major hill ranges, including:

Areas of river terrace and plains and farmland either side of the Mangahao River (including Makomako Road, an extension of Pahiatua-Aokautere Road), around the Mangatainoka River south of Pahiatua (and either side of State Highway 2), and in the vicinity of the Mangaone River south of the small farming community of Kaitawa.

Foothills around Makomako below Turitea, between the Mangahao and Mangatainoka Rivers, between State Highway 2 and the Mangaone River, immediately east of Kaitawa, and from Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road to the Makuri Stream.

The steep river valley north of Makuri settlement that has been etched out by the Makuri Stream up the western slopes of the Puketoi Range. 39

Although it passes south of Pahiatua and to the north of Makuri village, the proposed 220 kV Transmission Line will not be readily apparent from the larger settlement of Pahiatua and will be totally screened from the much smaller cluster of houses near the Makuri Gorge. Nevertheless, in crossing three major river valleys, the proposed line will be exposed to parts of the Tararua District where farm communities, together with SH2, the Wairarapa Railway Line and local servicing industries are concentrated.

The photographs below in Figure 9 provide a snapshot of the existing landscape at the Wind Farm site and along the Transmission Line. 40

Eastern Puketoi foothills and escarpment

Eastern escarpment

Western Puketoi Slopes

Makuri Valley

Eastern Pahiatua Foothills

Mangatainoka River valley

Mangahoa River Valley looking towards the Northern Tararua Range

Figure 9: Photographs of the Wind Farm Site and surrounding areas 41

2.5 CLIMATE

2.5.1 Rainfall The annual rainfall at the site is in the order of 2,000mm a year. Information for the wider region indicates that rainfall is distributed throughout the whole year with June, July, August and October being, on average, the wettest months. December, January and February are typically the driest months.

2.5.2 Wind Resource A report on important wind characteristics relevant to Puketoi is contained in Section R of Volume 2 of the AEE.

The wind resource on the Puketoi Range is considered to be outstanding on a national and international basis. Wind monitoring confirms that the area with the most favourable wind resource is the ridgetop of the Wind Farm site.

A key wind parameter is the mean hub height wind speed. This is the most significant measure of the quality of the wind resource and main determinant of productivity. The mean wind speeds for the Puketoi Range have been modelled, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Wind mast positions and mean wind speeds at Puketoi 42

Along the Puketoi Range the mean hub height wind speed is between 11-12 metres per second (m/s). At these wind speeds it is expected that a wind turbine would be 10-15% more productive than at a site with a mean wind speed of 10m/s, making the Wind Farm an exceptionally productive site. In the context of a windfarm with 53 turbines, this difference is significant.

The wind rose for the Puketoi site is shown in Figure 11. Predominant winds are from the west and northwest, almost perpendicular to the orientation of the Puketoi Range, further enhancing the quality of the Wind Farm site.

Figure 11: Puketoi Wind Rose

2.6 ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Assessments of the ecological environment are summarised in the Ecology Overview Report contained in Section G of Volume 2 of the AEE. Further details on the avifauna, freshwater ecology and terrestrial ecology are provided in Sections H, I and J of Volume 2 of the AEE.

2.6.1 Flora The Wind Farm will be located entirely within the Puketoi Ecological District, with the proposed 220 kV Transmission Line traversing the Puketoi, Woodville and Manawatu Gorge South ecological districts. 43

The Wind Farm site has an area of 4,890 hectares (ha). Figure 12 shows the existing vegetation cover within the Wind Farm site. The predominant vegetation classes within the Wind Farm site are pasture (3799 ha, 78%), indigenous scrub (487 ha, 10.0%), and indigenous shrubland (494 ha, 10.1%). The Wind Farm footprint covers a significantly smaller area of approximately 154 ha. Only about 8 ha of the Wind Farm footprint is covered in indigenous vegetation.

The majority of the Transmission Line corridor comprises vegetation types that are considered to be of low ecological value, such as exotic forest, exotic scrub, shrubland and pasture grassland. Vegetation types of moderate significance make up approximately 12.3% of the Transmission Line corridor. The Transmission Line footprint is only 0.4 ha.

2.6.2 Fauna

Avifauna A range of bird species have been recorded in the Puketoi Range and surrounding area. These records have been derived from the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, previous surveys and fieldwork undertaken for the Proposal. Thirty two bird species were found to be present within or close to the site, with the most common of these being introduced open country birds such as magpies, rooks, starlings and finches. Silvereyes are also common. Two threatened species are confirmed to be present, being the New Zealand pipit and the New Zealand falcon. Other larger forest species such as bellbird, tui and kereru were observed in the more mature forest on the steep eastern slopes of the escarpment. None of these species were seen to fly to the ridge or to cross it.

Bats Long-tailed 'North Island' bats have been recorded at a number of forest locations adjacent to the site. This species of bat is classified as “threatened – nationally vulnerable” due to human-induced loss of habitat and the impacts of introduced predators. Automated digital bat recorders deployed within the site since April 2011 have recorded long-tailed bats within the site on three occasions. All recordings were made at the same location and on the same night.

It is unlikely that the southern lesser short-tailed bat, which is considered “threatened-nationally endangered”, resides within the site. The nearest known population is in the middle of the Tararua Range.