Rob G reenaway & Associates Genesis Energy Castle Hill Wind Farm Proposal Recreation and Tourism Effects Assessment July 2011 www.greenaway.co.nz Genesis Energy Castle Hill Wind Farm Proposal Recreation and Tourism Assessment of Effects Contents List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... 2 List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Report structure ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Summary of recreation and tourism values ............................................................................... 4 1.3 Summary of effects ................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Future tourism options .............................................................................................................. 8 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Definitions and scope .............................................................................................................. 10 2.2 Aims ........................................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Method .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Study area ............................................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Administrative boundaries ....................................................................................................... 12 3 Description of recreation and tourism setting ........................................................................... 13 3.1 Regional and district tourism patterns ..................................................................................... 13 3.2 Reserves and conservation areas ........................................................................................... 13 3.3 Angling .................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4 Towns and settlements ........................................................................................................... 14 3.5 Recreation and tourism activities ............................................................................................ 14 3.6 Significance of recreation and tourism setting ......................................................................... 16 4 Effects of wind farms on recreation and tourism ....................................................................... 17 5 Effects of the proposal and mitigations ...................................................................................... 19 5.1 Construction ............................................................................................................................ 19 5.2 Operation ................................................................................................................................ 20 5.3 Future tourism options ............................................................................................................ 21 5.4 Summary of effects ................................................................................................................. 21 6 References ..................................................................................................................................... 22 1 Appendix 1: Regional tourism patterns ...................................................................................... 24 1.1 Domestic and international tourism flows ................................................................................ 24 1.2 Commercial Accommodation Monitor ..................................................................................... 25 1.3 Tourism in the Wairarapa ........................................................................................................ 27 1.4 Tourism in Tararua District ...................................................................................................... 32 1.5 Angling opportunities ............................................................................................................... 33 1.6 Route 52 ................................................................................................................................. 34 2 Appendix 2: Reserves and Conservation areas ......................................................................... 36 2.1 Department of Conservation reserves ..................................................................................... 41 3 Appendix 3: Towns and settlements ........................................................................................... 46 3.1 Alfredton .................................................................................................................................. 47 3.2 Tiraumea ................................................................................................................................. 47 3.3 Makuri ..................................................................................................................................... 48 3.4 Pongaroa ................................................................................................................................ 49 3.5 Bideford ................................................................................................................................... 50 3.6 Tinui ........................................................................................................................................ 50 4 Appendix 4: International research on wind farms, tourism and recreation ........................... 53 4.1 United Kingdom ....................................................................................................................... 53 4.2 Spain ....................................................................................................................................... 60 4.3 Australia .................................................................................................................................. 60 4.4 New Zealand ........................................................................................................................... 63 4.5 United States ........................................................................................................................... 69 Castle Hill Wind Farm Proposal | Recreation and Tourism AEE July 2011 1 Rob Greenaway & Associates 5 Appendix 5: Wairarapa Rally circuit map .................................................................................... 71 6 Appendix 6: Mokiri Bush access easement ................................................................................ 72 7 Appendix 7: On-line literature search by location and activity ................................................. 75 List of Figures Figure 1: Location ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Identified visitor settings .............................................................................................................. 7 Figure 3: Study area for recreation and tourism ...................................................................................... 11 Figure 4: Administrative boundaries ......................................................................................................... 12 Figure 5: Identified visitor settings ............................................................................................................ 15 Figure 6: How supportive are you of the following energy sources/technologies to generate electricity for New Zealand? ............................................................................................................ 17 Figure 7: Wairarapa Rally routes where upgrading is proposed for oversize traffic ................................. 19 Figure 8: Lower North Island road flows by all travellers in 2005. Source: NZTSG 2007 ......................... 25 Figure 9: Occupation trends for commercial accommodation 2000 - 2009 .............................................. 26 Figure 10: Route 52 (yellow) .................................................................................................................... 34 Figure 11: Location of Rewanui conservation block ................................................................................. 38 Figure 12: DOC and TDC Reserves near CHWF, northern .................................................................... 39 Figure 13: DOC and TDC Reserves near CHWF, southern .................................................................... 40 Figure 14: Population centres reviewed with 5km CHWF boundary shown ............................................. 46 Figure 15: Alfredton ................................................................................................................................