Media Release
12 October 2009

Long Gully Wind Farm Approved

The Wellington City Council has granted Windflow Technology consent for the Long Gully wind farm, for all 25 turbines (12.5 MW) in the application.

“We’re pleased to have the approval and we are looking carefully at the decision”, said Project Manager Emma Patrick. “We believe it’s an excellent location for a small wind farm where the electricity will go straight into the local network”.

The wind farm would be based on Long Gully station, to the west of Brooklyn and south of Karori, and use New Zealand made Windflow 500 turbines, each about the same size as but with twice the power output of the nearby iconic Brooklyn wind turbine. The wind farm would provide electricity for up to 6000 homes and avoid approximately 29,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

“We appreciate the local community’s involvement in the process so far,” said Ms Patrick. “and we will continue to engage with them as we plan the next steps and firm up a timeline for development of the site.”

Windflow Technology Chief Operating Officer Tom Hooper said “This development is an important step for Windflow, being our first distributed generation project in conjunction with Mighty River Power and the decision to grant a consent is excellent news for Windflow”.

Windflow Technology submitted the application to the Wellington City Council in May, and submissions closed in June. There were some 74 submissions on the proposal, with 38 in support, 28 opposing and eight with a neutral stance. The hearing took place over seven days in August.

The decision is subject to any appeals that may be lodged in the Environment Court.

State owned electricity generator/retailer Mighty River Power would own and operate the wind farm once it was built.

ENDS

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