Wind farm proposed for east of Wyndham

Contact Energy’s proposed Southland wind farm will cost up to $900 million to build.

Contact Energy Head of Wind and Solar Matthew Cleland said the proposed wind farm would be built on elevated land east of Wyndham township.

‘‘It’s a large-scale project and will provide a lot of work for civil and local contractors,’’ Cleland said.

Cleland said the wind farm would cost an estimated $700m to $900m to build.

If approved, construction of the wind farm would start in 2025 and take two years to complete, he said.

Community information sessions were held in Wyndham last week and most people had been ‘‘pretty positive’’ about the project, he said.

‘‘There has been some negative feedback on the visual impact because it changes the landscape, which is to be expected.

‘‘But there’s been a lot of positivity too with people saying it looks awesome,’’ Cleland said.

In March 2021, Contact Energy announced a six-year partnership with Roaring40s Wind Power Ltd to develop a pipeline of wind farms to meet New Zealand’s growing need for renewable electricity.

Cleland said many people realised there was a need for green fuel and for the power company to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Local residents were able to see what the proposed wind farm might look like from pictures depicting several different view points.

Cleland said the project would consist of 50 wind turbines spread over Jedburgh Station and neighbouring Venlaw Forest.

The site had been chosen because of its good wind resource and willing landowners.

Jedburgh Station, originally part of Venlaw Station, has been owned by the Story family for more than 100 years.

Cleland said the proposed wind farm would power an estimated 150,000 households a year – making a significant contribution to future electricity demand, Cleland said.

The turbines could be up to 220 metres (from base to tip), significantly larger than those being built on the Kaiwera Downs wind farm by Mercury.

‘‘We’re looking to consent for larger turbines which will produce more power.’’

Contact Energy said it would work with local councils to develop a road management plan as there would be some limitations on bridges leading to the site.

The blades and towers were likely to be transported in the middle of the night to minimise disruption, he said.

Cleland said people at the community feedback sessions had asked that local contractors be involved in the construction of the wind farm.

‘‘There will be a lot of work for civil contractors and local contractors.

‘‘We estimate that $300 to $350 million could be injected back into the Southland economy through the building process.’’

A wind farm project, known as the Slopedown wind farm, was considered previously at the same location more than 10 years ago by a different developer.

Contact Energy was one of New Zealand’s largest energy retailers and generators.

It has more than 550,000 customers with electricity, gas and broadband connections.