Preserving Ohariu Valley, Wellington, New Zealand

Ohariu Preservation Society Incorporated (OPS) is a group of Ohariu Valley residents who wish to ensure that any wind-farm development in the Ohariu and Wellington region proceeds only if it is sited in an environmentally sustainable way, responsible to the community.

We support responsible wind-farms

Ohariu Preservation Society has been formed to protect our existing environment, not to oppose all wind-farms. The small rural community we currently enjoy, with its wonderful ridgeline vistas, is potentially going to be turned into a harsh, industrial environment. We wish to protect this area from any visual or aural intrusions.

Our purpose

• To protect and preserve the unique environment, natural resources and communities of the wider Ohariu Valley area.

• To explore and evaluate information on any wind-farm developments proposed for the wider Ohariu Valley area.

• To assess any potential construction access options that would affect Ohariu or Makara residents in any way.

Methods to achieve our purpose

• Promote a consultation process that is fair to all parties.

• Employ the appropriate experts to gather information on the Ohariu environment to assess possible outcomes from a wind- farm.

• Provide this information to residents so they can make informed submissions on the planned Mill Creek wind-farm development.

• Inform residents of key dates in the development of the wind- farm.

• Ensure that the wider community is fully aware of any roading proposals planned as part of the wind-farm development.

Project Mill Creek

Meridian Energy is proposing to construct a 31 turbine wind-farm North of Wellington between Ohariu Valley, Makara and the West coast. 'Project Mill Creek' was granted consent under the Resource Management Act with conditions in February 2009 for 29 turbines. This consent is subject to appeals to the Environment Court, due to be heard in October 2010.

This is the second wind-farm proposed for the area. Project West Wind's 62 wind turbines are operating near Makara. There have been over a thousand complaints from local residents since they started up. People living up to 8km away can hear the turbines. Some people have moved out because they have found it so unbearable. Here are some recent quotes from Makara residents:

"It is possible to hear and feel the turbines inside the house even over the usual household noises during the day and evenings. At night, the noise is almost unbearable as it significantly disturbs my sleep patterns and this is now starting to affect my health and well-being.  I am aware that I have been disturbed at night by a sensation of vibration through the bed and pillows."

"We have double glazing installed in some rooms but the low frequency nature of the noise makes this ineffective as a noise barrier."

"We have friends in South Karori over 3km away that can hear them clearly"

"There are days when I simply have to remove myself and leave the area because of the noise issues"

"when it is windy at our house, the wind noise cannot be heard inside the house, but the turbine noise can"

"I cannot stay outside for any length of time as the rhythmic swishing, pulsing sound, (sometimes a rhythmic, roaring sound), make me feel seasick"

"many residents along the Makara valley continue to have their lives blighted by the noise of the turbines"