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More than 60 households will be blighted if a planned 260 hectare mega-solar farm south west of Wellsford gets the go-ahead, Rodney Local Board heard last month.
Residents’ spokesperson Brett Montefiore, whose 10 hectare lifestyle block borders the proposed site, told members the 180,000 raised solar panels would fill an area three times the size of the township and be clearly visible by anyone driving into Wellsford from the south.
“The site is visible from SH1, SH16, Prictor Road, Davies Road and Clague Road, making it highly visible when entering and leaving the Wellsford township,” he said. “Many of the affected properties face south west, directly over the site.
“Is this location ideal for a solar power station, given its position at the edge of the Wellsford urban zone?” he asked. “The terrain’s rolling to hilly nature makes it impossible to mitigate for the visual impact of so many solar panels.”
He said the site, which sits between SH16, Wayby Station Road and Prictor Road, was made up of prime and elite soils more appropriate for food production and farming, and said the rural landscape and natural terrain should be preserved.
“The hilly land features steep gullies that would require significant modification, levelling and extensive earthworks,” Montefiore said.
He added that local residents were worried that the necessary earthworks and land re-contouring needed for the solar panels and power plant infrastructure would also result in prolonged periods of noise and dust pollution, “potentially lasting months, or even years”.
Board members heard that there had already been instances of property values dropping by at least 20 percent and sales falling through.
The proposal was also causing serious concerns over the potential loss of native bush and wildlife, damage to waterways and the site’s propensity to flood.
Montefiore said the November announcement by Energy Farms Ltd to build a huge solar farm had come as a shock to the town and people were still adjusting to the news.
“We’ve only just found out ourselves and want to raise awareness with you of what’s taking place,” he told board members.
“We’ve nothing against solar – it’s the right power source, just not the right location.”
He said such a site should be on flat land, where planting could make it less visible, such as a solar farm he had visited in Kaitaia, and he urged the board to oppose any resource consent application.
Energy Farms Ltd said in November it hoped to lodge a resource consent application with Auckland Council that month (MM, Nov 20), though nothing had been received by council as we went to press last week.
