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Solar farm divides community

Solar farm divides community
Lizzy Kelsey, co-founder of Save the Waipara Valley, says the solar farm will negatively impact the character of the region. Credit Claire Inkson

A proposed solar farm in the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, has some Waipara residents calling for public consultation as concern grows for the development's impact on the region's wine and tourism industry and the micro-climate.

Far North Solar Farm, an Auckland-based renewable energy company, is developing the solar farm on Tom Kidners' sheep and arable property on State Highway Seven.

The proposed farm will generate enough electricity to power around 28,000 homes.

A group of residents have formed Save the Waipara Valley to oppose the farm and push for public consultation as part of the consent process.

Save the Waipara Valley, co-founder Lizzy Kelsey said the group believes the solar farm will change the character of the area.

"It's changing the area from rural, agricultural, primary production and viticulture to more industrial.

"When you hear the word solar farm, you think it's farming, but in reality, it's a power plant and an industrial structure."

The proposed farm will cover around 200 hectares of flat land and four kilometres of visible panels alongside the state highway.

"It's about 300,000 panels, and the panels themselves are four and a half metres high, and the whole thing will be surrounded by a two-meter fence with three strands of barbed wire."

"People are coming to the wine region for peace and natural beauty, not a barbed wire fence."

Kelsey expressed concern about the farm's effect on the local economy and businesses as the region strives to be known for its boutique wine industry.

"The area has been trying to develop a reputation as a wine region and a tourist destination in its own right.

"There are a lot of good things happening around this place with different businesses, and the thought of that just being dampened down by a proposal like this is devastating."

The group is concerned that the panels will also impact the Waipara microclimate by raising temperatures in the valley. However, Kelsey admits studies researching whether temperatures around solar farms are higher in other parts of the world have had varied results.

"We can look around the world at studies where you have large-scale industrial solar farms, where you get temperature increases not just at the site itself but at the area around them. Other studies show that doesn't happen, but there is a concern it might happen here."

The group is also concerned that highly productive land is being lost to the solar farm and that other areas would be better suited for the purpose.

"Only 15 per cent of land In New Zealand is deemed highly productive and is supposed to be protected for primary production, not for putting in four-and-a-half meter high buildings.

"There is a lot of land in New Zealand that isn't next to communities and isn't highly productive agricultural land."

It's not the first time Waipara residents have opposed developments in the area.

A proposed wind farm and the Kate Valley Landfill have both received opposition from segments of the community in the past.

"I think for the community that has been through two things like that, they have come out the other side with the overriding impression that it doesn't really matter what we think.

"I think that's a real failure of local Government."

Tom Kidner disputes that the land pegged for the solar farm on his property is productive.

"It's not highly productive land.

"Without irrigation, it's some of the least productive.

"We are doing our best to farm it, but in this day and age, we need to diversify."

Kidner will still be able to run sheep underneath the solar panels, he said.

"We are trying to do both.

"We should be able to strengthen our farm income while still running the same amount of lambs under the panels."

Kidner said he doesn't see how the solar farm will impact the wine region, as trees will screen the perimeter, and the noise levels will be below ambient road noise.

"Nobody’s going to hear it.

"They are planting around 30 hectares of native bush that isn't there already, and they are planting trees around it, so you won't be able to see it, and there will be no glare."

Kidner said those opposing the farm had all the hallmarks of nimbyism, with the site being chosen due to its close proximity to the Waipara substation.

"I don't want to drag anyone out, but it's got that 'not in my backyard' feeling.

“Because there is no way it will affect the tourism scene."

Following a mid-April residents' meeting that around fifty people attended, Save the Waipara Valley has recently started a petition calling for public consultation on the solar farm.

by Claire Inkson