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Appendix Two

Central Wind windfarm Conditions

Turbine Placement                                  

  1. No more than fifty-two (52) wind turbines generators (turbines) shall be permitted to be installed subject to the following:
    1. Each turbine shall be within 150 metres of its location on the plan marked “Sheet 10 – Proposed Turbine Layout” submitted with the application, except that a minimum separation of a turbine blade length plus 30 metres shall be maintained to the boundary with Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary for turbines CO9 CO8 CO7 CO5 CO3 BO4 and BO5.  An ecologist shall have input to final detailed design of the wind farm in particular any movement of turbines and associated infrastructure within the 150 turbine placement envelopes during the final detailed design of the wind farm.
    2. Turbine Height (to vertically extended blade tip) shall be limited to 135 metres.

Avi – fauna Pre-construction Avian Utilisation Study

  1. The Consent Holder shall complete four seasons of bird and bat Pre-construction Avian Utilisation Study as detailed in the methodology attached as Appendix 8 to the Ecology report (Appendix D of the Project Central Wind Farm Resource Consent Application) prior to the construction of the wind farm.  The results of the Pre-construction Avian Utilisation Study shall determine (in consultation with the Department of Conservation Wanganui Conservancy) the range of wildlife species, both bird and bat that require ongoing monitoring during and for a period of three years post construction.  The ongoing monitoring methodology shall incorporate regular reporting mechanisms.
  2. A report shall be prepared by a suitably qualified avian expert on the Pre-Construction Avian Utilisation Study results and their analysis. This report shall be provided to the Consent Authority.  In the event that the report determines that the results of the Pre‑construction Avian Utilisation Study undertaken in accordance with condition 4 of this consent, indicates that species present on the project site with a national threat status of nationally critical, nationally endangered or nationally vulnerable are at risk of significant adverse effect from the wind farm, the report shall investigate (in consultation with the Department of Conservation Wanganui Conservancy) and outline recommended reasonable methods to avoid or minimise those effects. Possible biodiversity measures include but are not limited to bird corridor enhancement, habitat protection or enhancement, on or off site breeding programmes, nest protection and pest control.   A copy of the completed report shall also be supplied to the Department of Conservation Wanganui Conservancy.

Bird Monitoring – Bird Strike Monitoring

  1. The consent holder shall record bird strike on the Project Central Wind Farm immediately the wind farm becomes operational.  The location from which a dead or injured bird has been retrieved/recovered on a New Zealand map grid co-ordinate.
  2. Any retrieved, injured nationally critical, nationally endangered or nationally vulnerable species of avifauna listed in Table 3 of Ecology Report (Appendix D of the Project Central Wind Farm Resource Consent Application) shall be assessed by a suitably qualified independent veterinarian.  Any retrieved injured threatened birds that can not be released to the wild, once assessed, will be humanely put down.
  3. All retrieved nationally critical, nationally endangered or nationally vulnerable species of avifauna listed in Table 3 of Ecology Report (Appendix D of the Project Central Wind Farm Resource Consent Application) shall be provided to a suitably qualified avifauna expert, who shall assess and record each specimen’s species, age class (i.e. juvenile or adult) and where possible probable cause of injury or death and any antecedent weather conditions. 
  4. The consent holder engage a suitably qualified avifauna expert to prepare and provide a report to the Consent Authority detailing all recorded bird carcasses and/or injured birds recovered/retrieved from the Central Wind Farm under conditions 6 to 8 above, within two months of the anniversary’s of the first, second and third full years of operation of the wind farm. The report shall include the locations and date of retrieval, species and age class of these species and known or likely cause of injury or death and any antecedent weather conditions at time of likely death.  A copy of the report shall also be supplied to the Department of Conservation Wanganui Conservancy.
  5. If in the opinion of the suitably qualified avifauna expert the monitoring described in conditions 4 to 6 above and the report required in 7 identifies a significant adverse effect from the operation of Project Central Wind farm on any nationally critical, nationally endangered or nationally vulnerable species of avifauna listed in Table 3 of the Ecology Report, (Appendix D of the Project Central Wind Farm Resource Consent Application), the consent holder shall discuss the findings with the suitably qualified avifauna expert, and if necessary discuss a reasonable course of action to avoid or minimise those effects. Possible biodiversity measures include but are not limited to bird corridor enhancement, habitat protection or enhancement, on or off site breeding programmes, nest protection and pest control.  The consent holder shall consult with the Department of Conservation Wanganui Conservancy regarding this condition.
  6. If following three years of monitoring of bird strike in accordance with conditions 4 to 6 above the report and findings show that operation of the wind farm, in the opinion of the avifauna expert, is having no or a minimal effect on bird strike, monitoring shall be reduced in frequency or discontinued following agreement with the Consent Authority and in consultation with the Department of Conservation. 
  7. For the purposes of minimising the visibility of any dead or injured bird, to avoid scavenging and to discourage prey species such as rabbits from the immediate area beneath the turbines, the consent holder shall re-vegetate areas disturbed during the construction of each turbine as required by and in accordance with conditions 9 and 10 of the consent.

Fill Disposal Selection

  1. The consent holder shall select fill disposal sites for placement of excess excavated material in general accordance with the criteria set out in sections 7.2 of the Ecology Report (Appendix D of the Project Central Wind  Resource Consent Application) and  section 2.4 of the Construction Effects Report (Appendix B of the Project Central Wind Resource Consent Application.   An ecologist shall have input into the selection of fill disposal sites during the final design of the wind farm layout.

Crossing – Culverts and Bridges

  1. The Consent Holder shall ensure that the existing fish passage is maintained or (where practicable) restored during and on completion of the construction of any new and replacement crossing structures on the Hautapu and Tikirere Streams.
  2. The Consent Holder shall ensure that the upgrading or existing stream crossings along the construction access route in the Hautapu Stream Valley (as shown on Sheets 41 to 47) shall be installed to maintain existing hydrology up and down stream of the crossing structure.
  3. An ecologist shall have input in into the final design of bridges, culverts, roading and stormwater management in the immediate vicinity of the crossing points of the Hautapu and Tikirere Stream crossings.

Fire Management Plan

  1. The consent holder shall prepare a Fire Management Plan (FMP) that establishes procedures for the management of the risk of fire and for fire suppression.  The FMP shall be part of the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).  The FMP shall be in general accordance with the Forest and Rural Fire Regulations Act 1977.  A copy of the FMP is to be submitted to the Consent Authority at least one month prior to the commencement of construction of Project Central Wind. 

 

Last updated: 29 August 2008