Friends of Turitea Reserve Society, Inc. (FOTR)

FOTR is an environmental protection group dedicated to preserving the underlying 'naturalness' of the Turitea Reserve and by maintaining the quiescent, tranquil nature of the landscape within and around the Turitea Reserve.

The Purposes of FOTR are to:

• Protect, maintain and enhance the Turitea Reserve for the benefit of all.
• Oppose the proposal by Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) to establish a wind farm on the Turitea Reserve
• Oppose any proposal to establish a windfarm on privately owned land adjacent to the Turitea Reserve
• Oppose any other similar proposals by PNCC that may compromise the natural resources of the Turitea Reserve or the regions natural landscape
• Educate the public of the likely effects of any developments outlined above that may effect the Reserve's unique environment or natural resources
• Support other like-minded societies that oppose the development of proposed wind farms in the Manawatu where the developments threaten the unique environment or natural resources
• Educate and open the eyes of the community through the promotion of the fauna, flora and natural habitats associated with the Turitea Reserve and it's adjacent environs.

Aims

Our vision is to see a mainland island successfully established in the Turitea Reserve and the surrounding environs, managed and funded through PNCC, the Department for Conservation, Forest & Bird, the local community and corporate sponsorship.

Pukaha Mount Bruce, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Bushy Park, Boundary Stream and Maungatautari are mainland islands free from pests and wind turbines. FOTR see the establishment of these mainland islands as a blueprint for success in the Turitea Reserve.

Our goal is to create an environment free from introduced pests that provides a safe haven for the growth and re-introduction of indigenous plants and animals which may go some way to creating an environment similar to that of 150 years ago.

Our aim is to foster and develop Palmerston North's relationship with the Turitea Reserve through realisation, education, and appreciation of the natural areas and fauna & flora that it encompasses.

The story so far

1. PNCC have entered into a conditional agreement with Mighty River Power (MRP, a State Owned Enterprise where the major shareholder is the Government) to construct a wind farm on the Turitea Reserve and adjacent private land.
2. In our opinion, the PNCC decision to add 'renewable energy generation' as a third purpose (with water catchment and protection of indigenous fauna & flora) to the Turitea Reserve is misguided.
3. The proposal and the PNCC decision are without precedent.
4. FOTR feel compelled to challenge the PNCC decision in the High Court.
5. This decision has the potential to open the floodgates allowing the development of any 'local purpose' reserve in New Zealand.
6. FOTR has received an appropriate mandate from the Palmerston North ratepayers to challenge the PNCC decision on the basis of it's membership level (more than 135 as of January 2007).
7. FOTR have a responsibility to test the legality of the PNCC decision.
8. FOTR consider that the consultation process co-ordinated by PNCC was flawed and that data made available to Councillors was unlawfully withheld from submittors.
9. Therefore the public were not able to make an informed decision.
10. The PNCC proposal indicates the construction of up to 60 125m turbines on the Turitea Reserve with as yet, an unknown number on adjacent private land.
11. The Turitea and Kahuterawa Valleys that lie adjacent to the Turitea Reserve are a 'rural/residential' area and many living near the proposed turbine sites have health and safety fears and are uncertain what effect the turbines may have on local residential values.

Consultation

The consultation document published by PNCC and endorsed by Heather Tanguay, mayor of Palmerston North, was nebulous and not sufficiently balanced.

Certain sections of the consultation document were unclear and created confusion as highlighted in some submissions.
Two thirds of the 530 submissions were against the proposal. Nevertheless, Councillors voted to add the third purpose 'renewable energy generation' to the 'purposes' of the Turitea Reserve and set the wheels in motion for a resource consent process co-ordinated by Mighty River Power.

Our Position

FOTR support renewable energy generation including wind power.

FOTR believes that there are many other alternative sites within the Manwatu, away from the Turitea Reserve and residential areas, where wind farms should be developed.

FOTR believes that PNCC should advocate the recommendations of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment report "Wind Power, People, and Place" and support the development of smaller scale wind farms where there is direct benefit to those communities where they are situated.

FOTR believes that generating power through the use of wind farms is not the magic bullet that New Zealand needs to become energy self-sufficient.

FOTR, as a group whose core focus is on the environment, believes that we are all responsible individually for reducing our energy consumption.

FOTR promotes the use of solar hot water heating systems, energy efficient light bulbs, double glazing and effective wall insulation; all of which pay for themselves increasingly quickly as electricity prices increase.

The Turitea Reserve is the scenic backdrop for our city – ask yourself whether a view of 125m wind turbines on the Tararua ridgeline from the Square down Fitzherbert Avenue is a sight you might be happy to see for the next 25 years?

The Tararua ridgeline 'natural landscape' is slowly being eroded away through industrial-scaled development. As responsible administrators of the Turitea Reserve, PNCC should preserve the natural habitats for future generations.

Action

Don't be an ostrich, pull your head out of the sand and make up your own mind based on the information here on our website and others where there are links provided.

This is the biggest issue the city has ever faced that will influence the area for many years to come.

Get involved, read on and get clued up.

WILL YOU JOIN US TO SAVE THE CITY?

The cost is just $10 NZD, but if you are able to make a greater contribution please contact us.

Download our application form (PDF). Print it off and send it in with $10 NZD to: