BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENT COURT CHRISTCHURCH REGISTRY ENV-2011-CHC-090 UNDER The Resource Management Act 1991 BETWEEN MERIDIAN ENERGY LIMITED Applicant AND HURUNUI DISTRICT COUNCIL and CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL Consent Authorities Statement of evidence for Glenmark Community Against Wind Turbines Incorporated By Lynette Fay Meares Malcolm Wallace Barrister PO Box 13254 Armagh Christchurch 8141 Phone: 03 379 6976 malcolmwallace@bridgesidechambers.co.nz 1
1. My name is LYNETTE FAY MEARES. I reside at 21 Heathfield Road, Greta Valley (7387). (Legal description, Lot 1 DP 42483 BLK X Stonyhurst SD). I am a retired farmer, volunteer librarian and a community historian. I have a BA and a Diploma NZLS (New Zealand Library School). I have been active all my life in community affairs. These activities are described in the body of my evidence. 2. I am giving evidence on my own behalf. 3. My evidence outlines the following: Family connection to Greta Valley/Motunau Visual Impacts Noise/health impacts Future uncertainty Traffic Community divisions Meridian's track record Conclusion 4. Family connection to Greta Valley/Motunau My family has owned land in the area since my father Eric Gardiner, a returned serviceman, purchased a farm called Vulcan Downs in 1919. He subsequently expanded the farm to 2500 acres to incorporate what are the farms known today as Sudbury, Glandyfi and Gorrie Downs. 2
5. I was born in 1924. As a child my siblings and I lived in Christchurch but were frequently at the farm, for weekends and holidays. These escapes from town were the highlight of my youth. We spent glorious times on horseback riding all over the property's flats and hilly uplands, or swimming in the river or at the beach. During WW II, I and my sister were manpowered to work full-time on the farm. 6. In 1950, I moved permanently to live in Greta Valley. My husband Wyndham Meares and I purchased part of Vulcan Downs and named it Glandyfi. This is the farm at 365 Motunau Beach Road now owned by my son David Meares and his wife Vivienne. 7. My husband and I retired to 21 Heathfield Rd in 1976. We built a home and established extensive gardens on what was a disused council quarry. In 1991 we had a house fire and had to rebuild. At that time we did consider leaving the area to be closer to services, but could not as were so attached to this land, to our son's family growing up on the farm, and to our local friends and community. 8. There are now four generations of my family whose values and sense of place are closely connected with our farm and its beautiful surroundings. This generational continuity matters enormously to me. 9. All my life, I have deeply identified with the physical power of this landscape, which I have come to know and love intimately over the years. This is a rural area that I consider will be despoiled by the intrusion of massive industrial wind turbines. 3
10. Visual impacts The closest turbine to my house is A11, at 2.8km away. This and several turbines will be visible from elevated parts of the section and from the front gate. Although there are trees around the section, there will also be turbines visible from the lounge window. Meridian's landscape expert did visit me briefly, but there were no photo-simulations carried out. Viewpoints 11 and 39 of the Truescape simulations offer the closest indication of the views of the proposed turbines from my property. 11. Noise/health impacts At age 87, I have health issues, including high blood pressure, heart problems, chronic pain, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. A peaceful, low stress lifestyle is essential to my wellbeing. I am concerned that an operating windfarm will severely disrupt this quiet calm. I particularly value the still, silent nights here. 12. The house and garden is protected from the winds that may be blowing up on the ridges. Therefore I am concerned that turbine noise will not necessarily be masked by ambient wind noise at the location of my house, for often there is scarcely any wind at all. 13. Future uncertainty My health has already been affected by the stress induced by the protracted windfarm consent process. If it is consented with the 10-year leeway Meridian has requested before having to start construction, my sense of uncertainty will be exacerbated. 14. This concern, compounded by the likely drop in my property's value due to the windfarm, has put me under pressure to sell up, despite the fact that I don't need to move into aged care 4
yet. I still drive and am relatively independent, and desire to live in my home for as long as practicable. 15. Due to my health issues, my daughter Belinda has recently moved back from Australia to be with me. If I do not sell, as is my preference so that I can pass on the property to her, we are planning to build a granny flat/studio on an elevated part of the section. This will enable us to have separate living spaces. However this plan, which would entail significant investment from us both, is on hold because of the uncertainty created by the windfarm proposal. If the windfarm is built, turbines will be highly visible from our planned building site. 16. A lot of my capital is tied up in this property, and I would need to sell it to finance my way into care when the time comes. I have little doubt that its market appeal as a lifestyle property will be compromised. My nearest neighbour, who is newly retired, last year moved to a similar-sized property up the road that he bought for the 'peace and quiet'. He has said that he is concerned by the possibility of disturbance from the turbines. 17. Traffic I have had decades here to experience Motunau Beach Road's traffic usage and hazards. Accidents are sadly not uncommon. The windfarm's construction will cause prolonged disruption and safety risks to road users. I am concerned that if I have a health emergency during that time, I could encounter traffic delays getting to medical services. After a heart attack in 2005, I had to be taken to hospital by ambulance. 18. Community divisions I am one of the few remaining of my generation in the district. I have been a key person in 5
ensuring the community has had a library service, for 60 plus years. In recognition of this contribution I received Community Service Awards in 1998 and 2000 from the Hurunui District Council. I am still volunteering as chief librarian for the Greta Valley District library, and also have until recently been a volunteer at the Hurunui District Library, Amberley. 19. Over the years, I have been very active in other community organisations such as the Amberley Pony Club, Women's Division of Federated Farmers, the local school PTA, Plunket, and Cubs and Brownies. During the 1990 Sesquicentennial year I recorded local histories of long-term residents for the Hurunui District Library. 20. I am extremely distressed by the impact that Meridian's windfarm project is having on our previously harmonious and public-spirited community. I have never in all my years here encountered such a divisive issue. Although we are for the most part courteous and genuine people, should the windfarm be built I fear the underlying rifts in our community will only worsen. 21. Meridian's track record I have attended key meetings between Meridian's executives and the community, and can corroborate evidence of other witnesses, to the effect that former CEO Tim Lusk assured us that the windfarm would not be built if the community did not want it. 22. I was approached at one of these meetings by Sheila Watson, Meridian's Manager, Natural Resources, who promised to visit me to discuss my situation. She never did. 6
23. These lapses of follow-through give me little confidence that Meridian's promises to address my and other residents' many concerns will be met in any meaningful way. 24. Conclusion I am deeply attached to this district and its community, to the beautiful natural landscapes that surround and nurture us, and to the wonderful life that I have been privileged to lead here since I was a girl. It is my fervent wish that this rural heritage is respected and conserved for future generations. It is my view that major industrial developments on the scale of Meridian's proposed windfarm simply have no place here. Lynette Fay Meares Dated: 27 April 2012 7
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