Turitea Wind Farm CLG summary of meeting

Turitea wind farm

Community Liaison Group

5 December 2019

SUMMARY OF MEETING

MARGARET welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced some of the people who might be speaking during the evening.

From Mercury: Dennis Radich, Chris Singleton, Mark Henry, Katy Scoullar, Duncan Annandale, John Campbell, Nigel Fluit From Electrix: Kevin Small, Gordon Craig From Vestas: Moran Stark, Duncan Wallbank Apologies had been received from Kathy and Meredith Love, and Craig Auckram (Palmerston North City Council)

AGENDA 1. Introductions; health and safety 2. Project update • Mercury overview • Wind Farm • Transmission

3. Environmental management 4. Dates for next meetings

2 WHAT WE’LL DISCUSS TONIGHT

MARGARET told the meeting what would be discussed: • an update on the project and planning – two big milestones in the project • the Contractors will give an update on the work taking place right now and in the short to medium term • the environmental management on site, and how the Councils keep an eye on this • The dates for the next couple of meetings

UPDATE - MERCURY > Full 60 turbines announced (northern and southern zones) > Ground-breaking ceremony with the Minister of Energy and Mercury’s Chair, Prue Flacks

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MERCURY OVERVIEW

DENNIS spoke to the meeting about the announcement of the full 60 turbines on 15 November making “NZ’s largest wind farm” in a single end‐to‐end project. As with the initial announcement of the wind farm build, commercial and market sensitivity meant that he had been unable to confirm this earlier to the group.

The ground breaking ceremony on 29 October with Dr Megan Woods the Energy Minister, iwi, local government and local people was a symbolic start to the project. The Minister spoke at the time about the wind farm’s contribution to New Zealand’s zero carbon future and the growth that wind energy would provide for the Manawatū region and the country.

Fraser Whineray, Chief Executive of Mercury, announced he is leaving Mercury after 12 years with the company. He will take up a new senior role at Fonterra, at the end of the first quarter next year.

DENNIS talked about New Zealand’s electricity demand and the uncertainty that may have been created around the announcement that the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point is being reviewed by its owner Rio Tinto. This was a review that happened regularly as the owner considered its operating costs particularly electricity. Mercury had anticipated this review that the smelter was entitled to carry out every 12 months and is comfortable with the decisions made. The decision to proceed with the full wind farm at Turitea was based on 25+ year planning timeframes.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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PAHIATUA TRACK – SOUTH RANGE ROAD NEW INTERSECTION UPGRADE

DUNCAN WALLBANK (VESTAS) reported that construction of Pahiatua Track and the new South Range Road Entrance is well under way with planned completion by Christmas. Traffic Management is required to manage safe passage for public and construction teams. Teams are working on stabilising embankments near roads. They were gradually moving on‐site to the offices shown in the top left of the photographs.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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HAUL ROADS AND SPOIL DISPOSAL AREA 1 ARE NOW COMPLETED

DUNCAN W said that major earth works were under way on private property in preparation and readiness for acceptance of approximately 33,000 cubic metres of spoil material from the new South Range Road entrance and wind turbine foundations.

Haul roads were being constructed with steady long radius curves to enable long blades to be transported to site.

DUNCAN W confirmed that while there would initially be some mess, it would be well tidied up. There were stringent environmental requirements that were being strictly adhered to. They had to plan for the worst, then put in controls to cover all scenarios. Their environmental controls were checked after every rainfall event, and in summer dust would be controlled.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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MAJOR EARTHWORKS UNDER WAY

Pictures show works to create environmental controls.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

DUNCAN W said that environmental controls had been established and inspections were conducted daily by crews and weekly by Horizons Regional Council and independent Environmental Consultants. To date no non compliances had been issued.

Question: were the environmental controls here the same as those at Transmission Gully, that had allowed sediment to enter Porirua Harbour?

Answer: MARK confirmed that the same standards and methods were applied here. DUNCAN W said that Horizons reviewed the set‐up regularly, and JOHN said that there were regular physical inspections on site. A member of the meeting confirmed that use of coagulant to separate sediment from water was very effective.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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FOUNDATIONS

DUNCAN W said that construction is a staged activity: • Pahiatua Track and South Range Road new entrance • Wind turbine foundations (hole dug by Downer and Stringfellows teams, involving a huge amount of reinforcing steel, concrete and ducting for cables) • Getting the equipment to site DUNCAN W confirmed that the picture on the slide was from a different, much larger installation in Australia. The holes dug for foundations at Turitea would be around 30m across.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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GETTING THE BLADES TO SITE

DUNCAN W explained that the logistics of storage and of getting the blades to site were a critical part of the build. Vestas engaged a professional organisation within New Zealand to manage this scope of works. An early component of this is simulation runs which have been undertaken for blade deliveries to site. He noted that the blade pictured on the slide is significantly larger than the Turitea blades.

During this process it has been identified that Port of Napier cannot accommodate the storage and management of blades due to major construction activities and cruise liner priority.

Vestas and its contractor undertook simulation studies from the West (Port of Taranaki) to site and it has been confirmed that this is a sound option for storage and transport.

The first 99 blades would be shipped later this month from Taranto in Italy, and transported one at a time to site commencing in February if all road upgrades are complete by then. The route would avoid Palmerston North city, travelling to the back of Fielding, Ashhurst and then state highway 57 and up the Pahiatua Track. MORAN said that a design review was being taken of the entire route.

WIND FARM UPDATE - VESTAS

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STORAGE OF ANCHOR FOUNDATION ASSEMBLIES

DUNCAN W said that utilisation of local storage and handling facilities is a major component of logistics, and that local contractors are also contracted to deliver material from storage to site.

Mercury Turitea Windfarm Transmission Line Build Dec 2019

What have we been doing?

1. Manufacture Conductor has been made.

Fittings are here.

Testing is underway.

Interface steel is arriving Trial assembly is complete Manufacturing of poles and towers has started.

Big shipments arrive from mid January

KEVIN updated the meeting on work currently being undertaken to build the transmission infrastructure for the wind farm.

The conductor has been made in Auckland, and the fittings are now here.

Testing is under way of the steel components. Gordon Craig, an Electrix engineer, had been in China for this testing.

Interface steel is arriving on site for the foundation works.

Trial assembly is complete. This took place at the factory in China with Gordon in attendance, to test that all the components fitted together to assemble the whole. The green light had been given to manufacture the poles and towers. They were being made at the biggest factory in China, near Shanghai. Their output for this project was less than a quarter of 1% of their total output for the year.

Big shipments would arrive from mid January.

Testing

KEVIN said that an independent test lab was being used to test the quality of the steel, along with local test labs in Shanghai. He said that knowing the factory and its supply chain and processes was essential to trust the quality of its output. The factory also made towers for Transpower.

Question: was the carbon cost of steel considered?

Answer: KEVIN said that the testing considered only quality. [later in the meeting the carbon ‘cost’ of constructing the wind farm turbines was considered]

Making sure it all fits together

KEVIN noted that there were 5,000 bolts on each tower.

KEVIN said that a maximum height tower was assembled at the Shanghai factory while Gordon Craig was present to test its construction, and check every combination of heights. The maximum height tower would be 54m tall.

What have we been doing?

2. Greens Road Kahuterawa Road complete.

Vegetation work complete.

Progress has been good considering the weather but very stop/start to keep the road open.

Before Christmas plan is to have the road formed to the first driveway.

KEVIN spoke to works taking place around Greens Road.

Kahuterawa Road works were complete, largely around establishing lines of sight at one corner.

Vegetation work complete. Three weeks of tree‐felling, mostly pines and macrocarpa on private property where the road was to be widened. Native trees had mainly been trimmed.

Question: a member of the meeting asked about the macrocarpas at the bottom of Greens Road.

Answer: KEVIN said that a plan for all vegetation removal had been made, and signed off by Council.

Progress has been good considering the weather, and the plan is to have the road formed to the first driveway before Christmas.

Civil works have started

KEVIN said that the bottom section of Greens Road would be widened to enable trucks to safely use the road. There would be stopping areas at the bottom of Greens Road, half way up and at the top so that trucks can safely pass each other.

Thanks for your patience !

KEVIN said that works were planned to be finished by end January.

Question: what provisions had been made for walkers of the Te Araroa trail?

Answer: A bypass through private property, that had been suggested at an earlier CLG meeting, had worked out well.

This question would be discussed further later in the meeting.

Question: would it be safe to ride horses on the road after January?

Answer: there will be heavy truck movements after January and this will remain an open public road. However, being significantly wider, and with speeds managed, will make it a safer road.

What have we been doing?

3. Access Tracks Tracks and culverts completed to pole 6.

Working on 7 & 8 and planning for 9 & 10.

If it rains we get mud

If it doesn’t rain for 3 days we get dust and have to water the tracks

After Christmas Greens Road upgrade continues Pole foundation works start Pre‐assembly yard on Browns Flat Vegetation / Geotech work in the Reserve

Seed collection was taking place now to propagate and re‐seed as part of the revegetation plan.

Home without harm, everyone, everyday.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > Weekly council compliance inspections occurring with Horizons. > Horizons inspect all of the erosion and sediment controls on site that have been constructed and score them. > Good scores have been received to date. > Any minor issues have been remedied quickly.

> Independent Erosion and Sediment Control expert audits/inspection taking place (currently fortnightly)

by Southern Skies as required by resource consents. > Designed to check compliance of works on site with the SEMP (site environmental management plan) with an independent hat on.

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CHECKS BY INDEPENDENT EXPERTS

MARK said that design works, management plans and Council walk‐arounds were being used to manage the risk from turning earth on the site. Modelling had taken place of the catchments and run‐off to enable pond sizing and structures to be planned. Installation of controls takes place before the main works so no earth is turned until they are all in place.

There was a regular cadence of inspections from Horizons Councils. Mercury, Vestas and Electrix all had environmental professionals on site. Mercury recognised the sensitivity of the catchment, both the water reservoir and streams.

SITE PHOTOS – ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

Clean water diversion bund and dirty water diversion channel

Super silt fence construction

Turfed bund (use of existing grass to immediately stabilise bund – best practice)

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MARK explained that controls were maintained across the catchment. Clean water was kept separate from the site, or controls were used like bunds or silt fencing to keep it away.

SITE PHOTOS – ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

Subsoil installation to divert existing groundwater around the works site.

Sediment retention pond installation – these are designed to capture any sediment and treat the water before being discharged offsite.

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MARK explained that the photographs showed subsurface drainage around a spoil site (left) and provisions to trap and bind sediment, enabling it to be removed from water (right).

Question: will before and after photographs be taken of the Reserve? Were indigenous trees being removed?

Answer: MARK said that the footprint of where the pylons would be sited for the transmission lines had been designed by engineers working with ecologists so as not to unnecessarily remove significant trees. Some pylons would be installed by helicopter to avoid the need to make tracks through the bush. Time lapse photography would take in a wide view of the site, but it was not planned to take before and after photographs of smaller areas within the Reserve. It was also noted that any sensitive vegetation removed is mitigated by planting elsewhere [eg at Brown’s Flat].

Question: were visuals of the transmission line available?

Answer: MARK said that the transmission line was originally planned to follow the ridge line but had then been moved to a lower, less prominent position to lessen visual impact. In some instances that meant that the structures were now to be located in higher value vegetation. Photomontages including the transmission line (albeit from some distance) had been made at the time of consenting. However, these have limited value now as they represent a wind farm layout significantly larger than that consented.

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CLICK TO ADD FOOTER

A copy of this map was handed out to the meeting.

DENNIS explained that at the last meeting it was asked whether the planning around Greens Rd and Turitea Road had taken into account the walkers, horse riders and cyclists who used this road : • This map shows an alternative walking track that we are building on private land for ~1km alongside Greens Road.

The Council has come onboard supplying materials for boardwalks through the soft spots. Labour is being provided in part by some inmates from the Prison.

• For cyclists and horse‐riders, we’re putting up signage in six places (marked on the map).

Thanks were due to the Te Araroa Trail Trust, PNCC, the landowners for the land access, and Electrix.

LOCAL BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT ABB’s local crew Adamson & Holland Advanced Security Ashhurst Engineering Aubyn Court Avenue Motel (accommodation) Awatea Park (accommodation) B&M Fire BakerAg Beca – Palmerston North BK's Motorlodge Blackmore Valuations Brew Union Brewing Company Café Cuba Distinction Cuba (accommodation)

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Distinction Coachman(accommodation) Exclusive Cleaning Services Limited GHD Higgins Concrete Hireways Machinery Rentals JA Russell Ltd John Turkington Ltd Lumberland 2006 Ltd Manawatu Golf Course Moxies Cafe NZ Safety Blackwoods Palmerston North Airport Pho Nem Hanoi Quest

Signfusion Ltd Silverfin Nominees (office) Stringfellows Civil Engineering Contractors Treescape

FURTHER CONTRACTS BEING AWARDED – THIS LIST WILL GROW

DENNIS noted the growing list of local businesses involved with the project – and there will be more.

DATES FOR NEXT TWO MEETINGS > 12 February - avoids anniversary day holidays in January, and Waitangi Day > 1 April - before Easter and the school holidays

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NEXT MEETINGS

MARGARET asked the meeting to confirm their acceptance of the two next scheduled meetings, that were scheduled for Wednesday evenings.

DENNIS said that the construction of the southern turbines should not impact those in the south significantly more than the northern part of the project. Most of the work in this area was related to the transmission line, that was already under way. Components for the turbines themselves would mostly come into the site through the northern area of the wind farm. There would be some additional construction traffic, but this is limited and controlled by the consents.

The first 33 turbines were to have been installed by the final quarter of 2020. The end to end project would now be complete by the third or fourth quarter of 2021, with the build extended 8‐11 months by the southern turbines.

Question: how would workers get to site?

Answer: some workers would use the roads to the south of the site, but very limited heavy traffic. That was all counted, monitored and reported, with a cap on how many trucks could run each day.

The meeting AGREED with the dates for meetings in February and April 2020.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION > TURITEAWINDFARM@MERCURY.CO.NZ

MARGARET asked for questions from the meeting, and the following discussion took place: Question: how will Mercury address the problem of arcing in switching gear?

Answer: KEVIN responded that in his experience, operating switchgear required a medium to suppress a potential arc, with options including air, compressed air, SF6 (sulphur hexic fluoride, a contained and controlled substance). G3 was more environmentally safe but not yet available for commercial use in this country. DENNIS said that Mercury had specified that SF6 was to be avoided where possible, but it is still the only feasible option in NZ for high voltage application. It is tightly controlled to avoid it getting in to the environment.

Question: could it be designed in that once new technology became available to replace SF6, that this replacement was made?

Answer: DENNIS said that once the components were assembled, they would be there for a long time, and it was not practical to design in technology that was not yet available. As an industry and as an organisation, attempts are being made to move away from SF6 but we are limited in influence and by what is available.

Question: could the Consent be revisited particularly around infra‐sound, to take into account advances in science that may have occurred since the Consent was given?

Answer: MARK said that sound was carefully considered at the Consent hearing, and in any long term resource consent there is a review clause. If new information or effects are relevant, the Council can review the conditions.

Question: would it be possible for a public health study to measure physiological changes before the wind farm starts to operate, and then regularly afterwards.

Answer: MARGARET noted this question, and agreed to talk to the member of the meeting separately to assist her to speak to the correct person in Council about her concerns. DENNIS said that sound was discussed at the first meeting of CLG. Mercury had not seen any new science that changed its views from when the Consent was given. There were currently wind farms along the hills outside of Palmerston North, without effects from infrasound being identified. And a wind farm was currently being consented elsewhere in New Zealand, which would provide a test case for any new science. This forum is not set up to relitigate the Consent, and the question should be put directly to Council to consider.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION > TURITEAWINDFARM@MERCURY.CO.NZ

Question: could the lifespan of the wind farm be clarified Answer: DENNIS confirmed that there was a 25 year cycle, with the expectation that the wind farm will be repowered and continue to be a wind farm after that time.

Question: has the CO2 emissions been calculated around the wind farm construction, transportation etc.

Answer: DENNIS said that the wind farm was net positive. He recommended Vestas’ calculations of the “carbon burden” (https://www.vestas.com/en/about/sustainability#!energy‐payback). DUNCAN W said that the time to offset carbon emissions from turbine manufacture against the displaced coal/gas generation on the national grid was pretty short, around 6‐8 months when it came to displacing coal generation.

Question: what was the productivity of the wind farm?

Answer: DENNIS said that the capacity factor of the northern group was 45% and the southern group 41%. This was highly productive, with 35% capacity factors considered to be “high” by international standards.

Question: was Mercury paying for road straightening on the Pahiatua Track that was previously proposed.

Answer: DENNIS said that a bypass across private land was being sought, to avoid corners and allow the blades to pass to site, but corners typically were needed to achieve a manageable gradient up the hill. Vestas were looking for agreements before Christmas with identified landowners for a bypass, then may speak to the Council about consents. The bypass route would be there for the lifetime of the wind farm, and Council is understood to be interested in whether it provides a future road alignment option.

Question: now that the decision has been made to use Port Taranaki for some transport of parts, does this mean that the secondary road access on the eastern side of the Pahiatua Track was no longer needed?

Answer: DENNIS confirmed that this should no longer be required, and JOHN said that until the necessary approvals had been gained, the original access plans would be left on the table, but the intention was to go with the route in from the west.

MARGARET thanked the meeting for its discussion and wished everyone a safe Christmas.

The meeting ended at 7.20pm