Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Planning for Net Biodiversity Gains: A Case
Study of Hauāuru mā raki Wind Farm,
New Zealand
John L. Craig, Gerry Kessels, Peter Langlands, and Stephen Daysh
Abstract
Hauāuru mā raki Wind Farm is a large facility planned for the west coast
of the upper North Island of New Zealand. As the wind farm will be adjacent to a
major migratory shorebird flyway, 3 years were spent gaining an understanding of
the possible mortality. Both radar and observers were used to gain data for use in the
Band Model for providing a likely range of mortality estimates. An expert team
from the Government's Department of Conservation, the local government and the
company determined the potential range of measures for use in the model. A consent
condition under the requirements of the
Resource Management Act 1991
requires
that the energy company obtain 3 years of data on breeding performance of one
Endangered and one At Risk migratory shorebird species considered most suscep-
tible to mortality from the proposed turbines. These data are required prior to any
construction and is to be followed after construction of the wind farm begins with
5 years of further monitoring in conjunction with a pest control program that is
estimated to enhance breeding output. The measure of additional breeding adults
from this enhanced breeding is required to at least match the measures of turbine
mortality. The pest control program is predicted to enhance breeding of these and
other Endangered species such that there will be a significant biodiversity gain as a
result of the wind farm.
Keywords
Biodiversity offsets • Project planning • Collision risk model • Wind
farm • New Zealand
