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Castle Hill Wind Farm

Genesis Energy is proposing to establish and operate the Castle Hill Wind Farm ("CHWF") on rural land in northern Wairarapa. The CHWF involves up to 286 wind turbines with a potential nominal capacity of up to 860MW of renewable electricity generation. The electricity produced is potentially equivalent to that consumed each year by up to 370,000 average New Zealand households.

CHWF is located 20km east of Eketahuna and Pahiatua, 20km north-east of Masterton and 15km west of the Wairarapa coast north of Castlepoint.

Figure: Castle Hill Wind Farm Location

The CHWF site covers an area of approximately 30,000ha and is characterised by undulating hills of predominantly pastoral grass, with grazing by sheep and cattle. Stands of native vegetation are located throughout the site, particularly in gullies, with forestry areas within the site. The topography is varied, with elevation ranging from 200m to 500m above sea level.

There are six small rural settlements in or around the CHWF area including Tinui, Pongaroa, Alfredton, Makuri, Tiraumea and Bideford. These six settlements had a combined population in 2006 of around 500 people in 110 households. Masterton (population 18,000), Pahiatua (population 2,600) and Eketahuna (population 460) are the larger townships located within 30kms of the CHWF Site.

Key components and features of the CHWF project include:

  • Up to 286 medium turbines (maximum tip height 135m) or up to 242 large turbines (maximum tip height greater than 135m but no greater than 155m) or a mixture of medium and large turbines installed within the turbine corridor.
  • Internal roads: roads constructed within the CHWF site for transporting wind farm components, materials and personnel within the site and to allow access around the site for construction and operational activities.
  • Electrical Balance of Plant (EBoP): All electrical structures and equipment related to the collection and reticulation of electrical power around CHWF to the point of connection to the external transmission line. Plant includes an internal transmission line, 33kV overhead lines, 33kV underground cables, a main substation and satellite substation, an optional switching station and switch gear huts along with other associated electrical equipment.
  • Monitoring masts: up to 16 monitoring masts to collect on-going meteorological information during the operational life of the CHWF.
  • External roads: Public roads near the site that are planned to be used for traffic associated with the construction and operation of the CHWF and by over-weight and over-dimension vehicles.
  • Earthworks associated with the construction and maintenance of the CHWF.
  • Temporary construction infrastructure: components required for construction of the CHWF including concrete batching plants, central laydown areas, excess fill areas, contractor compound, quarrying and crushing facilities and water storage and abstraction facilities.
  • Operations infrastructure e.g. operations and maintenance buildings.

View a map showing the layout overview of the CHWF  

For more information, please feel free to contact Stephanie Murphy, Environmental Development Manager on:

Telephone: (09) 580 2094 
Email: castle.hill@genesisenergy.co.nz