Latest Updates
1 September 2010
- On 17th August, Environment Waikato announced the Te Uku wind farm project won the Council's inaugural 'Earthworks Site of the Year' award. Environment Waikato (EW) stated that the team won the award 'due to the wind farm project's very high standard of erosion and sediment control.'
- The Project Te Uku team is currently constructing a wind farm viewing area along the main highway leading into Raglan, adjacent to Surfside Church in Te Uku.
- Meridian contractor, Siemens, is currently planning the detailed logistics required for transporting the turbine components from Auckland Port to the Te Uku wind farm. Transport of the turbine components will begin in September.
- On 26 August, the last of 28 concrete turbine foundations was poured by Meridian contractors, the Hick/Spartan JV team.
- Construction of the new, 25km electricity transmission line that will connect the Te Uku wind farm with WEL Networks' substations is progressing on schedule. All 170 poles will be erected by the end of September and the construction project will be completed in October.
25 June 2010
- 14 wind turbine foundations have been poured at the Te Uku wind farm. The team has been pouring 1-2 foundations per week. All 28 turbine foundations are set to be poured by the end of September, well ahead of schedule.
- During consenting of Project Te Uku, the regional council identified two wetlands on the property as ecologically significant for the region. Meridian is currently planting 40,000 native plants within these two wetland areas - a total of 4.56 hectares. The plants will serve to help to improve water quality downstream.
- The Te Uku wind farm community liaison group recently toured the wind farm site. The community liaison group is made up of a range of local people, including Iwi, school principals, council representatives and community leaders. The purpose of the group is to keep the local Raglan community informed about project progress while also providing a forum for any issues to be raised, discussed and resolved. The group meets approximately every two months and will continue to meet for two to three years after wind farm construction is complete.
- WEL Networks and its contractors are continuing to work on several different parts of the 33kV transmission line that will eventually connect the Te Uku wind farm to the WEL network and national grid. The project includes constructing a brand new, 28 kilometre transmission line. Helicopters are being used to lift power poles onto their foundations as much of the line is being built in remote areas.
The following photos show the different stages of constructing a wind turbine foundation.
Turbine foundation is prepared
Foundation steel frame is built
Concrete is poured into frame
Foundation pour is complete
29 April 2010
- The first of 28 turbine foundations was poured this month.
- Environment Waikato granted Meridian the ability to continue earthworks during the winter months. This is not a decision Environment Waikato made lightly and reflects positively on Meridian's environmental management performance on site.
- Te Mata Primary School, which is just a few kilometres down the road said "Thanks" to the Te Uku Project Team for: ensuring vehicles drive slowly by school grounds, donating four large tyres for their playground and for the opportnity to fundraise by cooking breakfasts for the wind farm team.
- Planning is well-advanced for construction of the new overhead transmission line that will connect the Te Uku wind farm to the WEL network and the national grid. Contractors started work in late Ap
Helicopter used in recent transmission line construction work
March 2010
- The first of 28 wind turbine concrete foundations will be poured in April. The foundations are now being prepared so that concrete pours can commence.
- 70km of electrical cable will soon be laid at the Te Uku Wind Farm. This cable connects the wind turbines to the wind farm switching station. The switching station is connected to WEL Networks' transmission line enabling electricity to be conveyed from the wind farm.
- Construction of the 25km electricity transmission route that connects the Te Uku Wind Farm with WEL Networks' nearby substations at Te Kowhai and Te Uku has started.
Steve and Cori Hackett from Tenix begin undergrounding work on new transmission line
Last updated: Wednesday, 1 September 2010
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