TDG first began work on the Makara Wind Farm for ECNZ in 1997.  TDG were then re-engaged by Meridian Energy to assess a vastly improved scheme, named Project West Wind, in 2005.

The new proposal included more efficient wind turbines, a more sensitive layout, and the innovative logistics solution of a temporary wharf on the Makara Coast, meaning the oversize turbine component wouldn’t use public roads.  However the level of scrutiny applied by the community required very thorough analysis of all the ‘standard’ trucks and vehicles involved in construction.

After approval by a Council Hearing Committee, and a lengthy appeal process, the project was eventually given final approval in 2007.  Work began quickly, with enabling works such as public road improvements starting just a few months after the decision was released.

As the project developed, a number of key decisions reduced the actual traffic effects, including a decision by the contractor that trucks would only use one of the two planned site accesses, and the finding by Boffa Miskell’s ecologist (with the full support of DoC), that a stream bed could be excavated to provide 80,000 cubic metres of material from on-site, a saving of 15,000 truck loads and 950 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The official “First Power” celebrations were held in April 2009, with John Key flicking the switch to turn the first 15 turbines on.