We Say/You Say: Solar Farms
Kia ora neighbours,
What do you think the next steps should be for decarbonisation?
Jacinda Ardern has officially opened what is going to be the largest solar farm in the country.
The 12 hectare site in Pukenui will contain 32,000 solar panels and is set to cost $30 million. The farm will generate enough electricity to power 3000 homes in the Far North.
Ardern acknowledged the difficulty to move away from fossil fuels. With hydro lake storage down, the country will turn to coal to fulfil winter energy needs.
"Removing fossil fuels from our electricity system is a big step, it requires major changes in the way we do things and investment in new technologies," she said.
The panels will last for 30 years before needing to be replaced as part of the scheme. Regular maintenance required to keep up to industry standards will create five full-time positions for the solar farm.
What do you think about the project? Share your thoughts below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comments featured in the conversations section of the Whangārei Leader.
Lovers Lane opens
It's open! This morning we held a blessing for the new pathway, bridge and boardwalk in Lovers' Lane that connects the Kamo Shared Path with the Raumanga Shared Path.
You can access it from Cafler Park, Second Avenue, or between the Central Library and the council building, Te Iwitahi. The walking and cycling pathway includes a new paved area, Te Ara Hīkoi ki Kauika (the pathway to Kauika), a replaced bridge over the Waiarohia Stream, and a new boardwalk in Cafler Park.
The design is by Littoralis, Hawthorn Geddes and Boffa Miskell, connecting to the natural environment and local history. The high quality of construction was by local contractors including Canam, Robinson Asphalts, Culham Engineering, Northland Metal Industries (NMI), Ezra Bell, BDX Engineering and more.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Riddle Me This: Can You Out-Smart Yesterday’s Champ?
How can the number four be half of five?
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