Don't discriminate. Go to Remuera.

Great to see NZ Winegrowers Chief Executive Phillip Gregan get behind the gangs to give them a bit of moral support (see article here in the Marlborough Express). Discrimination on the basis of being 'parasitic criminals who commit serious crime' (The Police's words) is a bit much.

I'm sure Phil would be keen to offer alternative employment in Remuera where he lives.

Much noise from the fans up there Phil?

Got to love those absentee owners.

Go on-give them a job! Remember to wear a helmet to avoid being struck by flying loppers though.

Thank you wine industry

Ah yes. For those who doubted the involvement of gangs in the vineyards, the latest edition of the Marlborough Express has an interesting article about the arrest of a group of gang associates, for brawling in a residential area (I don't suppose it matters where brawling occurs does it?).

What gave it away that they were associated with the vineyards?

Unfortunately a bystander was hit by a pair of 'vineyard loppers'. That and the quotes from the Police do tend to indicate a connection.

The vineyards have brought so much to the community.

(Big ups to the Police for their efforts in keeping this situation under close scrutiny. Thanks.)

Wind machines test credibility skills.

In what has been a slightly bizarre twist to the normal towing of the Winegrowers line by the Marlborough District Council, the MDC have agreed to accept several points suggested in the Maassen report put out earlier this year.

Read more here from stuff.co.nz

Specifically, they have agreed to accept the following recommendations (the numbers are the paragraph numbers from the report);

(4) There needs to be a forensic enforcement / monitoring methodology developed by MDC and implemented to identify in at least two key 'hot spots' to understand the scale of the alleged problem including its frequency and duration.

(5) The Permitted Activity Rule should be changed promptly so that:

(a) classification of the activity of constructing and operating wind machines is at least a controlled activity to enable the imposition of conditions that provide for effective monitoring by MDC and a requirement wind machine operators adopt BPO options in line with technological improvements;

(b) the noise performance standard is 55dBA L10 and no other penalty under NZS6802:1991 for SAC applies

While the report contains a number of curious findings and frankly misses the big ticket question "At what level does the noise from frost fans become a health hazard", there are bright spots amongst the murk.

Someone will hopefully be feeling sorry for Stuart Smith (Some head schrang for the NZ Winegrowers clot) who addressed the Committee after they had decided to accept the recommendations (which actually seems fair, since the other respondents to the reports contents were not given an opportunity to speak).

While they're at it, they can feel sorry for Councillor Hope who was stood out of discussions because of the glaring conflict of interest his involvement would have produced.

A little more detail on the new FrostBoss Blades

Just a little. In fact a tiny bit. Really tiny.

So small as to be almost lost.

Still better than nothing.

Frost Boss have published a noise figure for their new fan as being 53dBA L10 at 300m.

Like all things in the world of frost fans, there is no indication of independent testing data, just a figure. The good news is that it's smaller than the previous figure for their 4 bladed fans, and they were already the quietest on the scene. The bad news is that like the Defender, I'll believe it when I read it in a report from an acoustical engineer (or whatever those people are).

Till then, let's hope their testing figures are a little more 'real' than their advertising.

The observant amongst the readers will note the following advert bears a striking resemblance to a picture from earlier advertising. I can only presume that photo-shopping is cheaper than actual photography.

Defender vs FrostBoss the Quiet Battle is joined

Oooo....

Thanks to alert readers who spotted the attached advert in last weeks Marlborough Express, we have a new insight into further developments in the Frost Fan world.

It would appear that Frost Boss haven't been sitting back and relaxing while the cacophony of complaints of frost fan noise continues.

Low and behold their new creation. The C49. Or as Frost Boss would put it, "The New Quiet" (a new more exciting name could be in order).

In fact this release is so low key, this is the only smidgen of information I can find on the new blades.

That's right, no specs, no dimensions, no noise levels. Nothing on their web site. Nada. Very quiet indeed.

It's kind of like seeing a movie trailer without seeing the movie.

So, part of the move towards quieter fans? Oh yes. Why? Because they're too loud. Isn't it funny how you only have to repeat something obvious about 10,000 times before action is taken.

Nobody admits that the old fans WERE too noisy, they just bring out new 'Quiet' fans.

Don't get me wrong (although you know I love the hate mail). Good work Frost Boss. You have (maybe had) the quietest machine on the market with the previous model of 4 bladed fan. The new Defender may be quieter (if we ever see any testing info). But you haven't rested on your laurels. The new looking blade does have sex appeal (nice curves) but is it enough?

Defender vs C49. Let the battle of the quiet fans with no published noise specifications begin!

Hyprocrisy lives on in the MDC

A decision yesterday to allow a resource consent to erect wind turbines near Ward can be seen to be a progressive move.

These installations have sometimes been dogged by complaints from neighbours on a range of topics from ascetics to noise.

It comes as a surprise to this observer to note a requirement for the operation of the turbine to produce no more than 40dB of noise at the boundary of any nearby dwelling built at the date of the consent. (no actual acoustic quality of the noise is mentioned in the article here, just the level)

Noise levels set at the boundary? Great Idea.

40dB (perhaps dBA L10?). Seems very reasonable.

Why has it not happened with frost fans?

Rural residents endure noise levels that exceed 65dBA L10 from cumulative and isolated frost fan emplacements while absentee owners live far removed from the problem.

Good one MDC. You know what side your bread is buttered on.

MDC endangering residents health.

It's a bit tragic isn't it?

Gosh, wouldn't that be awful?

How do they put up with it?

It must be a nightmare!

All good sentiments, but a face to the hell that is living next to frost fans was presented to Marlborough District Councilors today as part of submissions on the Long Term Council Community Plan.

Michael Hyson and his family have been tortured by an unsympathetic neighbour (who probably doesn't even live there) and an apathetic Council who have been far more inclined to pay lip service to action than take any themselves.

This article was published in the Marlborough Express on his appearance today.

It's worth a read.

And if you're wondering if this is some tragic isolated case. Think again. The Hysons are the tip of the iceberg.

How much noise is your neighbour allowed to make before it's too much?

The argument is often bleated in the hate mail that I occasionally receive that "It's the country. Go back to town if you don't like it." Ironic isn't it? Go back to the town if you don't like the noise.

The Hyson's were there first. Does that count for anything?

What noise level is acceptable?

There must be a limit surely?

Is it OK to keep your neighbour awake all night?

At what point does it become a health risk?

Who's taking responsibility for the ratepayers?

Do the Councilors at the Marlborough District Council take any responsibility for the Health of the residents?

How many of them have a conflict of interest with the wine industry that makes them unable to pass judgement?

How many of the Directors of the companies that the Council operate have an interest in the wine industry?

Mr Hyson, if you read this or if someone who knows him can get a copy of his presentation, I'd like to make it available if possible.