Marlborough Wind Machine Workshop Report

Well Mr John Maassen has published a report on the recent workshop on the use of wind machines for frost protection that was held in Marlborough in October 2008.

You can get hold of a copy here (approximately 1.4MB).

This report is now being passed to the Marlborough District Council's Environmental Policy Committee for their comment.

It contains some interesting information, but little that puts the major issues to rest.

Will the workshop have been a worthwhile endeavour?

If it could provide a workable solution to the integration of sleeping residents and noisy frost fans, then it would be a success.

But frankly, it can't.

In my humble opinion, the best that the workshop has achieved has been a chance for the Marlborough District Council to look like it's taking an interest in a district wide problem. There is no solution provided and so the status quo will continue.

But didn't the Marlborough District Council do the right thing? By having a workshop? By not making it an open forum? Are you kidding?

If this sounds eerily familiar, it will be because it is a similar issue to that which has resulted in Marlborough district councillor Pat O'Sullivan resigning claiming that public excluded workshops were not serving his constituents.

Well this workshop has succeeded in not protecting the health of those residents that will be sleep deprived due to frost fan activity. But it will serve those chasing the grape dollar. Of course if they're absentee owners then I suppose they're not residents. (Never mind.)

Money or health?

Money or health?

Hmm... Tricky one....