It would appear that not only is it ridiculously difficult to get any testing done on a frost fan, but when it is carried out and doesn't go the way the winery wants, they want to carry on with business as usual anyway.
Per the suggestion from an earlier commentator, here's some info from Mount Riley Vineyards website.
They own seven vineyards. The offending vineyard in this case appears to be the Waihopai Vineyard. There is a picture of it on their website, but the frost fans do not feature. Pity, since any publicity is good publicity right?
The winery is owned by John and Lyn Buchanan and their daughter Amy. Amy's husband (Matt Murphy is the wine-maker). Possibly one of the reasons that they are keen to explore legal proceedings is that Amy is also a solicitor. Very handy when faced with unreasonable neighbors that seem to go on and on about trifling things like being kept awake at night.
It can be assumed that the quote from their website "At Mt Riley we believe in winemaking by minimal intervention" should be taken in context that minimal intervention can take the form of multiple twirling blades of metal operating throughout the night and keeping our neighbours awake.
If you want to find out more about their wines you should go to this page.
And don't miss an opportunity to read their vintage reports here. True to form for winegrowers, it would appear that every year is special.
Thank you Mount Riley for your compassion in dealing with this matter in a responsible manner. In fact could this be the industry/individual discussions alluded to in the Council meeting on the 24th of August? Or could it be the actions of persons that were described by Councillor Maher at the same meeting?
Irrespective, there is kudos to be handed out to the Marlborough District Council for recognising the situation for what it is. Simply a case of a landowner breaching the rules. Are they special?
The real pity of the entire episode is that even if Mount Riley did the right thing and set their fans to a responsible noise level they would still breach the noise level set by the World Health Organisation for healthy living.
2 comments:
Congratulations to the MDC for dealing with noise at this vineyard. It sounds a lot like the owner in Nelson who said that all those who objected to his fans running should move back into town. I believe that is where HE already lives. I am wondering if when all 1200 fans run together will the whole of the Marlborough district rise into the sky and fly away. As long as it leaves the affected parties this may be a good idea.
I believe that the Nelson grower in question does not live in town, but he does live at a separate property some km away. I should check I suppose....
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