Wind turbine load tips into ditch near Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm site

Investigations are underway after a transporter carrying a massive wind turbine tower section to the Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm site near Dargaville tipped sideways into a ditch.

The turbine section was on a 72‑wheel transport unit being towed by a truck down Babylon Coast Rd, the final stretch to the wind farm accessway, when the wheels on the road‑edge side dropped into a shallow roadside ditch, tipping the unit and its load sideways yesterday.

The truck towing the trailer remained stable and upright.

Wind farm developer Mercury Energy confirmed the incident happened about 5am, after the load left Northport around midnight.

Mercury principal project manager Glen Twining said no one was injured and no other vehicles were involved.

“The scene is secure and there is no risk to the public or the surrounding environment.

“The trailer remains safely positioned on the road, and traffic is currently able to pass. There may be short, temporary traffic stops while cranes are brought in to safely recover the load.

“Vestas, who manage the transport of wind farm components to the site north-west of Dargaville, are leading the response and investigation, working closely with relevant authorities to ensure the site is cleared as quickly and safely as possible,” Twining said.

Mercury would provide further updates “at the appropriate time”, he said.

The incident was almost exactly a week after overnight convoys began hauling the first of more than 130 oversized loads to the project site for the $287 million wind farm.

Runs are scheduled until the end of May, with some of the longest loads - the turbine blades - stretching nearly 80m.

The logistics behind the massive transportation task had been carefully planned for the past two years, including roading modifications and upgrades, along with the purchase of a house on the route, by Mercury.

A local motorist wasn't expecting to see this when he set out on Monday morning - a transport unit's trailer in a ditch. Photo / Matt Sneddon

Those first convoys attracted attention across the district as the enormous transporters, some nearly the length of a rugby field, navigated tight intersections and steep climbs under the guidance of specialised heavy‑haul crews.

Residents who stayed up to watch the deliveries described the operation as “impressive” and “professional”.

Specialist crews operate rear‑steer systems on some of the long loads, and additional tow units are positioned for steep climbs.

The Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm will feature 12 of New Zealand’s tallest turbines, each rising 125m with 162m rotor diameters.

Full operation is expected by the end of the year, generating enough electricity to power about 27,000 homes.

Vestas gave a similar account of the incident, adding that the truck and trailer involved were moving at a low speed at the time.

“The condition of the tower section will be confirmed once recovery is complete, a Vestas spokesperson said.

“Early checks, based on what we can see right now, show no significant damage to the tower section.

“At this stage we do not expect this incident to cause any major delays to the project,” the spokesperson said. .

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent reporting on the courts in Gisborne and on the East Coast.