Wanaka landscape architect Anne Steven was called to give evidence by appellant party the Maniototo Environmental Society.
Mrs Steven said people would leave the two districts with a prominent memory of turbines, along with other construction effects associated with the wind farms.
"If built, Mahinerangi and Hayes together would come to define the landscape of the area.
"Turbines, power lines, sub-stations and roads would be the layer brought forward in our consciousness of landscape, rather than landform, rock, plants and water," her written evidence stated.
She said while Meridian Energy claimed it could reverse negative effects of its $2 billion, 176-turbine Project Hayes development by removing turbines at the end of their estimated 20 to 30-year productive lifespan, it was likely "bigger and better" models would replace them.
For that reason, Mrs Steven disputed that the effects of the wind farms would be temporary.
"Changes to the land, including all foundations and roading installed, would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to reverse," her written evidence stated.
Mrs Steven said Project Hayes' turbines and those of TrustPower's $400 million Mahinerangi wind farm about 20km from the proposed 92sq km Project Hayes site, could be seen from up to 80km away.
Parts of the wind farms would be discernible from areas around Dunedin, including Saddle Hill and Scroggs Hill, the Waipori River, and most major mountain ranges throughout Central Otago.
During cross-exam-ination by Meridian lawyer Andrew Beatson, Mrs Steven's personal opinion of wind farms was questioned, prompting her to maintain her evidence was compiled on a professional basis and devoid of any personal opinion.
She maintained the insertion of large-scale fields of turbines into the pastoral landscape would cause a fundamental shift in character from a predominantly pastoral landscape to one which was overwhelmingly a sustainable-energy or rural-industrial landscape.
Mr Beatson said Mrs Steven's evidence showed she was uncomfortable with turbines and when she denied the claim, he asked her if she was instead comfortable with such development.
"I'm not comfortable with you using the word comfortable. This is a professional assessment," Mrs Steven said.
