Media Statement - 29 September 2007

Decision released on proposed Mahinerangi Wind Farm

The Joint Hearing Committee of the Clutha District Council and the Otago Regional Council has granted consents sought by TrustPower Ltd for its proposed 200MW wind farm north of Lake Mahinerangi.

The Committee’s decision, which runs to 131 pages in total, addresses the issues and effects of the wind farm in detail.

Clutha District Council Planning and Environment Manager Murray Brass said the Committee considered that most effects of the proposal would be less than minor, or that conditions could be imposed to ensure that this would be the case.

However visual, and to a lesser extent, noise effects were considered more significant, and the Committee had to weigh them up against the benefits of producing renewable energy from the site.

“Overall, the Committee concluded that the positive effects of the proposal outweighed the adverse effects, and that in terms of the broad purpose of sustainable management, the development should be allowed to proceed,” Mr Brass said.

The Committee’s approval was subject to 80 conditions on the District Council land use consent, and 98 conditions on the Regional Council consents.

Mr Brass said the conditions controlled all aspects of the proposal, and required a Site Development Plan and Environmental Construction Management Plan to be provided before construction could start. The plans would set out the detail of final design and the construction process, and how environmental effects would be managed.

The Joint Hearing Committee was made up of two independent commissioners - former Canterbury Regional Councillor and Environment Court Commissioner Roger Tasker (Chair) and Canterbury scientist John Lumsden - and Clutha District Mayor Juno Hayes.

The Panel was appointed by both Councils, and heard and decided all of the applications together. It considered all 165 submissions on the proposal, heard evidence over 12 days of hearings in May, and visited the proposed Mahinerangi and other wind farm sites around the country before making its decision.

Mr Brass said there would now be an appeal period of 15 working days, during which TrustPower or any of the submitters could appeal the Committee’s decision.

The Decision and previous reports and evidence are available below. These files may take several minutes to download.

ENDS

 Mahinerangi Wind Farm Decision (6MB) 29 September 2007

Mahinerangi Wind Farm Decision (2MB - without graphics) 29 September 2007

TrustPower's closing submissions to the Hearing (posted 30 May 2007)

Final conditions proposed for the Mahinerangi Wind Farm (posted 30 May 2007)

Evidence presented by Kirsty Joynt (posted 11 July 2007)

Rebuttal ecological evidence presented by Dr Boothroyd (posted 5 June 2007)

Rebuttal noise evidence presented by Nevil Hegley (posted 30 May 2007)

Rebuttal traffic evidence presented by Tony Penny (posted 30 May 2007)

Rebuttal evidence presented by Mary Buckland (posted 30 May 2007)

Evidence presented by Deion Campbell (posted 21 May 2007)

Economic evidence presented by Mr Brent Layton (posted 21 May 2007)

Visual/Landscape evidence presented by Mr. Frank Boffa (posted 21 May 2007)

Avifauna evidence of Professor John Craig (posted 21 May 2007)

Evidence presented by Mr. Dave Serjeant (posted 21 May 2007)

Kordia Report - Annex to evidence of Kirsty Joynt (posted 21 May 2007)

Final evidence of Mr. Tony Penny - Part 2 (posted 18 May 2007)

Final evidence of Mr. Tony Penny - Part 1 (posted 18 May 2007)

Evidence presented by Mr. Dave Serjeant (posted 18 May 2007)

Evidence presented by Mr. Mike Kedian

Evidence presented by Mr. Gavin Kemble

Annexure to evidence presented by Mr. Gavin Kemble

Evidence presented by Mr. Scott Vaughn

Evidence presented by Mr. Nevil Hegley

Supplementary evidence presented by Mr. Nevil Hegley

Evidence presented by Ms. Mary Buckland

Evidence presented by Mr. Richard Chilton

Evidence presented by Mr. Phillip Brown

Evidence presented by Dr. Ian Boothroyd

Figure 1 - Large Map

Figure 2 - Original Ecological Constraints Map

Figure 3 - Aerial Envelope

Figure 4 - Gully Vegetation

Figure 5 - Ecological Regions

Figure 6 - Key Features

Figure 7 - Fish Locations

Figure 8 - Tussock and Tracks

Figure 9 - Gullies and Tracks

Figure 10 - Tussock Grassland

Evidence presented by Richard Spearman

Clutha District Council Planning Report

Background Report - Landscape Assessment

Background Report - Noise Peer Review

Background Report - Audit of Terrestrial Ecological Aspects

Background Report - Traffic Assessment Review

Otago Regional Council Planning Report

Sediment Management Plan provided for Otago Regional Council

Summary of submissions to Clutha District Council

Summary of submissions to Otago Regional Council

Hearing Timetable