Contact’s proposal for a new wind farm ‘Hauāuru mā raki’ – Waikato Wind Farm
September 2008
Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited (Contact) are proposing to build a new 180-turbine wind farm – Hauāuru mā raki (Waikato Wind Farm). It is to be located along approximately 34 km of coastline on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand from four kilometres south of Port Waikato to Te Akau, some eight kilometres north of Raglan.
Hauāuru mā raki will produce up to 540 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and includes the construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a 220 kV transmission line, three substations, a switching station, and associated support structures, equipment and facilities. A copy of the applications and related notices of requirement can be found on Contact’s website www.contactenergy.co.nz
The Minister for the Environment, Hon Trevor Mallard, has called in Contact’s applications for resource consent and notices of requirement needed for its Hauāuru mā raki proposal under the Resource Management Act 1991. As part of the call in, the Minister has referred Contact’s applications and notices of requirement to an independent Board of Inquiry. The role of the Board is to consider these applications, hold public hearings, and make a decision on whether or not to grant the applications and confirm the notices of requirement.
You can have a say about the Hauāuru mā raki proposal by making a submission to the Minister, at the addresses given at the back of this leaflet. Submissions must be received by 5.00 pm Monday 3 November 2008. The Minister then refers these submissions to the Board of Inquiry.
Why has the Minister called in the Hauāuru mā raki proposal?
The Minister considers the proposal to be of national significance because:
- “The proposal is relevant to New Zealand’s international obligations to the global environment in terms of the Kyoto Protocol including the proposal’s contribution towards the achievement of the target of 90% of electricity generation to be from renewable energy sources by 2025 as set out in the New Zealand Energy Strategy to 2050. I consider the proposal would likely assist New Zealand in meeting its international obligations to the global environment by helping to avoid an increase in carbon dioxide emissions overall on a national scale.
- The proposal affects or is likely to affect more than one region or district. The proposal will have direct physical effects on the Franklin and Waikato Districts and the Waikato Region. In terms of security of electricity supply, the proposal will have potential effects beyond these areas”.
How can I have a say in this process?
Any person can make a submission by filling in the submission form and returning it to the addresses given at the back of this leaflet. The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm Monday 3 November 2008. Please see the information in this leaflet about how to fill in the submission form.
The Minister will refer the applications, notices of requirement and submissions to a Board of Inquiry that will hold public hearings to consider the applications, notices and submissions.
What do Contact’s applications cover?
Contact has applied for land-use consents and notices of requirement for designation from the Franklin District Council for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Hauāuru mā raki wind farm within the Franklin District. This includes the construction and operation of wind turbine generators, Limestone Downs substation, Orton switchyard, 220 kV transmission line, road improvements, two concrete batching plants, up to three viewing platforms, and the re-opening and operation of the Whitford Quarry.
Contact has applied for land-use consents and notices of requirement for designation from the Waikato District Council for the construction, operation and maintenance the Hauāuru mā raki wind farm within the Waikato District. This includes the construction and operation of wind turbine generators, Matira substation, Te Akau substation, 220 kV transmission line, road improvements and two concrete batching plants.
Contact has applied for resource consents from the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) for earthworks, roading and tracking, taking of water, streambed works, and discharge consents.
What is the Board of Inquiry?
The Minister has appointed a Board of Inquiry following the Cabinet process for appointments.
A Board of Inquiry must be chaired by a current, former or retired Environment Court judge. It can have a total of three to five members.
The Board of Inquiry will consider Contact’s Hauāuru mā raki proposal. The Board will decide whether to commission any reports and it will also establish the process for hearing public submissions. The duration of the hearing will depend upon the number and nature of submissions.
What is a notice of requirement?
A notice of requirement is the way a network utility operator is able to give formal notice to a city or district council of its requirement for designation of land for a project under the Resource Management Act.
Contact has lodged notices of requirement with relevant councils for land to be designated to construct, operate, maintain, renew, replace and upgrade transmission lines, substations, and a switching station as part of the Hauāuru mā raki proposal.
A designation, once included in a district plan, gives effect to the notice of requirement. This enables the utility operator to undertake specified activities without a land-use consent from the city or district council.
A designation requires anyone wanting to do anything within the designated area that would prevent or hinder the project to get written consent from the requiring authority (in this case it would be Contact Energy). This applies from the time a notice of requirement is lodged.
What happens next?
- The Minister placed a public notice in national and local newspapers about the direction to call in Contact’s proposal and calling for submissions on 20 September 2008.
- Submissions close 30 working days after public notification, being 5.00 pm Monday 3 November 2008.
- The Board receives all the submissions from the Minister.
- The Board holds a public hearing. The timing on this is dependant on the Board’s processes. All submitters who wish to be heard by the Board will be advised.
- The Board releases a draft report. This is sent to all submitters, Contact, relevant councils and the Minister for comment.
- The Board releases its decision on Contact’s resource consent and notices of requirement applications.
- The Board’s decision can only be appealed to the High Court on points of law.
Which councils are involved in the Contact proposal?
The councils involved are Franklin District Council, Waikato District Council and Environment Waikato.
What is the role of councils in the process?
Councils can make submissions and attend hearings.
If the Board of Inquiry grants the resource consents and notices of requirement for the wind farm, the Franklin District Council, Waikato District Council and Environment Waikato would administer these consents.
What is the role of the Ministry for the Environment?
The Ministry for the Environment will service the Board of Inquiry.
Has the Minister intervened to make sure Contact’s proposal is approved?
No. Contact’s applications will be judged on their merits by the Board of Inquiry in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Management Act. The Board of Inquiry – not the Minister – will make the decision. This decision is only appealable on points of law to the High Court.
Where can I view the proposal?
Contact’s resource consent applications and notices of requirement for designations are available for viewing at the locations below.
Ministry for the Environment
- Auckland Office, Level 6, Tower Centre, 45 Queen Street, Auckland
- Wellington Office, Environment House, 23 Kate Sheppard Place, Wellington
Environment Waikato
- Hamilton Office, 401 Grey Street, Hamilton East
Franklin District Council
- Pukekohe Office, 82 Manukau Road, Pukekohe
- Bookinopolis (Library), The Centre, 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe
- Port Waikato Wharf Store and Post Centre, Port Waikato-Tuakau Bridge Road, Port Waikato
- Glen Murray Motors, Highway 22, Glen Murray, Tuakau
Waikato District Council
- Ngaruawahia Office, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia
- Huntly Office, 142 Main Street, Huntly
- Raglan Office, 7 Bow Street, Raglan
- Office of Hamilton City Council, Garden Place, Hamilton
- Te Akau Garage, 1145 Te Akau Road, RD 1, Ngaruawahia
A copy of the applications can also be found on Contact’s website www.contactenergy.co.nz
How can I obtain a submission form?
A submission form should be enclosed. If not, please download it from the Ministry for the Environment’s website www.mfe.govt.nz, or use the contact details provided to request one.
How to fill in the submission form
Your submission must be in writing, dated, signed by you and include the following information:
- Your name and address, including a phone number, fax number and email address (if applicable).
- Details of the application(s) for resource consent and/or notice(s) of requirement for designation that you are making your submission on.
- Whether you support or oppose the relevant application(s) for resource consent and/or notice(s) of requirement for designation, or whether you are neutral about the application(s).
- The reasons for your views.
- The decision you wish the Board of Inquiry to make, including the general nature of any conditions sought.
- Whether or not you wish to be heard in respect of your submission.
How long is the submission period?
A submission period is generally 20 working days from the date of the public notice. However the Minister has extended this period (under section 37 of the RMA) to 30 working days for the Hauāuru mā raki proposal.
The submission period has been extended as the application contains a large number of documents, and a fair and reasonable amount of time is needed to consider this substantial amount of documentation.
Please send your submission by 5.00 pm Monday 3 November 2008 to the Minister for the Environment. You must also send a copy to Contact. See the addresses below:
FreePost HMR Call In
Minister for the Environment
PO Box 10362
The Terrace
Wellington 6143
Or email to: hmrcallin@mfe.govt.nz
Or fax to: 04 439 7705
Please mark in the subject line ‘HMR Call In’.
And send a copy to:
Contact Energy Limited – Hauāuru mā raki
PO Box 10742
The Terrace
Wellington 6143
Attention Rosemary Dixon
Or email to: HMR@contact-energy.co.nz
Or fax to: 04 463 9261
Want to know more?
Further information can be found on the Ministry for the Environment’s website www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-hmr or by emailing hmrcallin@mfe.govt.nz or calling 0800 836 444.
