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Unison’s proposal for a wind farm near Te Waka

Unison Networks Limited is proposing to establish a wind farm near the Te Waka Range in Hawkes Bay. The proposed wind farm would consist of up to 34 wind turbines.

The Minister for the Environment, Hon Trevor Mallard, has 'called in' Unison’s resource consent application under the Resource Management Act 1991 and will refer it to the Environment Court. The Environment Court will hear and consider submissions, and will make a decision as to whether or not to grant resource consent for Unison’s Te Waka wind farm proposal.

You can have a say by making a submission to the Minister for the Environment. Submissions must be received by 7 March 2008. The Minister will then refer these submissions to the Environment Court.

Why has the Minister called in the Te Waka proposal?

The Minister considers the proposal to be of national significance because it 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.

About the Te Waka proposal

Unison is proposing to establish, operate and maintain a wind farm consisting of up to 34 turbines for the generation of electricity in the vicinity of the Te Waka Range to the west of Te Pohue and State Highway 5. The wind farm will produce up to 102MW of electricity.

In June 2006, the Hastings District Council granted Unison the necessary resource consents to construct and operate a wind farm, comprising 37 turbines. This was appealed to the Environment Court which declined the proposed 37 turbine wind farm.

Unison then lodged the current application for a 34 turbine wind farm.

How can I have a say in this process?

Any person can have a say by filling in the submission form and returning it to the addresses on page 3 of this leaflet. The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm on Friday 7 March 2008. Please see the information in this leaflet about how to fill in the submission form.

Please note, the Te Waka proposal was publically notified by the Hastings District Council and the period for lodging submissions closed on 7 September 2007. These submissions will now be considered by the Environment Court. If you have already made a submission to the Council you may make another submission to the Minister, but do not have to do so to have your previous submission considered.

All submissions will be considered by the Environment Court.

What is the role of the Ministry for the Environment?

The Ministry for the Environment (on behalf of the Minister) will collate all submissions received and forward these to the Environment Court.

What happens next?

The Minister placed a public notice in national and local newspapers about the direction to call in Unison’s proposal and calling for submissions on 9 February 2008.
Submissions close 20 working days after public notification being 5.00 pm Friday 7 March 2008.
The application and submissions are then passed to the Environment Court.
The Environment Court process begins by Unison lodging a notice of motion and an affidavit.
The notice of motion and affidavit is served on submitters and the hastings District Council who then have 15 working days to notify the Environment Court of their desire to be heard (note that you must use the prescribed form. Refer to the Ministry website www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-tewaka for a copy of Form 37).
The Environment Court holds public hearings and then makes a decision.
The Environment Court’s decision is final with appeals only able to be made to the High Court on points of law.

What is the role of Hastings District Council in the process?

The Council can make submissions and attend the Environment Court hearing.

If the Environment Court grants the resource consent for the proposed wind farm, Hastings District Council will administer this consent.

Has the Minister intervened to make sure Unison’s proposal is approved?

No. Unison’s application will be judged on its merits by the Environment Court in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991. The Environment Court – not the Minster – will make the decision which can be appealed to the High Court on points of law only.

Where can I view the proposal?

Unison’s application for resource consent is 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

Hastings District Council
Hastings Office
Lyndon Road East
Hastings

Hastings Library
Cnr Eastbourne and Warren Streets
Hastings

Havelock North Library
Havelock North Community Centre
Te Mata Road
Havelock North

Flaxmere Library
Flaxmere Community Centre
Swansea Road
Flaxmere

Napier Library
Station Street
Napier

A copy of the application can also be found on Hastings District Council’s website: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/resourceconsents/unison3

How can I obtain a submission form?

A submission form should be enclosed. If not, please use the contact details above to request one, or download it from the Ministry for the Environment’s website www.mfe.govt.nz, or use the Ministry's contact details provided to request one.

How to fill in a submission form

Your submission must be in writing, dated, signed by you and include the following information:

Your name and address for service, including a phone number, fax number and email address (if applicable).
Details of the application for resource consent in respect of which you are making the submission.
Whether you support or oppose the application or whether you are neutral about the application.
The reasons for your submission.
The decision you wish the Environment Court to make, including the general nature of any conditions sought.

Please send your submission by 5.00 pm on Friday 7 March 2008 to the Minister for the Environment. You MUST ALSO send a copy to Unison. See the addresses below:

FreePost Te Waka Call In
Minister for the Environment
PO Box 10362
The Terrace
Wellington 6143

Or email to: tewakacallin@mfe.govt.nz
Or fax to: 04 439 7705
(please mark in the subject line 'Te Waka Wind Farm Call In')

And send a copy to:

Te Waka Wind Farm Proposal
Unison Networks Limited
PO Box 555
Hastings

Or email to: windfarm@unison.co.nz
Or fax to: 06 873 9311
(please mark in the subject line 'Te Waka Call In')

More information

Phone: 0800 836 444, email tewakacallin@mfe.govt.nz, or visit www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-tewaka