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Public Notice of Direction to call in Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited proposal for the Hauāuru mā raki – the Waikato Wind Farm

In accordance with section 144 of the Resource Management Act 1991, I, Hon Trevor Mallard give notice of my direction to call in the applications for resource consents and notices of requirement for designation involved in the proposal by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited (Contact) to build a new 180-turbine wind farm.  Hauāuru mā raki (the Waikato Wind Farm) is to be located along approximately 34km 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.

Details of the applications for resource consents and notices of requirement for designation, and where they can be inspected, are set out below. A map showing the location can be found on the Ministry for the Environment’s website (www.mfe.govt.nz).

I consider these matters are a proposal of national significance and I have therefore made a direction that they be called in and referred to a Board of Inquiry in accordance with sections 140 to 150AA of the Resource Management Act 1991.

My reasons for calling in the matters involved in the proposal are as follows:

  • 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 per cent 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 to make a submission

Any person can make a submission on any of the applications for resource consents and notices of requirement for designation. The submission must be in writing, dated, signed by you and be received by the Minister (address below) by 5pm Monday 3 November 2008. The submission must also 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(s) for resource consent and notices of requirement for designation in respect of which you are making the submission.
  • Whether you support or oppose the relevant application(s) for resource consent and notices of requirement for designation or whether you are neutral regarding the application(s).
  • The reasons for your submission.
  • 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.

Submission forms will be available at the locations listed, on the Ministry for the Environment website (www.mfe.govt.nz) or by calling 0800 836 444. 

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 amount of documents and a fair and reasonable amount of time is needed to consider this substantial amount of documentation.

Submissions must be received no later than 5pm on Monday 3 November 2008.

You must send your submission to the following freepost address:

FreePost HMR Call In
Minister for the Environment
PO Box 10362
WELLINGTON 6143

or emailhmrcallin@mfe.govt.nz or fax 04 439 7705.

Please mark in the subject line: ‘HMR Call In’.

You must also send a copy of your submission to Contact at the following address:

Contact Energy Limited – Hauāuru mā raki
PO Box 10742
Wellington
Attention Rosemary Dixon

or email: HMR@contact-energy.co.nz or fax (04) 463 9261.

Further information

Copies of the applications for resource consents, notices of requirement for designations and accompanying information can be viewed at the following locations during normal office hours: 

Ministry for the Environment

  • Auckland Office, Level 6, Tower Centre, 45 Queen Street, Auckland
  • Head Office, Environment House, 23 Kate Sheppard Place, Wellington

Environment Waikato

  • Hamilton Office, 401 Grey Street, Hamilton East

Franklin District Council

  • Franklin Office, 82 Manukau Road, Pukekohe
  • Pukekohe Library at Franklin, the Centre, 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe
  • Port Waikato Wharf Store & Post Centre, Port Waikato-Tuakau Bridge Road, Port Waikato
  • Glen Murray Motors, Highway 22, Glen Murray

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 application can also be found on Contact’s website at – www.contactenergy.co.nz.

You can also request a CD-ROM from the Ministry for the Environment (call 0800 836 444).

More information can be found on the Ministry for the Environment website www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-hmr or by emailing hmrcallin@mfe.govt.nz or calling 0800 836 444.

 

Hon. Trevor Mallard
Minister for the Environment

Description of the called in applications for resource consents in relation to Contact Wind Limited’s resource consent applications for a new 180-turbine wind farm called the Hauāuru mā raki (Waikato Wind Farm) and Contact Energy Limited’s notices of requirement for designation of transmission lines, substations, a switching station and ancillary facilities to connect the wind farm to the national grid.

Franklin District Council

Land use consents

Contact Wind Limited applied for the following land use consents from the Franklin District Council:

  • L08052: Land use consent for all activities associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of a wind farm (Hauāuru mā raki) within the Franklin District, bordering the west coast of the North Island between Port Waikato in the north and the boundary of the Franklin and Waikato Districts to the south (as shown on Plan 1 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents). This includes the erection and operation of wind turbine generators, site mobilisation and establishment, earthworks and land disturbance, underground and overground 33kV transmission works and site reinstatement.
  • L08053: Land use consent for the re-opening and operation of the Whitford Quarry including rock crushing and processing facilities approximately 2km north-west of the junction of Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road and Waikaretu Valley Road (as shown on Plans 18 and 21 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).
  • L08054: Land use consent for two concrete batching plants, one approximately 10km south of Port Waikato to the west of the Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road and the second at the Whitford Quarry Site (as shown on Plan 20 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).
  • L08055: Land use consent for up to three public viewing areas on Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road and Pukerewa Roads (including signage) and associated parking areas (as shown on Plan 22 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).
  • L08056: Land use consent for improvements to local roads - Tuakau Bridge–Port Waikato Road, Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road and Waikaretu Valley Road (as shown on Plans 12-14 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).

These land use consent applications and associated plans are specified in a document entitled Hauāuru mā raki, Waikato Wind Farm, Resource Consent Applications, Notices of Requirement, Assessment of Environmental Effects, June 2008 prepared and lodged by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited with the Franklin District Council on 26 June 2008.

Notices of requirement

Contact Energy Limited has lodged notices of requirement for designation with the Franklin District Council for the following activities associated with the reticulation and transmission of electricity from Hauāuru mā raki to the national grid:

  • L08058: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of the Limestone Downs Substation and ancillary facilities, on farmland to the north-east of where the Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road crosses the Kaawa stream (as shown on Plan 3 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • L08059: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a single circuit 220kV transmission line (to the extent that the line will be within the Franklin District) on monopoles (except in some locations where lattice towers may be required) linking the proposed Limestone Downs Substation to the north in the Franklin District with the Matira and Te Akau Substations in the Waikato District to the south, and ancillary facilities (as shown on Plan 5 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • L08060: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a double circuit 220kV transmission line on lattice towers (except in some bush locations where steel poles may be required) between the proposed Limestone Downs Substation and the proposed Orton Switchyard and ancillary facilities (as shown on Plans 6 and 7 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • L08057: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a switchyard at Orton (called the Orton Switchyard) and ancillary facilities, Otuiti Road (as shown on Plan 8 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • L08061: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a double circuit 220kV transmission line connection from the proposed Orton Switchyard and the existing Huntly-Otahuhu A 220kV transmission line, including any necessary modifications to the existing line to enable that connection, and associated ancillary facilities (as shown on Plan 9 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).

 These notices of requirement for designation are specified in a document entitled Hauāuru mā raki, Waikato Wind Farm, Resource Consent Applications, Notices of Requirement, Assessment of Environmental Effects, June 2008 prepared and lodged by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited with the Franklin District Council on 26 June 2008.

Waikato District Council

Land use consents

Contact Wind Limited applied for the following land use consents from the Waikato District Council:

  • LUC00005/08: For all activities associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of a wind farm (Hauāuru mā raki) within the Waikato District, bordering the west coast of the North Island between the boundary of the Franklin and Waikato Districts to the north to Te Hara point in the south (as shown on Plan 2 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents). This includes the erection and operation of wind turbine generators, site mobilisation and establishment, earthworks and land disturbance, underground and overground 33kV transmission works and site reinstatement.
  • LUC00005/08.01: Land use consent for two concrete batching plants, one south of the Waimai stream on Te Akau Coast Road and the second south of the Mangati stream on Te Akau South Road, as shown on Plan 20 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • LUC00005/08.02: Land use consent for improvements to local roads – Te Akau Coast Road, Waingaro Road, Rotowaro Road and Te Akau South Road (as shown on Plans 14–16 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).

These land use consent applications and associated plans are specified in a document entitled Hauāuru mā raki, Waikato Wind Farm, Resource Consent Applications, Notices of Requirement, Assessment of Environmental Effects, June 2008 prepared and lodged by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited with the Waikato District Council on 26 June 2008.

Notices of requirement

Contact Energy Limited has lodged notices of requirement for designation with the Waikato District Council for the following activities associated with the reticulation and transmission of electricity from Hauāuru mā raki to the national grid:

  • DES0012/08: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a substation at Matira (called the Matira Substation) and ancillary facilities, on farmland adjacent to Matira Road, approximately three km northeast of the junction of Pukerewa Road and Matira Road (as shown on Plan 2 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • DES0013/08: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a substation at Te Akau (called the Te Akau Substation) and ancillary facilities, on farmland approximately two km north-east of the junction of Te Akau Road and Te Akau South Road (as shown on Plan 1 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).
  • DES0014/08: The construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, renewal and upgrading of a single circuit 220kV transmission line (to the extent that the line will be within the Waikato District) on monopoles (except in some locations where lattice towers may be required) linking the proposed Matira and Te Akau Substations to the south in the Waikato District with the Limestone Downs Substation in the Franklin District to the north, and ancillary facilities (as shown on Plans 4 and 5 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents).

These notices of requirement for designation are specified in a document entitled Hauāuru mā raki, Waikato Wind Farm, Resource Consent Applications, Notices of Requirement, Assessment of Environmental Effects, June 2008 prepared and lodged by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited with the Waikato District Council on 26 June 2008.

Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato)

Contact Wind Limited applied for the following consents from Environment Waikato:

Earthworks

  • WRC 117912: To undertake earthworks and roading and tracking activities associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of a wind farm (Hauāuru mā raki) including turbines, internal access roads, construction of water storage ponds, and improvements to local roads. These works are on land in the Franklin and Waikato Districts bordering the west coast of the North Island between Port Waikato in the north and Te Hara Point in the south (as shown on Plans 3-17 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).
  • WRC118074: To undertake all soil disturbance activities including roading, tracking, overburden placement and ancillary earthworks associated with re-opening and operation of the Whitford Quarry on Port Waikato-Waikaretu Road (at or about E2667295 N6404494 as shown on Plans 18 and 21 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents).

Water takes

  • WRC 117913: To take up to 104m3 of water per day at a rate of up to 1.2 L/s from the Waikawau stream at or about E2664309 N6414522 as shown as W1 on Plan 18 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117914: To take up to 94m3 of water per day at a rate of up to 1.1 L/s from the Kaawa stream at or about E2668064 N6411781 as shown as W2 on Plan 18 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117915: To take up to 79m3 of water per day at a rate of up to 0.9 L/s from the Waikaretu stream at or about E2667260 N6404436 and/or E2668600 N6404150 as shown as W3a and W3c on Plan 18 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117916: To take up to 96m3 of water per day at a rate of up to 1.1 L/s from the Waikorea stream at or about E2669518 N6397706 as shown as W4 on Plan 18 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117920: To take up to the full flow of an unnamed spring at the Whitford Quarry at or about E2667700 N6404500 as shown as W3b on Plan 18 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.

Streambed works

  • WRC 117921: To construct and maintain an arch culvert in a tributary to the Te Umukaraka stream at or about E2667217 N6413763 as shown on Plan 19 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117922: To construct and maintain a culvert in a tributary to the Tauterei stream at or about E2672325 N6385075 as shown on Plan 19 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117923: To construct and maintain a 14-metre bridge over the Waimai stream at or about E2672970 N6393860 as shown on Plan 19 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.

Discharges

  • WRC 117924: To discharge process water and stormwater from the Whitford Quarry and a concrete batching plant (at or about E2667367 N6404493) to land (in circumstances where it may enter groundwater) and to the Waikaretu stream at locations shown on Plans 18, 20 and 21 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.
  • WRC 117925: To discharge process water and stormwater from three concrete batching plants to land (in circumstances where it may enter water) at or about the following locations: E2665268 N6412645; E2671881 N6392716; E2672146 N6387975 as shown on Plan 20 in Part A, Schedule 2 of the resource consent application documents.

Contact Energy Limited applied for the following consents from Environment Waikato:

Earthworks

  • WRC 117927: To undertake earthworks and roading and tracking activities associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of three substations, a switchyard, transmission lines (including support structures), and ancillary activities in the general location of the land covered by the Notice of Requirements made to Franklin and Waikato District Councils as shown on Plans 1 to 9 in Part B, Schedule 1 of the notice of requirement documents.

These consent applications and associated plans are specified in a document entitled Hauāuru mā raki, Waikato Wind Farm, Resource Consent Applications, Notices of Requirement, Assessment of Environmental Effects, June 2008 prepared and lodged by Contact Wind Limited and Contact Energy Limited with the Waikato Regional Council on 26 June 2008.

Last updated: 19 September 2008