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Public Notice of Direction to call in Unison’s proposal to establish a wind farm near the ‘Te Waka’ Range, Hawkes Bay 

In accordance with section 144 of the Resource Management Act 1991, I, Hon Trevor Mallard, give notice of my direction to call in the application for resource consent involved in the proposal by Unison Networks Limited (Unison) to establish, operate and maintain a wind farm of up to 34 turbines for the generation of up to 102 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the vicinity of the Te Waka range, Hawkes Bay. Details of the application for resource consent, and where it can be inspected, are set out below.

I consider this matter is a proposal of national significance and I have therefore made a direction that it be called in and referred to the Environment Court for determination in accordance with sections 140 to 150AA of the Resource Management Act 1991.

My reason for calling in the matter involved in the proposal is 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% of electricity generation to be from renewable energy sources by 2025 as set out in the New Zealand Energy Strategy to 2050.

How to make a submission:

Any person can make a submission on the application for resource consent. The submission must be in writing, dated, signed by you and be received by the Minister by 5.00 pm Friday 7 March 2008. The submission must include the following information:

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

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

You must send your submission to the following freepost address:

FreePost Te Waka Call In
Minister for the Environment
PO Box 10362
WELLINGTON 6143
or email: tewakacallin@mfe.govt.nz
or fax to: 04 439 7705, (please mark in the subject line: “Te Waka Call In”).

You MUST ALSO send a copy of your submission to Unison Networks Limited at the following address:

Te Waka Wind Farm Proposal
Unison Networks Limited
PO Box 555
HASTINGS
or email windfarm@unison.co.nz

or fax to: (06) 873 9311, (please mark in the subject line: “Te Waka Windfarm Call In”).

Submissions must be received no later than 5pm on 7 March 2008.

Copies of the application for resource consent and accompanying information can be viewed at the following locations:

Ministry for the Environment

Head Office, Environment House, 23 Kate Sheppard Place, Wellington.

Auckland Office, Level 6, Tower Centre, 45 Queen Street, Auckland.

Hastings District Council

Hastings Office, Lyndon Road East, Hastings.

Hastings Library, Cnr Eastbourne & 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 at www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/resourceconsents/unison3/

Further Information

Further information can be found on the Ministry for the Environment website at www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-tewaka/ or by emailing tewakacallin@mfe.govt.nz or phoning 0800 836 444.

Dated this 9 day of February 2008.
MINISTER Trevor Mallard,
Minister for the Environment.

Description of the called in application for resource consent in relation to Unison’s proposal to establish, operate and maintain a wind farm near the ‘Te Waka’ Range, Hawkes Bay:

Hastings District Council – Land Use Consent

Unison Networks Limited (Unison) has applied to the Hastings District Council for a resource consent for the following activities:

a) To establish, operate and maintain a wind farm consisting of up to 34 turbines for the generation of up to 102 megawatt (MW) of electricity in the vicinity of the Te Waka Range to the west of Te Pohue and State Highway 5;

b) The installation of underground and overhead lines to connect the wind farm to the transmission system;

c) The erection, operation and maintenance of up to four meteorological masts;

d) The operation of a temporary concrete batching plant;

e) The erection of ancillary structures and buildings including:

  • Collector points for cabling;
  • A marshalling facility for cabling;
  • An operations and maintenance building.

f) Indigenous vegetation modification;

g) Land disturbance including:

  • Access formation to turbine sites;
  • Establishing flat platforms at each turbine site;
  • Placement of fill;
  • Establishing platforms for temporary laydown areas, operation and maintenance buildings, and a marshalling facility;
  • Trenching and placement of cables:

h) Replacement of all equipment and facilities as required.

The legal descriptions of the land subject to this application are:

  • SECT 24 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • SECT 23 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • SECT 11 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • SECT 10 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • Pt SECT 9 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • Pt Lot 1 Deed 487;
  • Pt Rural Section 1 Pohue Bush;
  • Rural Section 2 Pohue Bush;
  • Pt Lot 1 DP 5261, Pt Lot 2 DP 8530, Lot 1 DP 12896;
  • SECT 7 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • Pt SECT 6 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • SECT 13 BLK XVI Pohue Survey District;
  • Unformed legal road (Richmond Road – otherwise known as Rukumoana Road):

Details of the land use consent application are included in a document entitled ‘Unison Wind Farm (Stage 2) Te Waka for up to 34 Wind Turbines Resource Consent Application’ prepared and lodged by Unison Networks Limited with the Hastings District Council in June 2007.

Last updated: 16 January 2009