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Central Wind windfarm resource consent application: all-of-government submission for lodging

Recommendations

I recommend that the Cabinet Policy Committee:

  1. note that:
    1. Meridian Energy Limited has lodged a resource consent application to construct and run a windfarm of up to 130 megawatts called Central Wind in the Central Plateau
    2. the Rangitikei and Ruapehu District Councils, and the Horizons Regional Council have publicly notified the resource consent application and submissions on the application close 28 August 2008
  2. note that the Central Wind windfarm has the potential to contribute up to 400 gigawatt-hours per annum and will contribute to the government’s goal of having 90 percent of New Zealand’s electricity generated from renewable sources by 2025 as set out in the New Zealand Energy Strategy
  3. note that on 14 July 2008 Cabinet noted:
    1. the briefing by the Minister for the Environment regarding Meridian Energy Limited’s resource consent applications in respect of its Central Wind windfarm proposal
    2. that the Minister for the Environment considers that Meridian’s windfarm proposal is of national significance as it is relevant to New Zealand’s international obligations to the global environment in terms of the Kyoto Protocol
    3. that the Minister for the Environment intends to make an all-of-government submission on behalf of the Crown on Meridian’s windfarm proposal

[Cab Min (08) 27/20]

  1. note that the Department of Conservation, the Ministry for the Environment, and the Ministry of Economic Development have prepared a draft all-of-government submission, attached as Annex 1, which supports the granting of resource consents for the Central Wind proposal subject to conditions to address the potential local adverse effects of the Central Wind proposal on the environment
  2. note that the attached submission focuses on the following areas:
    1. 5.1 the national significance of the Central Wind proposal, while acknowledging the possibility of local adverse effects
    2. 5.2 the current and potential role of wind energy in the New Zealand electricity system
    3. 5.3 the contribution of the proposal to the government’s energy and climate change policies and objectives, particularly those related to renewable energy
    4. 5.4 the addition of climate change, energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions to the Resource Management Act in 2004
  3. note that the Department of Conservation and Meridian Energy Limited have agreed resource consent conditions to ensure that public conservation lands and native wildlife are adequately protected;  a copy of the draft conditions is attached as Annex 2
  4. agree that the Minister for the Environment lodge the submission attached as Annex 1 as a submission on behalf of the Crown under section 141A(4)(c) of the Resource Management Act 1991
  5. authorise the Minister for the Environment to make minor changes to the submission, if necessary, before it is lodged with the Rangitikei and Ruapehu  District Councils and the Horizons Regional Council
  6. note that counsel and witnesses for the government will be required to attend the hearings in order to speak to the submission, give further supporting evidence and answer any questions posed by the hearings committee.
  7. direct the Ministry for the Environment to co-ordinate the government’s involvement in the hearing process, and to provide instruction to the Crown Law Office if required
  8. agree that the Minister for the Environment may publicly release this submission, including Cabinet decisions, and any Annexes once Cabinet has made a decision.

 

Last updated: 29 August 2008