Contact’s proposal for a new Waikato wind farm – ‘Hauāuru mā raki

Board of Inquiry information

Information relating to the Board of Inquiry is now available from the Board of Inquiry 'Hauāuru mā raki’ - Waikato Wind Farm Proposal’s web pages. Reports provided to the Board and updates on Board processes leading to a hearing are also held on these web pages.

Electronic copies of all submissions are also available on the Board of Inquiry’s web pages.

Background

The original proposal for the Hauāuru mā raki wind farm (Waikato Wind Farm) would produce up to 540 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The original proposal includes the construction, operation and maintenance of a 220kV transmission line, three substations, associated support structures, equipment and facilities. A copy of the applications and a map of the area can be found on Contact’s website: www.contactenergy.co.nz.  This project description has now been slightly amended.

The proposed site is along approximately 34km of coastline on the west coast of the North Island. It would start four kilometres south of Port Waikato to Te Akau and end some eight kilometres north of Raglan.

The Minister for the Environment 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 appointed a board of inquiry to consider Contact’s applications.

The Minister called for submissions and these were received until 5pm on Monday 3 November 2008. The Minister received a total of 96 submissions and they were provided to the Board of Inquiry in accordance with the Resource Management Act. Electronic copies of all submissions are also on the Board of Inquiry’s web pages.

The Board considers Contact’s applications for resource consents and notices of requirement, holds public hearings and makes a decision about whether or not to grant the applications.

The Board is chaired by Environment Judge Jeffrey Allan Smith, and the other members are Dr Diane Menzies, Ms Gina Rangi and Mr John Lumsden. See biographical information on the board members.

Last updated: 16 January 2009