Residents call for solar consent to be notified
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter. Photo: Lightyears Solar Ltd co-founders Matt Shanks (left) and Sean Toban.
A North Canterbury residents group has called for a proposed solar farm consent application to be publicly notified.
Community concern at a proposal to build a 180.8-hectare solar farm near Waipara, north of Amberley, has prompted the Waipara Residents’ Association to write to the Hurunui District Council to press for it to be notified.
Far North Solar Farm Ltd applied to the Hurunui District Council in March for resource consents for its proposal.
The company is proposing to build a 143.8 MWp solar farm on a 242.4ha property next to State Highway 7 near Waipara.
Waipara Residents’ Association chairperson Steven Ellis said the committee has written to the council to request the consent applications ‘‘be publicly notified and not fast tracked’’.
‘‘It is important that community members be given the opportunity to be heard, through a submission process, regarding their thoughts about the proposed use of this farm land.’’
Community concern led to the group Save Waipara Valley being formed last year.
A Hurunui District Council spokesperson said the application is on hold, while the applicant commissions peer reviews of the landscape and visual effects, and glint and glare effects.
No decision has been made whether to notify the consent.
Meanwhile, the Waimakariri District Council has received resource consent applications for solar farms at Swannanoa and Sefton.
Auckland-based Lightyears Solar Ltd has applied for a resource consent to build an eight hectare solar farm at Swannanoa.
A council spokesperson said staff are working through the notification process, but no decision on notification has been made.
The council could decide to have no notification, a limited notification with neighbours and affected parties, or a full public notification.
Lightyears Solar Ltd co-founder and development manager Matt Shanks said his company proposed building ‘‘a mid-sized, dual use solar farm’’.
The farm will generate six megawatts of renewable energy, which will mostly be consumed locally ‘‘providing for some of Rangiora’s daytime energy needs’’, he said.
He said Lightyears Solar has contacted the immediate neighbours to the farm, as part of the consent process.
An Australian company Energy Bay Ltd has applied for a resource consent to build a solar farm on 80ha at Sefton.
The council spokesperson said the application was on hold, awaiting more information.
No decision has been made whether to notify the consent.
Environment Canterbury has received consent applications from Lightyears Solar, which are on hold awaiting further information.
But the regional council has no active consent applications from Far North Solar Farm Ltd and Energy Bay Ltd for solar farms in North Canterbury.
The Waimakariri District Council granted a consent, subject to conditions, in April for MainPower, North Canterbury’s energy network, to construct a solar farm on a 10 hectare site at Thongcaster Rd at Eyrewell Forest, to the north of Waimakariri River.
The site is expected to produce enough energy to power 1250 local homes through MainPower’s distribution network.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Older residents call for Amberley bus service
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A lack of public transport and access to healthcare were among the issues raised in recent a survey of older residents in the Hurunui district.
The Hurunui District Council surveyed residents aged over 60 during August and September, as it looks to develop an age-friendly community plan to support an ageing population.
There are currently no public bus services in Hurunui, which includes the town of Amberley, about 40km north of Christchurch.
Community development facilitator Vanessa Nelmes said public transport is a big issue for many elderly people, while accessing medical care when needed remains a concern.
While there are a number of community vehicle trusts operating in the district, respondents felt a regular bus service from Amberley to Rangiora and/or Christchurch is needed.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black has been among those advocating for a bus service, but for now Environment Canterbury says there are no plans to offer public transport in the district.
The distance to medical care in Christchurch and the lack of a dentist were also mentioned, Nelmes said.
The survey received 213 responses from residents aged from 60 to their 90s, with half coming from residents in the south ward, which includes Amberley.
Nelmes said the survey found a majority of the respondents felt confident using computers, internet and / or smart phones.
‘‘It kind of puts that myth to bed that old people don’t like using technology.
‘‘I think we really do need to change our mindset compared to what is really happening in our community.’’
Although about 50 respondents said they were not confident using technology, showing there was still a need for providing support.
The survey also asked if people would like to improve their skills with technology and it was ‘‘evenly split’’, Nelmes said.
A concerning trend in the survey was a number of respondents who said they felt socially isolated, especially those new to the community, she said.
‘‘We had half a dozen people who replied along the lines, ‘you have to put yourself out there, but it’s how to make the first step’.’’
The survey has been analysed by the age-friendly steering group, which plans to widen its membership to include different agencies such as district nursing and is seeking a rural voice, Nelmes said.
Council staff plan to do a stocktake of services available for senior citizens in the district, before beginning work on a draft age-friendly plan.
Environment Canterbury public transport strategy and planning manager Sonia Pollard said there are no plans to extend bus services into Amberley or the wider Hurunui district.
‘‘The focus for public transport improvements is on delivery of the core routes in Christchurch and the direct services between the main urban areas in Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and Christchurch City.
‘‘Service improvements are reliant on funding through local rates and the National Land Transport Programme.’’
She said routes outside large urban areas are unlikely to meet the funding criteria in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme.
But as part of the 2025/26 annual plan staff are considering how to best serve the rural community, including assessing new routes outside the Greater Christchurch boundary.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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