Residents call for solar consent to be notified

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

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.