Kaimai Wind Farm Project » Hauraki District Council

Submissions closed - next steps being finalised

Submissions are now closed on Kaimai Windfarm Ltd’s proposed wind farm project.

Overall Hauraki District Council received 220 submissions on the proposal, of which 57 were in support and 157 were opposed to the idea. Waikato Regional Council submissions totalled 143, with 96 against and 42 in support of the proposal. Around 11 submissions were sitting on the fence without leaning one way or the other.

The next steps in the process are now being finalised but will likely include some pre-hearing meetings to try to reach some agreement and narrow down the issues to be heard at a later hearing. The hearing itself is expected to take place before the middle of the year and will give submitters the opportunity to present their views verbally to independent commissioners who will be appointed by both councils to make a decision on the proposal.

There is also a possibility the applicant may apply for direct referral to the Environment Court. In this case the hearing would be held there and the decision would be made by the Environment Court without the involvement of Council appointed commissioners.

Proposed Kaimai Wind Farm Resource Consent Applications

Kaimai Wind Farm Ltd has lodged resource consent applications with Hauraki District Council and Waikato Regional Council for consent to establish and operate a 24 turbine wind farm on the north western area of the Kaimai Ranges, south of Paeroa.

The resource consent application to the Hauraki District Council seeks consent to all landuse activities associated with the construction and operation of the proposed wind farm.

The application site covers 771 and 604 Rotokohu Road and 6356 SH26 ( 1304 hectares).

Twenty four large scale wind turbines are proposed, 7 of them 180 metres high (to blade tip standing upright), and 17 of them 207 metres high.

Proposed associated structures include a substation, 2 lattice transmission towers, 2 overhead lines, and 18.9km of roading – all within the application site.

Earthworks will include 900,000m³ of cut material and 113,500m³ of engineered fill.

It is estimated that 53,000m³ of finishing aggregate will be needed for the on-site roads. This is proposed to be obtained from roading excavations and one on site quarry.

The main site access is proposed to be from the south- from Wright Road, which comes off Rawhiti Road – the turbine parts are proposed to be transported from Tauranga, through Matamata-Piako District to the site. All other construction and materials transport traffic is also proposed to access the site from Wright Road.

The resource consent application to the Waikato Regional Council seeks consent to specific aspects of land use – removal of vegetation, earthworks, to permit the discharge of surplus soil and surface water associated with the construction phase of the project and culvert upgrades.

Submissions

Submissions closed 4.30pm on 31 January 2019

Public Notice

View the public notice - Notice of Resource Consent Applications for Proposed Wind Farm

Public Notification

As requested by the applicant, the applications have been made publicly notified - in the Piako Post and Waikato Times on 28 November 2018, Waihi Leader on 29 November 2018 and Hauraki Herald on 30 November 2018.

The submission period closed on Thursday 31 January 2019.

For further details see the public notice - Notice of Resource Consent Applications for Proposed Wind Farm

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