Project Hayes

Project Hayes
Location of Project Hayes
Country New Zealand
Location Otago
Coordinates
Owner(s) Meridian Energy
Power station information
Primary fuel Wind
Generation units 176
Power generation information
Maximum capacity 630 MW

Project Hayes is a controversial wind farm proposed for the Lammermoor Range of Otago, New Zealand.[1]

It has a proposed capacity of up to 630MW, making it the largest wind farm project in the southern hemisphere.[1] The proposed farm would cover an area of approximately 92 km²,[2] use up to 176 wind turbines and cost up to $2 billion.[3] The wind farm is proposed by Meridian Energy.

The project is named after engineer Eben Ernest Hayes (1851–1933), founder of the Hayes Engineering Works in Otago. He developed a windmill to power his engineering works from 1910 to 1927, and manufactured windmills for pumping water on farms [4]

Contents

Resource Consent Process

In May 2006, Meridian announced three public consultation days to explain Project Hayes.[5] Between July and October 2006, Meridian lodged applications for resource consents with the Central Otago District Council and with Otago Regional Council.[6]

Resource consent for Project Hayes was granted in 2007,[7] however the decision was appealed to the Environment Court.[1] The project is opposed by a number of people, including the former All Black Anton Oliver[8] who is also opposing the nearby Mahinerangi Wind Farm. The respected painter Grahame Sydney and poet Brian Turner also oppose the wind farms.[9] Meridian spent more than NZ$7.6 million on the consenting process.[10]

In November 2009, the Environment Court declined the consents as they concluded that the project did not achieve sustainable management under the Resource Management Act 1991 because the substantial adverse impacts, principally on the outstanding natural landscape, outweighed the positive factors, principally the large quantity of renewable energy.[11][12]

Meridian stated that the Environment Court, in requiring a comprehensive and explicit cost-benefit analysis including hypothetical projects, had effectively created a new legal test for projects to overcome.[13] Consequently, Meridian appealed the Environment Court decision to the High Court.[14] In August 2010, the High Court allowed Meridian's appeal and sent the case back to the Environment Court to be reconsidered, with Meridian to present further evidence on alternative locations.[15][16] The opponents of the project (the Maniototo Environmental Society, Upland Landscape Protection Society, John and Sue Douglas and Ewan Carr) have filed notice to appeal the High Court Decision to the Court of Appeal.[17] Meridian's lawyers have asked the High Court to clarify its decision in respect of the Central Otago district plan landscape categories. [18] As of February 2011, no dates had been set for the next round of court hearings.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Manins, Rosie (9 August 2008). "Project Hayes wind farm hearing to resume in January". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/17013/project-hayes-wind-farm-hearing-resume-january. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
  2. ^ "Application for resource consent under section 88 of the resource management act 1991" (PDF). Meridian Energy Limited. 12 July 2006. http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/NR/rdonlyres/27BC0537-F156-4431-A07A-DDAF2719F7B9/0/Form9postsection92amendment.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
  3. ^ Manins, Rosie (28 January 2009). "Wind farm could attract tourists: Witness". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/40995/wind-farm-could-attract-tourists-witness. 
  4. ^ Orange, Claudia (1 September 2010). Hayes, Eben Ernest - Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manata Taonga. ISBN 978-0-478-18451-8. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/2h25/1. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
  5. ^ "Meridian consulting on Central Otago wind farm" (Press release). Meridian Energy. 19 May 2006. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00449.htm. Retrieved 3 April 2011. 
  6. ^ "Project Hayes wind farm". Meridian Energy. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xepQ6egP. Retrieved 3 April 2011. 
  7. ^ "Meridian Energy's Hayes wind farm development gets approval". Energy Business Review. 2 November 2007. http://www.energy-business-review.com/News/meridian_energys_hayes_wind_farm_development_gets_approval/. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
  8. ^ "Anton Oliver - features -". Sunday Star Times (Fairfax). 18 May 2008. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/447195. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
  9. ^ Ansley, Bruce (22 July 2006). "Putting the wind up". New Zealand Listener. http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3454/features/6608/putting_the_wind_up.html. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
  10. ^ Hine, Will (27 August 2009). "Millions spent on wind farm fight". The Southland Times. http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/2805352/Millions-spent-on-wind-farm-fight. 
  11. ^ Judge Jackson (6 November 2009). "Maniototo Environmental Society Incorporated v Central Otago District Council And Otago Regional Council; Re: Project Hayes Wind Farm". C103/2009. Environment Court. http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/environment-court/documents/Lammermoor%20Ch%208.pdf. Retrieved 6 March 2011. 
  12. ^ NZPA/ONE News (6 November 2009). "Consent for Otago Windfarm rejected". Television New Zealand. http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/consent-otago-windfarm-rejected-3116360. 
  13. ^ "Meridian To Seek Overturn Of Environment Court Decision On Project Hayes". Voxy. 27 November 2009. http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/meridian-seek-overturn-environment-court-decision-project-hayes/5/31638. Retrieved 18 March 2011. 
  14. ^ Manins, Rosie (28 November 2009). "Meridian lodges appeal". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/83793/meridian-lodges-appeal. 
  15. ^ "Meridian Energy Limited V Central Otago District Council And Ors". CIV 2009 412 000980. Dunedin: High Court. 16 August 2010. http://www.nzlii.org/nz/cases/NZHC/2010/1390.html. Retrieved 6 March 2011. 
  16. ^ "Court upholds wind farm appeal". The Press (Fairfax New Zealand Ltd). 2010-08-16. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/south-island/4029299/High-Court-upholds-Meridians-appeal-over-Project-Hayes-wind-farm. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  17. ^ Edens, John (25 September 2010). "Fresh action against Hayes". The Southland Times. http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4167018/Fresh-action-against-Hayes. 
  18. ^ Edens, John (27 September 2010). "Project Hayes' future gets hazier by the day". Southland Times (Fairfax). http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4169363/Project-Hayes-future-gets-hazier-by-the-day. Retrieved 18 March 2011. 
  19. ^ Van Kempen, Lynda (25 February 2011). "Lammermoors wind farm still in limbo". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/149180/lammermoors-wind-farm-still-limbo. Retrieved 18 March 2011. 

External links

Wind power
Wind power by country
Wind turbines
Wind power industry
Wind farms
Concepts