Nick
Smith23 January, 2009 - Environment Minister
Nick Smith will tomorrow publicly notify
Mighty River Power's proposal for a 122-turbine
wind farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North.
"There is widespread
interest in this and I encourage anyone
with views about the proposal to make a
submission. An independent Board of Inquiry
will consider all the submissions, hold
public hearings, and make a final decision,"
Dr Smith says.
"The Board will
be chaired by Judge Craig Thompson and I
have consulted with the local councils to
ensure there is local knowledge on the board."
Dr Smith says the proposed
wind farm was of national significance traversing
public land within the Manawatu-Wanganui
region, Palmerston North City and Tararua
District.
"That is why on
19 December last year I announced that due
to the size and scale of the wind farm proposal
a Board on Inquiry chaired by an Environment
Court Judge was the most transparent and
fair way to decide the outcome.
"I chose this option
rather than direct referral to the Environment
Court because the process is more informal
and better for submitters who may not have
legal representation.
"I delayed public
notification until 24 January 2009 so people
were not disadvantaged by the holiday period
in making submissions."
All submissions must
be received by 5pm Monday 23 February 2009.
Submission forms can
be obtained from Horizons Regional Council,
Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District
Council and from the Ministry for the Environment
website (www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-turitea),
or by phoning 0800 836 444.
Copies of Mighty River
Power's application can be viewed at Horizons
Regional Council, Palmerston North City
Council, Tararua District Council, at Ministry
for the Environment Offices in Auckland
and Wellington, on Mighty River Power's
website (www.mightyriver.co.nz) or information
can be obtained by emailing turiteacallin@mfe.govt.nz
or by phoning 0800 836 444.
+ More
Minister decides board
of inquiry best process for Turitea wind
farm proposal
Nick Smith19 December,
2008 - Environment Minister Nick Smith today
announced his decision to refer the Mighty
River Power proposal for a 131-turbine wind
farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North,
to an independent Board of Inquiry.
"A Board of Inquiry
chaired by an Environment Court Judge is
the most transparent and fair way to decide
the outcome of this significant wind farm
proposal.
"This project is
of a size and scale that justifies a board
inquiry. I have consulted with local councils
on the make up of the Board and appointed
members they were intending to use as commissioners
or were nominated to me.
"The Ministry for
the Environment is also in discussion with
Horizons Regional Council on playing an
administrative role to support the Board
to ensure the process is as accessible as
possible to the affected communities."
The Board to decide
the wind farm is:
Judge Craig Thompson
(Chairman)
Vivian Kloosterman (environmental engineer)
John Hudson (landscape architect)
Richard Heerdegen (resource management consultant)
Chris Shenton (iwi project manager)
"This is a very talented board with
the right mix of skills to make this important
decision in a considered and careful way.
"I have delayed
the public notification until late January
so people are not disadvantage by the holiday
period in making submissions. I will be
publicly notifying the wind farm on 24 January
2008 with submissions closing on 23 February
2008.
"This is a very
significant wind farm that traverses public
land within the Manawatu-Wanganui Region,
Palmerston North City and Tararua District
and has widespread public interest.
"I also believe
there were risks of the Palmerston North
City Council being open to claims of bias
and appeal because of it being the owner
of the reserve land where the wind farm
is proposed.
"I have chosen
a Board of Inquiry in preference to direct
referral to the Environment Court because
the process is more informal and better
for submitters who may not have legal representation.
"I have been very
mindful in appointing the Board of the local
interest in the proposal. This thorough
process will ensure we get a robust and
timely decision."
