• Environment
  • Climate Change
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Monitoring and Compliance
  • Reducing Our Footprint at White Hill Wind Farm
  • Didymo
  • Project River Recovery
  • Working with Stakeholders
  • Focus on Manapouri
  • Policy and Planning
  • Consultation - New Generation Projects
Consultation - New Generation Projects

Effective community consultation for new generation projects is a cornerstone of our planning and consenting work. We recognise that local communities and other interest groups have a stake in every project. The perspectives and concerns of these stakeholders must be considered and taken into account if projects are to be successful. Stakeholder consultation also contributes valuable local knowledge to the planning of projects and often significantly shapes the project.

Processes

We have developed processes for robust consultation and information gathering from an early stage of every hydro or wind project. Working with key stakeholders from the outset can elicit the need for more investigations and analysis on environmental and social issues, and lead to proposals being refined before they enter a process of formal public participation. Once announcements are made, Meridian places high importance on all aspects of the project through open days, group meetings, face-to-face discussions and publications, including DVDs and CDs for specific projects. We seek to demonstrate openness, flexibility and a willingness to listen.

North Bank Tunnel Concept

With respect to the North Bank Tunnel Concept (NBTC), consultation has been occurring with landowners for many months and discussions are frequent, regular and mutually beneficial. Meridian’s work with stakeholders has been on a "no surprises" basis with free and frank discussion of issues. A key component of consultation has been the ten Open Days held for NBTC at various locations around the Waitaki Valley area. A resource consent application for the take, use and discharge of water for NBTC has been lodged, with hearings starting in August 2007.

Other new generation projects

Meridian is currently consulting in relation to several new generation projects in various stages of development, from concept through to lodged consent applications, as shown below:

Project Proposal Consent Status Consultation
West Wind 210 MW wind farm on Wellington’s west coast Consent granted by the Environment Court in June 2007 and not appealed Ongoing consultation with stakeholders regarding detailed design matters and construction timing
Hayes Up to 630 MW wind farm on the Lammermoor Range, Northern Central Otago Consents hearings concluded with Central Otago District Council in July 2007. A decision is anticipated in Spring 2007 Substantial consultation with stakeholders, particularly local residents, throughout the consent and hearing process
North Bank Tunnel Concept Up to 260MW hydro station underground on the north bank of the Waitaki River below the Waitaki dam Water only consents lodged with Environment Canterbury Consultation has been ongoing since March 2006 and will continue through the consents process and beyond
Hunter Downs A 40,000 ha irrigation development between the Waitaki River and Timaru Water only consents lodged with Environment Canterbury Consultation has been ongoing since March 2006 and will continue through the consents process and beyond
Mokihinui 65-85 MW hydro power station on the Mohikinui River Carried out geotechnical investigations and Assessment of Environmental Effects technical studies Consultation has been ongoing since May 2006 and will continue through the consents process and beyond

In addition to these projects, Meridian is exploring the environmental effects of increasing the discharge from the Manapouri Power Station. In May 2006, Meridian was granted resource consent for a trial high-flow discharge into Doubtful Sound. A three day trial was initially conducted in July 2006. A second trial was conducted in July 2007 to further assess the potential environmental effects of alternative discharge scenarios and to enable key stakeholders to experience the effects of an increased discharge. The results of the second trial are presently being analysed. These will help inform decision making over the alternative discharges, and lead to further understanding of the potential environmental effects of such a change.