Wind farm appeal may be resolved without court hearing
Trustpower’s appeal against the resource consent for its $380 million wind farm near Gore was likely to be resolved without going to an Environment Court hearing, Gore district planner Keith Hovell said yesterday.
However, Mr Hovell declined to comment on whether that meant Trustpower would not be paying a development levy.
The levy, which was set by the Gore District Council’s consent panel at 0.2 percent of the project’s cost, or about $760,000, was one of three consent conditions Trustpower has objected to. Its appeal also opposed shadow flicker rules and the composition of a community consultation group.
With negotiations between the council and Trustpower continuing, a pre-hearing held in Dunedin yesterday mainly dealt with an appeal from the Upland Landscape Protection Society.
The society opposes the development envelope concept being used by Trustpower and wants the application relodged.
Mr Hovell said Trustpower has asked for parts of the society’s appeal to be struck out, claiming it addressed issues that were not part of the original hearing. The court would consider Trustpower’s request on September 25.
By Sonia Gerken
6 September 2008
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