Te Rere Hau Wind Farm Aokautere Extension
This project has been referred to an expert consenting panel for fast-track consenting under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting Act 2020).
Project ID
2023-163
Applicant
NZ Windfarms Limited
Project summary
To develop and expand the existing Te Rere Hau Wind Farm by: installing up to nine three-bladed turbines up to 162 metres high, at Forest Hill Road (to the north of the existing wind farm); decommissioning eight existing turbines; upgrading and widening 10.5 kilometres of internal access roads; upgrading existing public roads and installing new ancillary infrastructure and structures including transmission lines.
Location
Various locations 18 kilometres north-east of Rotorua and 2 kilometres north-east of Okere Village above the Taheke geothermal field.
Referred projects order
Schedule 91 to the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Referred Projects Order 2020 [New Zealand Legislation website]
The project will:
- generate employment by creating approximately 271 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs during construction, and 30 FTE jobs once construction is complete
- provide infrastructure to improve economic, employment and environmental outcomes
- contribute to New Zealand’s efforts to mitigate climate change and transition more quickly to a low emissions economy
- progress faster than would otherwise be the case under standard Resource Management Act 1991 process.
Any actual and potential effects on the environment, and proposed measures to avoid, remedy, mitigate, offset, or compensate for any adverse effects, can be appropriately tested by an expert consenting panel against Part 2 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the purpose of the Act.
Section 17 report
Section 17 report [PDF, 1.2 MB]