Mt Cass Wind Farm Progressing

Mediation over MainPower’s proposed windfarm at Mt Cass has finished with good progress being made on several issues.

Generation Manager Andrew Hurley said a way forward has been agreed with parties to the mediation, including the Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury and Hurunui District Council.

The agreement will result in modifications to the wind farm design footprint – including the location of some turbines and the access road.

Mr Hurley said the changes will significantly reduce the amount of vegetation removal required to build the wind farm.

MainPower will lodge a new resource consent application by June for changes to the wind farm footprint where these are substantially different to its original proposal.

MainPower and the other parties to the mediation will continue discussions on appropriate conditions to resolve remaining concerns. An Environment Court hearing on the revised proposal is likely to be held in late 2010.

About MainPower
MainPower owns and operates the power lines used to supply electricity to the people and businesses of North Canterbury and Kaikoura. We service every household, farm, business and community organisation in the region.

We have been part of the local community since 1928, starting our life as the North Canterbury Electric Power Board. We are one of the largest employers in the region and a proud member of the local community.

We are owned by the MainPower Trust on behalf of the community. Our profits go back to the community through a monthly power bill rebate - in the past financial year this rebate totalled $7.6 million.

Our vision is to contribute to the local community by being a leading electricity and energy business.