Meridian Energy Limited v Wellington City Council

COURT OR TRIBUNAL

Environment Court of New Zealand

DATE FILED (OR FIRST HEARING DATE)

06/06/2006

LITIGATION TYPE

Project Approval - Mitigation

SUBJECT MATTER

Wind farm

REVIEW TYPE

Merits review

SUMMARY

(Linxplus case summary from Lexis)

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - land use consents - coastal discharge - water use for operation of Makara windfarm - 70 turbines - appeal on conditions as to traffic and noise - - State owned enterprise - representatives of Makara residents - impact of development on Makara Beach and Quartz Hill - opposition to those turbines considered to generate the highest level of adverse effects - flora and fauna protection - opposition to commercial power production - recreational and public access - public heritage - access to Opau Bay - certainty of power supply.

HELD: the combined effect of proposed steps in mitigation with the removal of designated turbines sufficiently compensates to ensure the project is one the promotes sustainable resource development and management in accordance with the purpose of the Act - appeal against grant of consent declined - appeal as to conditions of consent partially successful - directions for filing draft consent conditions - costs reserved

CASE DOCUMENTS

Meridian Energy Limited v Wellington City Council W031/2007 [2007] NZEnvC 128