Northern Advocate 14/02/2011 - Crest Turbines
Reporter: Imran Ali
A Northand hapu has called on Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson to refuse consent for a tidal power generation project in the Kaipara Harbour because of "inherent risks".
Te Uri o Hau is disappointed the Environment Court has recommended Ms Wilkinson grant resource consent to Crest Energy for 200 turbines to be placed in the harbour.
The hapu became involved in the project through its environmental subsidiary Environs Holdings after concerns over the ecological and cultural impacts of the development.
"Although we are pleased that the court has placed additional restrictions on the project, we remain concerned that the conditions do not go far enough as we believe there are inherent risks in a project of this scale," Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust chairwoman Mihi Watene said.
The project was the biggest of its kind undertaken in New Zealand or in the world.
Her hapu was concerned about effects the project would have on snapper and other marine life, such as maui dolphin.
According to a study by Niwa, 98 per cent of all North Island west coast juvenile snapper originated from the Kaipara Harbour.
But Te Uri o Hau has welcomed the requirement that only three turbines can be initially installed, rather than the 20 proposed.
Ms Watene said the hapu welcomed the requirement for Crest to monitor the effects for at least one year after the first installation.
But the hapu is concerned about the uncertainty and the irreversibility of potential effects.
"Te Uri o Hau would like to see the consent refused, granted for a shorter term, or granted with more stringent monitoring and staging requirements."
Labour list MP Kelvin Davis said the court's decision overrode the wishes of tangata whenua and other locals.
"It will be impossible to construct 200 turbines the height of the Auckland Farmer's building in the Kaipara Harbour without undue impact on the marine environment.
"The sad thing is that there is an alternative solution, which is to construct a wind farm on the Poutu Peninsula, that people could live with.
"This decision proves the shallowness of the Government's commitment to protect the foreshore and seabed for everyone."
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