Moving closer to Rodney power station

Rodney District Council has today approved the creation of a thermal energy generation rural zone between Helensville and Kaukapakapa.

Power company Genesis Energy said the variation ruling to the district plan signified the next step towards possibly building a gas-fired power plant north of Auckland.

The zone will allow construction of a combined cycle gas turbine power station (with a maximum nominal 480MW capacity) and associated facilities, including offices, administration, and associated waste water treatment and disposal, gas reticulation, and a connection to the National Grid, as a restricted discretionary activity.

A resource consent application by Genesis Energy to discharge dust to air during earthworks activities and for construction of intake, outfall and jetty structures and associated removal of vegetation in and about Kaukapakapa River, in relation to the construction of a power station was also granted subject to conditions.

Genesis Energy would now assess the various rules and conditions set by council and will wait until the appeals process is concluded before continuing work on the project's economics and specifications, said chief executive Albert Brantley.

NZPA