Decision on wind farm is looming

Plans to notify the Turitea wind farm have stalled again following news a call-in decision is imminent.

After announcing last month that Mighty River Power's application for the 131-turbine wind farm would be publicly notified, despite still waiting on a ministerial call-in decision, Palmerston North City Council has back-pedalled after news Environment Minister Nick Smith plans to announce his decision in the next week.

MRP had applied for the call-in process weeks after lodging the resource consent application in August.

If the call-in is approved, it will fast-track the application, because the resource consent process would be taken out of the council's hands, and instead referred directly to either a board of inquiry or the Environment Court.

A project can be called in if it is deemed to be nationally significant.

The election and change of minister had left the call-in process in limbo, prompting the council to move ahead with the resource consent application, following advice a decision would not be made until the new year.

But Mayor Jono Naylor said yesterday that he was contacted by Mr Smith this week to discuss the call- in, and MRP had since requested the notification be put on hold pending a decision.

Under the Resource Management Act the council has no choice but to accept the delay.

He was pleased a decision was on its way, Mr Naylor said.

"It will be nice that, in the next couple of weeks, we'll know the answer and everyone will know exactly where they stand."

The council has opposed the call-in on the basis it would impede the public's ability to have a say.

- © Fairfax NZ News