DOC kept its concerns quiet

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The  Department of Conservation kept quiet its concerns about the $2 billion Project Hayes windfarm to avoid contradicting the Government, an Otago Conservation Board spokesperson said.

Speaking as a witness at the Project Hayes hearing in Queenstown yesterday, Dr Garry Nixon said the department had not included a landscape assessment in its submissions because it meant to avoid undermining the Government's supporting submission.

The board was told a department landscape assessment would force it to oppose the majority of the wind turbines with no room for compromise with Meridian Energy, he said.

"The conservator explained to us that the department would not undertake an advocacy role in regard to this project," he said.

"They felt ... it would be inappropriate for them to raise landscape issues because it would be very difficult to resolve any landscape issues without opposing the application."

This was a surprise for the board because the Department had pushed the Central Otago District Council for greater protection of areas above 900m for years, he said. Two thirds of Project Hayes' 176 wind turbines would be situated above 900m, on the Lammermoor Range. Maniototo Environmental Society lawyer Mike Holme asked whether this equated to the Government "gagging" the department, but the question was struck down by Judge Jon Jackson.

In a letter produced in court, dated September 2006, then Environment Minister David Benson-Pope told then Conservation Minister Chris Carter an all-of-government submission would be made on Project Hayes.

He asks that submissions "be restricted to the matters of most national importance, which we see as renewable energy, wind power and transmission issues".

Speaking to the Southland Times, Department of Conservation Otago conservator Jeff Connell confirmed a landscape assessment was not included because it would have forced the department to oppose the project with "little wiggle" room.

"It would have been inconsistent with the submission by the Ministry for the Environment so we didn't go there," he said.

Opposition was only lodged in areas where there was scope for compromise without radically changing the project, he said.

The Project Hayes hearing continues today.

PROJECT HAYES
In 2006: The Department of Conservation Otago was the only Government organisation opposed to Project Hayes but only on minor issues, such a weed control, where there was room for compromise.
May 2007: It (DOC) withdrew its opposition after gaining several concessions from Meridian Energy.
October 2007: Project Hayes granted consent by the Central Otago District and Otago Regional councils.
August 2008: The Environment Court hearing was adjourned so opponents could gather new evidence. It resumed last month.
2009: The Otago Conservation Board continues to oppose the project because land above 900m has special protection under the district plan.

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