Tidal power scheme still under discussion

11th March 2010

The company aiming to set up a tidal power station in the Kaipara Harbour maintains the scheme will have little or no impact on the harbour's fishery and says it has the evidence to back it up. 

Last December the Environment Court made a positive recommendation on Crest Energy's plan to harness tidal energy, subject to fine-tuning of consent conditions.

The court's interim decision said the proposal needed further work, particularly to satisfy concerns about the turbines interfering with the  endangered Maui's dolphin and the  snapper fishery and nurseries on the west coast of the North Island.

 Anthony Hopkins, a director of Crest Energy, said he hoped to be back in court within the next 10 days to discuss the timetabling of the responses.

The court also wanted more clarity on the on-going monitoring of the environment.

The power station's initial phase could be producing 20MW from an initial installation of 20 turbines as early as next year. It is expected once the planned 200 turbines became operational the station could be providing power to 250,000 homes within 10 years.

Mr Hopkins said Crest was disappointed with the local response to the planned power station given expert evidence that noted little or no affect on fisheries.

He said the power station would create jobs in Kaipara and produce 200MW  of electricity - enough to power the region from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to Cape Reinga.

Mr Hopkins said the judge had praised the company for its long-term community consultation. "We amended our plans to accommodate some of this feedback," said Mr Hopkins.

The Kaipara District Council, tangata whenua and fishermen  have criticised  the plan  to install 200 turbines on the seabed, saying not enough is known about the impact on fish.

A council spokeswoman said the health and well-being of the harbour and the community was vital.

"The Kaipara - the second largest harbour in the world - is unique and deserves our protection".

She was skeptical of job prospects saying no evidence had yet been presented that would indicate increased job benefits.

Mr Hopkins  confirmed the company was doing more research on the possible impact of the turbines on the Kaipara fishery, as directed by the Environment Court.

He said he believed some of the objections were based on political rather than environmental interests.

The $600 million project is the first of its kind in New Zealand.
 Todd Energy has a 30 per cent shareholding in Crest Energy.