Project Hayes turned down
'David and Goliath' victory for conservation groups
By JOHN EDENS in Alexandra - The Southland TimesRelevant offers
The Environment Court has upheld an appeal against Meridian Energy's proposed $2 billion Project Hayes wind farm.
The decision represents a startling "David and Goliath'' victory for the conservation groups who fought to preserve the landscape in a remote part of Central Otago.
Consents for the 176-turbine project were declined in a mammoth 350-page ruling by the Court, published today.
Save Central co-ordinator Graye Shattky said environmentalists had won a "comprehensive victory'' in the battle against Meridian Energy's Project Hayes application.
The court's ruling declined consents, originally granted by Central Otago District Council and Otago Regional Council, for the farm – on the remote Lammermoor Range.
The farm would have been the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Save Central was set up to co-ordinate the appeal by appellants from the Manitototo Environmental Society and the Central Otago Environmental Society.
Mr Shattky said the decision was a comprehensive victory for the appellants.
Morrison Kent lawyer Ian Gordon, for the appellants, said the legal team was thrilled by the decision.
"It was real David and Goliath stuff. The court has found that Meridian did not provide the evidence they needed and there was no cost-benefit analysis,'' he said.
He said the decision had noted the Government's "remarkable'' support for a project that presented a case without proper analysis.
Meridian Energy are expected to release a statement later today.
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Poor Pam, This is not Lake Hayes. It is Project Hayes. And Unfortunatley it happens to be at the wrong end of the country. Power is needed in Auckland. The cost of producing power so far away from where it is needed would mean a substantual increase in price for consumers of power as well as substantial water being spilt from existing producers like Contact, because the wind blows at the same time as there is too much water in the existing storage lakes. The electricity system is a little more complex than just producing more power. Unfortunatley our landscape and biodiversity are not renewable. This has been given consideration by the court.
I am appalled at the Lake Hayes decision. How short sighted of the biased judge and everyone else who has been anti the whole project. They should all have their power turned off first when we start to run out of the stuff! This power would have been clean, green and renewable . I just shake my head at the power that all these conservationists have!
This is the best decission of all time to come out of the Environment court in NZ. I do hope that costs will be paid by Meridian to all the poor appellents.
A great decision. My warmest congratulations to all at Save Central. There success in retaining our "gob smackingly" beautiful country vistas are to be applauded.