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Wairakei Geothermal Power Station resource consents upheld by Environment Court - May 2007 During the first half of 2004, Simon Berry chaired a panel of independent hearing commissioners who heard and determined resource consent applications by Contact Energy to continue to operate the Wairakei Power Station. Other panel members comprised planning consultant, David Hill, and Assoc. Prof Pat Browne of Auckland University Geology Department. The consents were opposed by Taupo District Council, which was concerned that Contact’s operations were causing subsidence in Taupo Town, and subsequently the court hearing occupied 32 days over a four-month period. The issues raised were very complex, requiring consideration of the effects of historical and ongoing geothermal extraction and discharges of contaminants to the Waikato River. The committee’s decision was to grant 22 of the 23 consents sought, subject to complex conditions enabling the effect of Contact’s operations to be monitored and the consents revisited if necessary. The panel’s decision occupied some 220 pages. The decision was appealed to the Environment Court and the subsequent hearing occupied some ten weeks. The Court’s decision (Rotokawa Joint Venture et ors v. Waikato Regional Council A41/2007 – 184 pages) was released on 18 May. The decision of the hearing committee which Simon Berry chaired has been upheld. Simon’s comment: The Committee put a very significant effort into assessing and balancing the complex issues arising. We were pleased that the main elements of our decision remained intact after such lengthy and close scrutiny by the Court.
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