Public Notification of Resource Consent Applications - McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks Hydro Electric Power Schemes

Applicant: TrustPower Ltd

 

This public notice commences the period during which submissions can be received from the public on 37 resource consent applications lodged by TrustPower Ltd with the West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) and the Westland District Council (WDC) for the enhancement, continued operation and maintenance of two small hydro electric generation schemes at Kaniere Forks and McKays Creek.  The purpose of this notice is to enable you to determine whether you wish to submit on any or all of the 37 resource consent applications covered by this notice.  If you consider that you may wish to submit, you can request a submission pack (including an electronic version of the Assessment of Environmental Effects) from either the WCRC or the WDC and make a submission. 

The proposal applied for is the continued operation of the optimised existing Kaniere and McKays Hydro Electric Power Schemes (HEPSs) and construction and operation of enhancements to both schemes.

The current Kaniere and McKays HEPS were commissioned in 1909 and 1931 respectively and are located approximately 16 km southeast of Hokitika.  The Kaniere HEPS currently has an average output of 3.75 Giggawatt hours (GWh) while the McKays HEPS has an average output of 8GWh.  The existing scheme has a combined generation capacity of 1.53MW with an average annual output of 11.75GWh.  The improvements to the schemes will result in a combined output of 4.5MW and will accordingly provide a further 20 GWh of energy per annum.

The enhancements to the two schemes include the following:

McKays HEPS
  • Numerous maintenance and functional improvements to existing infrastructure.
  • Increased water take from Kaniere River to McKays race (at the McKays Weir) from 5m3/s to 8m3/s.
  • Replacement of the Coal Creek Flume with a new two (or three) pipe bridge.
  • Increased race capacity through deepening, widening and/or increasing the height of the existing race.
  • Construction of an above ground water race to the south of the existing McKays tunnel or alternatively refurbish and enlarge the tunnel to provide for a capacity of 9m3/s.
  • Construction of a new headpond immediately upstream of the McKays power station.
  • Increase in the peak inflow capacity of the power station from 6m3/s to a peak of 9m3/s (including the continued 1m3/s take from Blue Bottle Creek),
  • Additions/enhancements to the existing McKays power station building.
  • Increased discharge to Kaniere River from power station from 6m3/s to 9m3/s.
  • Works associated with the enhancements will require the clearance and removal of indigenous vegetation.
Kaniere HEPS
  • Numerous maintenance and functional improvements to existing infrastructure.
  • Increased water take from Lake Kaniere to the Kaniere race from 1m3/s to a maximum of 8m3/s.
  • Upgrading the existing race from Lake Kaniere to Ward Road to take 8m3/s flow, largely through the construction of a new race.  The majority of the new race will follow an alignment that utilises the existing transmission line route.  The new race will also include 2 storage areas.
  • Construction of a new power station at Ward Road.
  • Discharge of 8m3/s of water to the Kaniere River from the new power station.
  • Decommissioning of the existing Kaniere HEPS from Ward Road.
  • Works associated with the enhancements will require the clearance and removal of indigenous vegetation.

The notified resource consent applications include applications for land use consents, water permits and discharge permits relating to the following general activities associated with the enhancement, operation and maintenance of the Kaniere and McKays HEPSs (a full list of all resource consent applications is contained in the submission pack):

  • Land use consents for all activities associated with the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of the enhanced McKays and Kaniere HEPS for hydro electric power generation purposes, including;
  • earthworks and vegetation clearance, works within waterbodies and riparian margins, gravel extraction and construction of new infrastructure such as water races, power stations, culverts and tracks (required from WCRC). 
  • construction of infrastructure and buildings including a new power station (Kaniere) and additions/enhancements to an existing power station (McKays), clearance of indigenous vegetation within and outside riparian margins, earthworks, and to carry out construction activities in accordance with the New Zealand Standard for Construction Noise NZS6803:1999 “Acoustics – Construction Noise” (required from WDC).
  • Water permits to take, use, dam and divert water from the Kaniere River, Lake Kaniere and Blue Bottle Creek and to dewater sites (required from WCRC). 
  • Discharge permits to discharge water and contaminants (sediment, aquatic herbicide, dust and particulates) at multiple locations within the consent area (required from WCRC).

The duration of the land use consents sought is indefinite, and the water permits and discharge permits seek the maximum of 35 years.  TrustPower seeks to extend the statutory lapsing period for all the resource consents to 10 years.

Full copies of the resource consent applications and all supporting information can be viewed at the following offices:

West Coast Regional Council, 388 Main South Road, GREYMOUTH

Westland District Council, 36 Weld Street, HOKITIKA

Hokitika Library, 20 Sewell Street, HOKITIKA

Copies can also be found on the following websites:

www.trustpower.co.nz

www.wcrc.govt.nz

www.westland.govt.nz

If you would like to make a submission on these resource consent applications it is recommended that you request a submission pack from Karen Glover or Rachel Clark at the West Coast Regional Council on 0508 800 118 or the Licensing and Consents Clerks at the Westland District Council on (03) 756 9010 or download it from the above websites.

 

If you have any questions about the resource consent applications to the West Coast Regional Council, contact Rachel Clark on (03) 768 0466.  If you have any questions about the resource consent applications to the Westland District Council, contact Rebecca Strang on (03) 756 9086.

Ifyou wish to make a submission on any of the resource consent applications, your submission must be in writing and signed.  It is important that you state specifically which applications you are making a submission on.  All submissions must state:

a)  The reasons for making the submission, the decision that you wish the Council to make and any general conditions that you seek;

b) Whether or not you wish to be heard in support of your submission and whether you support, oppose, or are neutral towards the applications; and

c) Any other matters prescribed in the regulations made under the Resource Management Act 1991.

All submissions should be headed"TrustPower Ltd" and must be sent to and received at the following address no later than 5pm on Friday 9 September 2011.

Address: West Coast Regional Council

PO Box66

GREYMOUTH 7840

A copy of your submission must also be sent to TrustPower Ltd at the following address:

Address: TrustPower Ltd, Private Bag 12023, Tauranga Mail Centre, TAURANGA 3143

 

Chris Ingle

Chief Executive Officer

West Coast Regional Council

 

Robin Reeves

Chief Executive Officer

Westland District Council

Location http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/index.cfm/1,609,0,0,html

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