Solar farms planned for Rangitīkei sites near Marton
Harmony Energy has been granted consent to build a solar farm on rural land on the outskirts of Marton.
The facility will be built on 120 hectares of land on Pukepapa Rd and Whales Line about 600 metres away from Crofton, near the Rangitīkei town. Its 165,000 panels would produce enough energy to power about 15,000 homes.
An expert consenting panel has made the decision under the Covid-19 Recovery Fast-track process, despite objectors’ concerns about the expected proliferation of solar farms in the area changing the nature of the landscape from rural to industrial.
The panel was aware one solar farm to be built to the west of the site across Pukepapa Rd was granted resource consent in February.
The Environmental Protection Authority was processing a resource consent application for the Marton Solar Farm at Wellington Rd from Auckland-based Energy Farms Ltd, but in August suspended that process because costs had not been paid.
The panel considering the Harmony application dismissed a number of objections about the impact of the solar farm on rural character, amenity, landscape and visual effects including glint and glare.
The Rangitīkei District Council raised concerns about the loss of productive land and the effects on the local economy of the change in land use.
The panel found that changing land use away from dry stock and cropping to solar generation and sheep farming would not be a problem.
In fact, grazing sheep among the solar panels provided benefits for the livestock, with shade in summer and shelter from inclement weather, while doing away with the need for mowing.
Rangitīkei mayor Andy Watson said the proposal aligned with council goals in that it would have a positive effect on climate outcomes by providing a sustainable source of electricity generation.
He wanted to be sure the solar farm did not have negative effects on first impressions of Marton, as it was on one of the main routes into town.
He also wanted assurance that glint and glare would not be a distraction for drivers.
The panel found there was potential for 11 properties to be affected by glint and glare from the solar panels, with high impact for three of them.
It imposed a condition that landscape plantings along the site boundaries be put in place as soon as practicable, and that shelter cloths would be installed around the boundary until the trees grew tall enough to do the job.
The panel found any potential adverse effects on the rural character of the area could be adequately addressed. In any case, those effects were outweighed by the benefits of generating energy from solar.
The panel found the development was aligned with the National Policy Statement for renewable energy generation, reducing reliance on coal or new hydro generation in responding to increased electricity demand and reducing New Zealand’s carbon dioxide emissions.
It would also contribute to the diversification of electricity generation, assisting with greater security of supply.
The project offered economic and employment benefits and improved ecological outcomes, the panel said.
“Potential adverse effects on rural character and residential amenity effects will be discernible, but at this point in time are acceptable. Regarding cumulative effects, the panel is legally only able to take account of the adverse effects of solar farms that have already been consented.”
Work would have to begin within two years of the consent being granted, it would take about two years to build, and the farm would operate for 35 years.