Consent granted for solar farm at Drury Quarry – franklintimes.co.nz

 
Resource consent has been granted for a new solar farm at Drury Quarry, marking a significant step in Stevenson’s plans to reduce onsite carbon emissions.
The company received approval in December 2025 for the project, which will support ongoing investment in electrification at the quarry.
Stevenson General Manager Ben Hussey says the development will be the first solar farm across the company’s operations.
“Drury is our largest quarry and the ideal place to lead the way,” Hussey says.
“With the Sutton Block consent secured, the solar farm will support long-term quarry operations and help meet forecast demand for aggregates across the Auckland region.”
The solar farm will be located on the northern slopes of the quarry along Peach Hill Road and will have generation capacity of up to 8.2 megawatts.
Once operational, the renewable energy generated will power major quarry equipment including manufacturing plants, electric crushers, screens and conveyors. Stevenson says the project will help reduce reliance on diesel machinery while also improving energy resilience.
Electricity demand at Drury Quarry currently peaks at about 4 megawatts but is expected to increase as more equipment and machinery are electrified.
In the early stages, the solar farm will generate surplus electricity that will be supplied to the local power network. Over time, Stevenson expects more of the power produced onsite to be used directly at the quarry as electrification expands.
“Now the consenting process is complete, we’re starting to work through delivery plans,” Hussey says.
“Construction is still two to five years away and project costs are yet to be confirmed.”
Although the consent process was non-notified, Stevenson says it engaged with neighbouring residents during the planning phase to understand any concerns and address them as part of the project design.
The company says it will continue to maintain communication with the community as planning progresses and encourages residents to contact its team with any questions about the solar farm or other quarry projects.
 
The Franklin Times is published by Times Media, an independently-owned publishing company based in East Auckland, founded in 1972.
Copyright © Times Media 2025

source

This entry was posted in Renewables. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply