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A map showing the size of a proposed solar farm at Waipara, north of Amberley. The section in red has been removed from the application, after native vegetation was removed by the landowner. Image: Hurunui District Council

The potential size of a proposed solar farm in Canterbury has been reduced due to compliance issues on the land.
Far North Solar Farm Ltd has confirmed it has removed a section of land from its resource consent application to build a 181ha solar farm near Waipara, north of Amberley, after the landowner removed native vegetation from the site.
The large solar farm project has drawn criticism from some locals who say it would have adverse impacts on the environment and to property values, pose risk to passing motorists from glare from the panels and question how the solar panels would stand up to strong winds. 
The Hurunui District Council consent hearing got under way in the Omihi Community Hall on Tuesday morning (May 12), before independent commissioners Dean Chrystal and Shannon Bray.
Speaking at the hearing’s opening session, Mr Chrystal said the clearance of indigenous vegetation (matagouri) had created a compliance issue for the landowner under the Hurunui District Plan.
Lawyer Theresa Le Bas, speaking on behalf of Far North Solar Farm Ltd, confirmed a section of land had been removed from the application due to the removal of matagouri.

Mr Chrystal was forced to declare a potential conflict of interest, after learning his son, a former Hurunui District Council employee, had responded to questions in emails exchanged with a submitter, Elizabeth Kelsey.
‘‘I only learned of it yesterday,’’ he said.
Ms Kelsey is a spokesperson for Waipara Valley Community Collective Inc, which opposes the application.
As there were no objections raised, the hearing continued.
The Hurunui District Council received 158 submissions, with 125 opposed to the proposed solar farm.
At its peak, the farm’s 250,000 panels would generate up to 144 megawatts, enough to power an estimated 30,000 homes.
A council staff report noted ‘‘the adverse effects of the application’’ to the landscape and the visual effects are more than minor.
Construction of the solar farm is expected to take around two years.
The opening day of the consent hearing was set aside for the applicant to present its case, with the hearing set to continue until Friday (May 15).
Monday and Tuesday, May 18 and 19, have been scheduled as additional days if required.
Commissioners had visited the site and planned to make a second visit next week.
‘‘When we do another site visit, we do them by ourselves and we are unable to discuss it with anyone else,” Mr Chrystal said.
Once the hearing is completed, the applicant will have a right of reply, either verbally or in writing, he said.
Environment Canterbury granted non-notified resource consents to the project last year, despite a 700-signature petition from local residents calling on it to publicly notify any consent application.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.


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