Opposition to North Canterbury solar farm consent taken to Environment Court

North Canterbury residents against establishing a solar farm in their neighbourhood have taken their opposition to the Environment Court.

Waipara Valley Community Collective Inc have lodged an appeal against Hurunui District Council's decision to grant a resource consent to Far North Solar Farm Ltd to build a utility-scale solar farm near Waipara, north of Amberley.

The collective accuses council-appointed commissioners of making a number of errors in last month's decision to approve the consent, while reducing its scope by 25 percent, despite objections to the farm from several locals.

The collective said it sought relief from the Environment Court, including declining the consents and the awarding of costs.

Collective spokesperson Elizabeth Kelsey said the appeal provided an opportunity to address "shortcomings" in the original hearing process, and highlighted the need for a national regulatory framework for large-scale solar developments.

"While we recognise the benefits of solar energy, those benefits must not come at the expense of proper scrutiny of developments of this scale.

"New Zealand is woefully behind in regulating utility-scale solar, and it is disappointing that Hurunui District Council and the hearing commissioners failed to seriously engage with many of the concerns raised by submitters."

But Far North Solar Farm spokesperson said the company believed the commissioners made "a very robust decision".

"The process was thorough, and the consent and its conditions cater heavily to the submissions of the local community, including the reduced scope.

"Far North Solar Farm is a strong advocate for productive community engagement.

"We listened to the Waipara community throughout the consent process, and the project changed as a result."

The spokesperson said the company would continue to engage with the community "across the whole life of the project".

In their decision, the commissioners approved the establishment and operation of the solar farm on the upper terrace of the property, but declined to consent the inclusion of the lower terraces, in a bid to reduce any adverse effects.

The council's chief strategy and community information officer, Judith Batchelor, said staff were working through procedural issues in relation to the appeal with council lawyers Buddle Findlay.

Batchelor said the council was unable to comment on the appeal.

A letter from the Environment Court says the appellant must confer with the council and Far North Solar Farm Ltd and file a memorandum by November 18.

The consent application was notified last year and received 158 submissions, with 125 opposed to the proposed solar farm.

Under the original proposal, the farm's 250,000 panels would generate up to 144 megawatts at peak, enough to power an estimated 30,000 homes.

A hearing was held in the Omihi Community Hall in May.

Environment Canterbury granted non-notified resource consents to the project last year.

Meanwhile, Australian company Energy Bay Ltd has withdrawn its consent application for a proposed solar farm at Sefton, north of Rangiora.

The application had been placed on hold at the applicants request after it was notified by the Waimakariri District Council last year.