• Lodgement and notification
  • Contact's application (on Contact's website)
  • EPA's recommendation
  • Minister's direction
  • Public notice
  • Fact sheet
• About the Board
• Submissions
• Evidence and transcripts
• Report and decision

Lodgement of applications (matters) with the EPA

Contact Energy Limited (Contact) has lodged applications for resource consents (matters) with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for the proposed Tauhara II Geothermal Development Project in Taupo. The applications were lodged with the EPA on 19 February 2010. The application documentation can be viewed on Contact’s website.

The matters lodged seek resource consents to build and operate the Tauhara II geothermal power station. The resource consents are for:

• geothermal power station and steam-field activities;
• switch-yard activities;
• transmission line activities;
• discharge and water permits, well-drilling, stream-crossings and earthworks associated with the above matters.

In total, three resource consents are required from Taupo District Council and 17 resource consents from Environment Waikato together with applications to change conditions of existing resource consents.

On receipt of the applications, the EPA had 20 working days to assess the application and make a recommendation to the Minister for the Environment (Hon Dr Nick Smith) on whether to:

1. refer the matter to a board of inquiry for decision; or
2. refer the matter to the Environment Court for decision; or
3. refer the matter to the local authority

The recommendation from the EPA to the Minister was made on 16 March 2010, to direct the matters to a board of inquiry for decision.

Minister’s direction

The Minister has directed that the matters be decided by a board of inquiry. This direction was publically notified on 17 April 2010 allowing submissions on the applications for resource consent. Submissions closed on 14 May 2010 at 5pm.

• Minister’s direction
• Public Notice

Tauhara II Board of Inquiry

The role of the Tauhara II Board of Inquiry is to consider submissions on the proposal, hold public hearings and make a final decision. The Board will be chaired by Judge Gordon Whiting and the Board members are Dr Patrick Browne, Brian White, Glenice Paine and Jenni Vernon.

Details on the individual board members skills and expertise are provided in the following link:

• Board expertise

Submissions

Submissions closed 5pm Friday 14 May 2010. Sixty submissions were received. A schedule of submitters and copies of each submission can be viewed here.  A Summary of Submissions report prepared by AECOM New Zealand Ltd can also be viewed here.

• Electronic copies of all submissions
• Summary of Submissions report by AECOM Ltd (PDF, 17.4 MB)

Fact sheet

The fact sheet provides further information on the proposal, the board of inquiry process and on making a submission (submissions to the Tauhara II Board of Inquiry are now closed).

• Fact sheet

Board of Inquiry minutes and directions

• Minute & Directions of the Board (25 May 2010, includes Evidence Exchange Timetable) (PDF, 280 KB)
• Minute of the Board 1 July 2010 (PDF, 65 KB)
• Minute and Directions of the Board 16 July 2010 (PDF, 72 KB)
• Minute of the Board Relating to Requests for Hearing on Marae (PDF, 158 KB)

Notice of Hearing

The Board of Inquiry Notice of Hearing is available to download here.

• Notice of Hearing (PDF, 430 KB)

Section 149G reports

Section 149G of the Resource Management Act 1991 requires the EPA to commission a report from the local authorities on the key issues in relation to the matter.  The Tauhara II section 149G reports can be viewed here:

• Environment Waikato S149G report (PDF, 6.0 MB)
• Taupo District Council S149G report (PDF, 2.1 MB)
  • Taupo District Council S149G report part two. (PDF, 468 KB)

Section 42A report

Section 42A of the Resource Management Act 1991 allows the Board to commission a report on the matters.  The Board requested a section 42A report on Contact Energy’s application be prepared by AECOM New Zealand Ltd. 

The report is comprised of the two attached PDF files:

1. S42A report for the Tauhara II applications (version 1) (PDF, 404 KB)
2. Appendix One to the S42A report which comprises the conditions proposed by the author should the Board decide to grant the applications. (PDF, 1.6 MB)

As directed by the Board, and as noted in the report itself, the section 42A report is “version 1”.  An updated version will be prepared and issued in the week beginning September 6th following receipt of the evidence in chief from Contact Energy and receipt of the evidence from submitters.

Contact details

For further information you can contact the EPA on:

• 0800 828 4878
• tauharaboi@epa.govt.nz
• FreePost Tauhara II BOI
  Environmental Protection Authority
  PO Box 10362
  Wellington 6143

Last updated: 25 August 2010