Opposing views on Hawksburn hydro scheme

The potential impact of building a hydro development next to Hawksburn Station was either ''overstated'' or ''significant'', depending on which side of the fence you were on, a hearings panel heard yesterday.

''Flighty'' merino sheep would be upset by construction activity at lambing time and destocking could undermine the viability of the property, Hawksburn director Philip McElroy told the Central Otago District Council panel.

Pioneer Generation has sought consents for a run-of-river power scheme on the upper Fraser River, near Alexandra, which would generate enough electricity annually to power 3500 homes.

Landpro Ltd senior planner Martell Letica, who appeared for Pioneer, said Earnscleugh Station also ran merinos and the potential for stock disturbance had ''possibly been overstated''.

The proposal comprised a low weir, up to 4m high, a power station and pipeline, costing between $15 million and $20 million.

Most of the scheme structures would be on Earnscleugh Station land and on the river margin.

Four submissions were received - one in support, one opposed and two neutral.

Council planning consultant David Whitney recommended consent be granted, subject to more than 30 conditions, and the panel reserved its decision.

Mr McElroy said he was ''not totally against'' the proposal but several issues needed to be addressed.

Hawksburn shared a boundary with Earnscleugh Station and nearly half its ewe flock lambed near the hydro scheme site.

The noise of helicopters and machinery during construction would have a ''significant negative impact'' on his farming operation during lambing. Destocking would cost up to $70,000 a year in lost income.

The only opponent to the hydro proposal was gold miner Phillip Joostens, of Gore, who had consents to mine the same stretch of the Fraser River.

He said it could cost him up to $20,000 a year in lost income as lowered water flows would render a large portion of his claim unmineable.

Ms Letica said Otago Regional Council consents had also been sought.

Those applications were unlikely to be notified if affected parties agreed and a decision would be made by that council under delegated authority.

Pioneer civil engineer and project manager of the proposed scheme, Tony Jack, said although there would be a reduction in water flows, Mr Joostens would still be able to operate a dredge.

The upper Fraser scheme would enable Pioneer to generate up to 30GWh into the local grid. That was 12% of the company's current generation capacity.

''The estimated benefit to the local community during construction is estimated to be in the order of $5 million to $10 million through construction contracts, supply of material, accommodation and local employment,'' he said.

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