The company behind plans for a $400 million wind farm near
the Southland township of Wyndham has confirmed it will not
lodge its resource consent application until early 2010 -
about six months later than it had originally hoped.
And it could be several weeks after that before the
application is actually in the public arena.
Wind Prospect CWP (NZ) Ltd has spent the past 18 months
working on plans to build the development on land about 15km
east of Wyndham.
After months of consulting locals, it turned to finalising
the detailed plans it needs to submit with its application.
Project manager Shirley Ferguson yesterday said it had put
its "targeted lodgement date" back to early 2010.
This was to ensure the company completed a full and thorough
assessment of all the necessary reports.
Instead of "drip-feeding" councils with consent applications
over several weeks, it preferred to file one large
application.
She denied suggestions the ongoing delays meant the company
was reconsidering its plans, saying it was "fully committed
to the project going ahead".
Much of its attention was focused on finishing reports into
the transmission line to the wind farm site and the switching
gear connecting the wind farm to Transpower's main
transmission line between Clinton and Gore.
"We want those reports completed to the best of our ability
before we lodge," Ms Ferguson said.
Five councils - Southland District Council, Environment
Southland, Gore District Council, Clutha District Council and
the Otago Regional Council - will be involved in the consent
process, although the Southland District Council is expected
to be the lead authority.
