Contact Energy is appealing against the Environment Court’s decision last year to decline consent for its 156-megawatt Waitahora windfarm on the Puketoi range near Dannevirke.

The appeal hearing, expected to run for about two weeks, began today in the Environment Court in Hastings.

Contact has refined the project over the last 18 months in a bid to reduce environmental effects and address local residents’ concerns.

Contact Energy has Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval to purchase a farm in the Franklin district where pylons are proposed as part of the company’s planned Port Waikato windfarm.

An article in today’s NBR print edition incorrectly stated that Contact had not applied to the OIA for approval.

Contact said today it applied for approval to purchase the Beaufort Lodge property from the OIO on July 17, 2009. Approval was granted by the OIO on September 2, 2009.

Contact Energy has been buying up land in the Franklin District as part of its strategy to build New Zealand’s largest windfarm on the coast from Port Waikato to Raglan.

The most controversial part of the windfarm plan is the pylons and power lines, which will cross 23 kilometres of farmland to connect it with the national grid - the pylons that average 40-metre high will cross 15 farms.