Meridian has taken the battle over a controversial wind farm in Central Otago to the High Court at Dunedin.The Central Otago District Council and Otago Regional Council granted resource consent for the 630MW project in 2007.In November last year, the Envi
Meridian has taken the battle over a controversial wind farm in Central Otago to the High Court at Dunedin.
The Central Otago District Council and Otago Regional Council granted resource consent for the 630MW project in 2007.
In November last year, the Environment Court overturned the councils’ decision on landscape issues, citing a failure by Meridian to demonstrate that the project would have a greater net economic benefit than possible alternatives.
Yesterday at the High Court, Meridian argued that the cost-benefit “test” used in the Environment Court ruling was impossible to meet, and could have serious adverse consequences for other infrastructure applications.
The court will hear from Meridian again today and from the affected regional councils.
Submissions from other parties, including the Maniototo Environmental Society and Upland Landscape Protection Society, will be heard tomorrow.
The case is expected to last until the end of this week.
