The first solar development to be granted consent in the region has just been approved by Carterton District Council [CDC] in the shape of a six-hectare “community scale” solar farm.
CDC did not consider that the application triggered any requirement for either public or limited notification, so it was processed on a non-notified basis.
The decision is still within a 15-day appeal period, which runs until next Tuesday, but because it’s a non-notified consent, only the applicant can appeal.
The entire property that will house the solar farm is just over 12 hectares, located about three km from the Norfolk Rd and SH2 intersection.
The council granted the resource consent on July 26 for the applicant, Light Years Solar, to build a six-hectare “dual-use” solar farm, which will have sheep grazing beneath the solar panels.
The development will consist of solar panels, an inverter station, and underground cabling connecting the panels to the inverter station and to a transformer on Norfolk Rd.
The 4.5MW of electricity generated by the solar farm will be enough to power about 1000 homes a year, and energy will be sent
directly into the power grid.
Consent approval was conditional to landscaping and planting around the perimeter of the site to screen the solar panels from neighbouring properties.
In addition to the landscaping, approval was also contingent that the scale of the development will be contained within a singular farm and that height of the panels will not surpass 2.5m.
No parties were considered to be unfavourably affected by the proposal.
The council decision noted that “it is not anticipated that the proposed solar farm will have any adverse effects on the environment that are more than minor”.
Referred to as “Wangawa Solar Farm” on Light Years Solar’s website, the project overview says the landowner will continue to run sheep under the panels while the solar farm lease supplements the family’s income from the farm.
The overview also states the site will contain 6500 solar panels and help to power the nearby timber mill, while the council’s decision grants consent for approximately 10,380 panels.
“The project will produce clean electrical energy and offset electricity imported into the Wairarapa region from fossil fuels.”
Light Years Solar will construct and operate the solar farm, with site works expected to take place towards the end of this year.
