Meridian Energy Limited (APP-20233670)

Public notice is hereby given pursuant to S.95A of the Resource Management Act 1991 that the following application for resource consent has been received by Environment Southland.

A hearing was held at 9:00am on 17 and 18 September 2024 at Environment Southland, Cnr North Rd & Price St, Invercargill.

The application (reference APP-20233670) is related to the construction of a new channel to enable a permanent diversion of part of the flow of the Waiau Arm and the associated removal of bed material and gravels, together with any maintenance and ancillary activities. The project is intended to improve flow conveyance and reliability through the Manapōuri Lake Control structure, and so result in better outcomes for river health in the Lower Waiau River.

The application (reference APP-20233670) is for the following activities related to the construction of a new channel:

1. A water permit under section 14 of the RMA to:
   • Temporarily take, divert and use water to facilitate construction and maintenance activities, including within and in proximity to wetlands and for dewatering, dust suppression, and erosion and sediment control activities; and
   • Permanently divert surface water into the parallel channel.
2. A discharge permit under section 15 of the RMA to:
   • Temporarily discharge water and suspended sediment to land and water (the Waiau Arm, Mararoa River and Lower Waiau River) for the purposes of facilitating construction and maintenance activities, including within and in proximity to wetlands and for dewatering, dust suppression, and erosion and sediment control activities.
3. Permits as required under regulation 47 of the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F) for activities under sections 14 and 15 of the RMA, including those associated with:
   • Vegetation clearance, earthworks and land disturbance, and the take, use, diversion and discharge of water, in and/or near a natural inland wetland.

The proposal also includes activities which would normally be subject to sections 9 and 13 of the RMA, and which here are authorised by the Manapōuri Te Anau Development Act 1963. This is a special Act of Parliament and enables the construction and ongoing operation of the Manapōuri Power Scheme. Although such activities are outside the scope of this resource consent process, a description of the associated effects and proposed mitigations is included in the application.

Purpose: The existing active channel of the Waiau Arm immediately upstream of the Manapōuri Lake Control Structure is accumulating gravels and bed material, is becoming shallower, and is constrained physically. This is impacting the applicant’s ability to reliably release flows through the structure into the Lower Waiau River at lower lake levels of Lake Manapōuri. The proposal involves the construction of a new channel which is parallel to, and outside the permanently active bed of, the current main channel in the Waiau Arm, maintenance and ancillary activities. The excavated gravel and bed material would be deposited on Meridian-owned land to the north of the new channel, near wetlands.

Location: at and around the Manapōuri Lake Control Structure, including the Waiau Arm at the confluence of the Waiau Arm and Mararoa River at or about NZTM2000 1186068E 4935096N.

Legal Description of Property: Section 1 Survey Office Plan 12223.

Address for Service: Kate Berkett, Meridian Energy Limited, PO Box 4146, Christchurch 8140, kate.berkett@meridianenergy.co.nz.

Full details of this application are also available for inspection at Environment Southland, corner of Price Street and North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill during working hours (8.00 am to 5.00 pm). Enquiries may be directed to Bianca Sullivan by phone to (03) 211 5115 or by email to bianca@environmentmatters.co.nz or resourceconsents@es.govt.nz.

Submissions on the above application must be received by Environment Southland no later than 5 pm 17 April 2024. A submission form is available below and you may also download a printable submission form and forward the completed form by email to service@es.govt.nz or esconsents@es.govt.nz

Any person may make a submission on the application, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the application relates that:

(a) adversely affects the environment; and

(b) does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

Submissions must be dated and signed (unless submitted electronically) and must include the following information:

1. your name, postal address and telephone number (and fax number if applicable);
2. details of the application in respect of which you are making the submission;
3. whether it is in support of, or in opposition to the application, or is neutral;
4. your submissions, with reasons;
5. the decision that you wish Council to make; and
6. whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission
   and you must also serve a copy of your submission on the applicant as soon as reasonably practicable.