Some Maniototo locals are concerned the proposed solar farm will turn the environment into an industrial toxic wasteland.

A public meeting is being held tonight to discuss Helios resource consent to install half a million (550,810) solar panels and 32 shipping containers of lithium battery storage for its project near Naseby.

Aurora whistleblower Richard Healey will be guest speaker.

The former Delta manager quit his job eight years ago so he could speak out publicly about Aurora’s shortcomings with regard to its network.

Richard is Dunedin based and had vast knowledge in energy infrastructure and delivery, and the aim of the meeting was to help people make an informed decision before submissions closed on December 19. 

A Facebook group had also been set up to share information with the community from those concerned about the solar farms potential impacts.

The Facebook group claimed land prices would lose value if the solar farm went ahead, and there was also threat to the new nearby water sources for Ranfurly - with the Central Otago District Council currently drilling bores sites close to the site on the Naseby back road.

Covering 660ha - several times bigger than the town of Ranfurly itself - other concerns included noise and visual pollution, and the fire risk from the huge batteries onsite.

Affected landowner Rose Voice said the issues were bigger than just the Maniototo, with the current acquirer for the town water supply linked to the Taieri River.

“This is bigger than just us. It’s bigger than Central Otago. This is a huge company and they’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes."

Rose said at a public meeting a neighbouring landowner leasing land to Helios threatened her saying if she put in an opposing submission, he would have her exiled from the community, and ensured nobody supported her business.

It had been a stressful time for Rose and her husband and family, “and it's ripping our community and families to bits.”

Helios is a New Zealand company established in early 2020 when the founders recognised the potential for grid-scale solar developments to make a positive contribution to the existing New Zealand energy mix. 

Helios believed large-scale solar generation would make a meaningful and rapid contribution to New Zealand’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2030, and would democratise the country’s energy market to help deliver a more secure and

affordable energy supply for the country. 

The application sought resource consent to construct, operate and maintain an approximately 300MWac photovoltaic solar farm, and associated infrastructure including battery energy storage, substation and transmission line infrastructure for renewable electricity generation.

The public meeting tonight is being held at the Maniototo Rugby Clubrooms at 6pm.

Have a story to share?

Contact [email protected]