UPDATE WITH RESPONSE FROM HELIOS

The Helios OTA solar farm proposed for Ranfurly is set to go to a hearing in August, after the company has considered all of the 171 submissions.

Independent commissioners Louise Taylor (chair), Ros Day-Cleavin and Gary Rae have been appointed by Central Otago District Council to hear submissions and evidence and decide on the resource consent application.

While an exact date has not yet been set, the council was currently in contact with those submitters wishing to speak at the hearing, before a timetable was put together in coming months.

Helios put its application on hold on January 23 following the submission period, to consider some of the issues raised. All but 35 were opposed to the development.

A statement released from Sarah Brooks of Helios recently said the company acknowledged solar projects were new to New Zealand and there may be some apprehension around the proposed development.

Helios solar farm will be heard by independent commissioners at a hearing in August. FILE SHOT

Opponent Rose Voice, who lived near where the solar farm would be built, created a Facebook page Maniototo Solar and Battery Storage Proposal to inform people about some of the issues.

When contacted by The Central App yesterday, Rose said she felt her life was on hold right now, and had some strong comments to make about the company.

“Helios 100 per cent do not care what they are doing to us.”

Helios recognise that in addition to the positions stated in the public responses, there has been a fair bit of emotion between both supporters and objectors.

"We appreciate that this is an important matter in the community and by no means dismiss the feelings that may be prompted. The challenge for all involved, though, is to consider and evaluate the application and project on the basis of actual facts and law. The topics and challenges raised in relation to the Māniatoto solar project reflect the same matters assessed during consenting for other solar farms which have been approved nationwide. There is a wide range of information, speculation and misinformation about solar farms circulating, and as with other solar farms we believe that these concerns can be successfully worked through during the hearing process taking place in August."

Sarah said as they have previously stated, Helios chose to advance the proposal at the district counsel level in order to facilitate a robust but respectful discussion of the project application.

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