More solar farms proposed in North Canterbury
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury could soon be lit up with solar farms.
The Waimakariri District Council has received resource consent applications from three companies looking to build solar farms in the district, while the Hurunui District Council has also received a solar farm application.
MainPower, North Canterbury’s energy network, has applied for resource consent to construct a solar farm on a 10-hectare site at Thongcaster Road at Eyrewell Forest, to the north of Waimakariri River.
The site is expected to produce enough energy to power 1250 local homes via MainPower’s distribution network, a Mainpower spokesperson said.
‘‘MainPower has been encouraged by the support of the neighbours surrounding the proposed solar farm.’’
There is no confirmed timeframe at this stage for the construction.
A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson said Mainpower ‘‘obtained affected party approval’’ from all 11 affected parties, so notification was not required.
Auckland-based Lightyears Solar Ltd has applied for a resource consent to build an eight hectare solar farm at Swannanoa, near Rangiora, with 9077 solar panels.
A council spokesperson said the application is on hold while more information is sought from the applicant.
No decision has been made on whether the application will be notified.
Lightyears Solar Ltd co-founder and development manager Matt Shanks said his company proposed building ‘‘a mid-sized, dual use solar farm’’.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with commissioning early next year.
‘‘The solar panel rows will be spaced about 5m apart and the landowner will graze animals under the solar farm array.’’
He said the farm would generate six megawatts of renewable energy, which would mostly be consumed locally ‘‘providing for some of Rangiora’s daytime energy needs’’.
Shanks said Lightyears Solar had contacted the immediate neighbours to the farm, as part of the consent process.
‘‘We keep it low impact by keeping the panels fairly low to the ground, installing planting strips around the farm, and ensuring there is plenty of space between the rows for grazing and continued pasture growth.’’
A resource consent was received last month from Australian company Energy Bay Ltd to construct and operate a utility scale solar energy farm on 80ha on the corner of Upper Sefton Rd and Beatties Rd, Sefton, north of Rangiora. The Hurunui District Council also received an application last month from Far North Solar Farm Ltd for a 180.8ha solar farm at Waipara.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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