quote:REL: 1357 HRS Contact Energy Limited
GENERAL: CEN: Clutha Reconsenting:Intention to Volunteer Cmpensation Regime
CLUTHA RE-CONSENTING: CONTACT ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION
REGIME
Contact Energy today confirmed its intention to volunteer a compensation
regime to cope with flooding risk at Alexandra, as part of the process of
securing resource consents for its hydro-electric operations on the
Clutha/Matau River.
On 22 July 2005, the Environment Court released its decision in respect of
Contact's resource consent appeals for the ongoing operations of the Clutha
power stations.
In his decision, Judge Jackson invited Contact to volunteer a compensation
condition to address the risk of flooding at Alexandra.
The Judge indicated that he would confirm the 35 year term granted for Lake
Roxburgh in the event that Contact volunteered such a condition. The decision
in respect of the term of 35 years granted for the operation of Lakes Dunstan
and Hawea is already final.
Contact has now reviewed the Court's decision in detail and intends to
volunteer a compensation condition as suggested by Judge Jackson.
"There are some details to be worked through, including the exact wording of
the conditions of the consents," said Contact's General Manager, Operations,
David Thomas. "We look forward to working with the Otago Regional Council,
other interested parties and the Court to achieve this over next few months.
"The process to achieve resource consents for our Clutha operations has been
a long and testing one," said Mr Thomas. "However, we are optimistic that we
can achieve an outcome, based on Judge Jackson's recommended approach, that
will deliver a robust, long term and positive outcome for all parties to the
process."
The appeal period for those aspects of the Environment Court's decision that
are final has now passed. There have been no appeals filed.
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