Consent has been granted under the Overseas Investment Act for the acquisition of a leasehold interest in nearly 1000ha in the Mackenzie district to build a massive solar farm.
Resource consent applications were previously lodged with the Mackenzie District Council and Environment Canterbury to construct and operate the farm over 670ha within a 968ha property near the Ohau C Power Station.
The cost of the project has previously been estimated at $600 million.
The applicants — Aquila Capital Holding GmbH (Germany 60%, Japan 31%, and various 9%) and Far North Solar Farm Ltd (Australia 70% and New Zealand 30%) — are a joint venture whose business is the construction, development and operation of several solar photovoltaic farms in New Zealand.
They were acquiring the land, which would be on a long-term lease from farmer Doug McIntyre, to develop a solar farm with an expected installed capacity of 420MW, enough to power about 93,651 homes a year, by 2028.
A spokesman for the project said the resource consent application was on hold as senior planners recommended the project be referred for ministerial processing as they believed the application was of such significance it should be decided at a national level.
It had been submitted for consideration under the Fast-track Approvals Bill which is currently before the Fast Track Advisory Group.
