A hydro-electric scheme planned for the upper Fraser River, near Alexandra, has one lot of consents it needs but is still going through the process for the second set.
Pioneer Generation's proposed $15million to $20million scheme gained the Central Otago District Council consents needed in May, following a hearing.
The council's hearing panel said the benefits of the power scheme would outweigh the adverse landscape and visual effects and granted consent, subject to 33 conditions.
The upper Fraser would be a run-of-the-river scheme expected to generate enough power annually to supply 3500 households.
Pioneer has applied to the Otago Regional Council for consent to take, use and discharge and dam water in the Fraser River to generate power, and to disturb, alter and place structures in the riverbed for the same reason.
One neutral submission had been received, but the submitter did not want to be heard so no hearing was required, regional council policy planning and resource management director Fraser McRae said.
Pioneer had been granted a time extension while it consulted further with the district council, and the regional council had yet to make a decision on the application, he said.
The power to be generated at the upper Fraser would be about 12% of the company's current generation capacity.
Pioneer is a community-owned company which owns and operates 13 hydro-electricity generation stations and three wind farms in Otago and Southland.
It is owned by the Central Lakes Trust and any profits are returned to the community through grants.
