Council tightens demands on Marsden plan to fire up with coal

The Northland Regional Council (NRC) has tightened its demands on controversial plans to fire up the Marsden B power plant with coal.

But it hasn't gone as far as rejecting the scheme.

The council and state-owned power generator Mighty River Power was expected to complete their final summaries today, after six weeks of hearing submissions.

Originally the council gave the green light to the proposal, subject to a raft of conditions.

The regional council had not made "wholesale changes and suggestions" as a result of evidence presented by Mighty River or other submitters, air quality manager Paul Baynham said yesterday.

"But as a general comment, things have been tightened," he said.

"The conservative, precautionary approach that has been adopted by staff during the course of this hearing has been vindicated, having heard the evidence from applicants and submissions in opposition."

On the final day of hearing there were still questions relating to air and water discharge quality that needed to be addressed .

The state-owned power generator has applied to Whangarei District Council and NRC for 11 resource consents to convert the unused oil-fired Marsden B station at Ruakaka to a coal-fired power station.

The application has been heard by a four-man commission appointed by the NRC, comprising chairman Peter Salmon, QC, a retired high court judge, independent commissioner Gary Venus, David Hill and air quality expert Mark Goldstone.

No date has been set for the commission to deliver its verdict.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)