WAIPARA INDUSTRIAL SOLAR PROPOSAL: THE FACTS

The proposed location of the "Waipara solar farm" is 380 Waipara Flat Road: see developer FNSF's Assessment of Environmental Effects, section 1.

The plant would involve approximately 252,356 solar panels: see the FNSF site layout plan in its Assessment of Environmental Effects.

The plant would cover 180 hectares of land that is currently farmland: see the FNSF Assessment of Environmental Effects, p.1.

The plant would use panels that would be 4.5 metres high at their maximum daily position: see FNSF's Landscape Assessment, p.4.

The panels would be mounted on frames supported by approximately 72,896 piles: see FNSF's Soil Assessment, p.5.

The site would be surrounded by a 2-metre fence topped with 3 strands of barbed wire: see FNSF's Landscape Assessment, p.4.

The plant would include 30 shipping-container sized inverters: see FNSF's Assessment of Environmental Effects, p.10.

It is intended that within 7 years from the start of construction the plant would be screened from SH7: see FNSF's Proposed Consent Conditions, section 2; and Landscape Assessment, p.20.

The developer does not intend to fully screen the site, other than from SH7: see FNSF's Landscape Assessment, p.4 & Appendix 1, Figure 2a.

The panels would tilt every 10-15 minutes, and would rotate on a single axis tracking system: see FNSF's Landscape Assessment, p.4; and Acoustic Assessment, section 3.1.

The plant will create glint & glare, even once screening is established: see FNSF's Glint & Glare study pp.9 & 17-23.

Even after construction, the plant will create noise, primarily from inverters and panel trackers: see FNSF's  Acoustic Assessment, sections 6.1 & 6.3.

A large part of the site is classed as Highly Productive Land: see FNSF's Assessment of Environmental Effects, section 2.6. This classification reflects the quality of the soil. Only 15% of land in NZ is classed as Highly Productive.

The primary developer is Far North Solar Farm Ltd (FNSF). This is a majority Australian-owned company, working in partnership with offshore investment fund Aquila Capital. 

FNSF's directors are Richard Homewood and John Telfer, who have a history in the solar industry that MP Stuart Smith has described as "concerning". 

Both directors were previously involved with a company using the name Supercharged Energy, which received numerous complaints and a formal warning from the Commerce Commission in relation to, among other things, making unsubstantiated claims. It's activities were covered by the media and by Fair Go - with one report using the headline 'Solar power company accused of robbing the community blind'.

In August 2024, the Press reported that the Sustainable Energy Association has implied Supercharged was disreputable. The Press also reported on the financial difficulties of the company, including that some creditors had "tried to have it liquidated over unpaid debts".

The Fair Go segments are available here and here.

The Commerce Commission Warning Letter is here.

The article titled 'Solar power company accused of robbing the community blind' is here.

The Press's recent coverage is here.

FNSF is working in partnership with the global investment fund Aquila Capital, based in Singapore.

The current landowner bought the proposed site in December 2022. 9 days after he took over control of the farm, FNSF contacted HDC to begin the consenting process.

The previous owners, who farmed the land, were not told about the solar proposal.