Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (FMC) has alerted the Fast-track Approvals Panel Convenor to false and misleading information in Westpower’s fast-track application for the Waitaha Hydro Project.
FMC provided extensive feedback to both Westpower and an Independent Expert on a draft Recreational Effects Report earlier this year, highlighting a number of objective factual inaccuracies. After reviewing the submitted application, FMC can confirm that the Recreational Effects Report has been submitted materially unaltered, without these inaccuracies being corrected.
“This isn’t necessarily about opposing the scheme,” said FMC President Megan Dimozantos. “It’s about integrity. Westpower has shown no intent of honouring any due process. They have applied through the fast-track system to bypass environmental protections after being declined by the Minister in 2019, and are now providing factually incorrect information in their application. This shows contempt for the process, contempt for the Panel, and contempt for the public. Do we really want that sort of business operating on our fragile conservation estate?”
Significant inaccuracies include misrepresentation of legal public access to the Waitaha Valley, claims of improved access despite Westpower confirming they have no plans to facilitate such access, false suggestions that FMC and other groups would financially benefit, and inappropriately applying an outdated (11 year old) peer review. A significant amount of the information used to support the report is over 10 years old. There are also at least two organisations listed in Westpower’s application as having been consulted who Westpower appear to have not formally met with since 2008.
“These aren’t minor errors—they distort how recreational impacts are assessed,” Dimozantos said. “Despite being given every opportunity to correct inaccuracies in the report, Westpower has proceeded knowing they are providing misleading information. This is an opportunity for the Fast-track Panel to demonstrate that the Act is not simply a free pass for previously declined projects. It’s the bare minimum for applicants to provide true and accurate information and I trust the panel will send that very clear message to the Applicant.”
Read more about it on RNZ.
Photo: Waitaha by Debbie Cartwright
