Power station at Ōkere Falls near Rotorua granted resource consent

Tawhiri Morehu, chairman of the Proprietors of Taheke 8C and Adjoining Blocks (Inc).

Resource consent has been granted for a new geothermal power station at Ōkere Falls.

An independent panel granted the consent, subject to conditions, to construct and operate a power station near the Taheke geothermal field at the falls.

The project includes constructing, operating and maintaining a power station that generates electricity by using geothermal fluid from the Taheke geothermal field at Ōkere Falls, Rotorua, a statement from the Environmental Protection Authority said.

Roopu Whakarite Mahi Limited Partnership applied for resource consent under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020.

The decision comes 172 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.

The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making but provides procedural advice and administrative support to the panel convenor, Judge Laurie Newhook, and the expert consenting panel he appoints.