Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Govt accused of turning deaf ear over power station

Updated at 6:44 pm on 5 March 2010

Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller says the Government is turning a deaf ear to local concern about a tidal power station planned for Kaipara Harbour.

Crest Energy, which is part-owned by Todd Energy, wants to locate up to 200 turbines over 8km of seabed at the mouth of the harbour.

Mr Tiller says the harbour is the source of 98% of snapper on the west coast and many people fear the power station will ruin the fishery.

He says the tidal energy technology involved is largely untried and Kaipara is being used as a guinea pig.

Mr Tiller says he has asked Government ministers and local MPs to come and hear people's concerns, but Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira is the only one who has done so to date.

The Environment Court has indicated approval for the tidal power station, pending research into the impact on the fishery.

Crest Energy says tidal energy stations are operating off the coast of Scotland, England, Ireland and Canada with no ill-effects.

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