Kaukapakapa News

Latest Power Station News

Opponents of the power station have every right to say "I told you so"! On 20 November 2009 the National Business Review reported that "Economic viability and an unsecured gas supply may stall Genesis Energy's plans". Genesis Energy's spokesman admitted to NBR that gas supply could be an issue for the proposed power station at Kaukapakapa and that "The board obviously wouldn't start work without securing a gas supply agreement, but it also depends on capital expenditure, forecasts, electricity prices and other commercial considerations." Since being granted resource consent earlier this year, Genesis Energy has also confirmed that the company plans to exit gas exploration activities, including two prospects the company told the RDC/ARC hearing Commissioners were likely to be sources of gas for the Kaukapakapa plant.

The Electricity Commission's annual assessment of how secure New Zealand's electricity supply will be in future years has just been released for consultation. Confidential information provided by Genesis Energy and other generators was used to prepare a list of all new power stations that the generators expect to build before 2020. While Genesis Energy may have "got its zone" at Kaukapakapa, the gas-fired power station they've proposed for the site doesn't even appear on the ten year list.

Genesis Energy have confirmed to Parliament that capital expenditure on the Rodney Power Station project is already in the tens of millions of dollars. Strange then that a power station which is supposedly vital for security of electricity supply to Auckland and Northland now appears to have been put on the back-burner indefinitely.

Pesticide Application along Kaukapakapa River Banks

On 21 January 2010 the Rodney District Council formally notified its intention to apply pesticides along the Kaukapakapa river banks (weather permitting), generally between the railway bridge south of Carol Leon Avenue, Kahikatea Flats Road and SH16 near Opoto Place, from January 2010 to 31 March 2010 for the control of Alligator, Manchurian Wild Rice and Willow weeds. Pesticides used will be glyphosphate and additives which are approved for this purpose. To obtain further details or to apply to go on Council’s “No Spray” register, please call the Council on 0800 426 5169 during business hours.

Kaukapakapa Structure Plan

Kaukapakapa is a unique rural village within Rodney District that is experiencing growth pressures. To assist in managing these pressures Rodney District Council is undertaking a Structure planning exercise for Kaukapakapa to confirm the vision and develop a spatial plan to guide growth over the next 10-20 years.

Your thoughts and feedback will shape the final Stucture Plan and implementation strategy.

An Open Day will be held in October 2009 so members of the public can drop in to see a display of more information and ask questions of Council staff.

The Open Day will be held in the village, further details to be advised soon.

Additional information on the project will be available from the Rodney District Council website: click here. It will contain further information including previous background studies.

Please contact Yvonne Rust at the Council's Policy and planning Department Phone 0800 426 5169 for more information.