Latest news with #MilesAnderson
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Solar farm proposals on different tracks
Two major solar energy developments in Otago are taking very different paths, one opting for a government fast-track route, the other choosing the traditional resource consent process amid significant public scrutiny. Black Point Solar Farm, proposed by Black Point Solar Ltd, is among 149 projects included under the Fast-track Approvals Act, passed into law in December. The company plans to build the solar farm on a 240ha sheep and deer property about 5km from Duntroon in North Otago. If approved, the farm would consist of 380,000 solar panels — enough to power about 38,000 homes. "As part of the project, sheep or other compatible farming will continue under and around the solar panels, maintaining the productive potential of the site," the application reads. Construction would begin once consent and financing were secured, completion being expected within two years. Initial discussions have been held with Network Waitaki, Transpower, the Waitaki District Council, local MP Miles Anderson and neighbouring property owners. However, an Environment Protection Authority Fast-track spokesperson said yesterday Black Point Solar Farm had not yet lodged a substantive fast-track application. No timeline has been set for lodging the full application. Meanwhile, further inland in Central Otago, Helios Energy is pursuing a 660ha solar farm in the Maniototo between Naseby and Ranfurly. Helios announced the project in October 2023 but chose to forgo the fast-track option in favour of the conventional consent process. A Central Otago District Council hearing is scheduled for August 19-21 in Ranfurly. The original proposal included a 300MW installation with 550,810 solar panels aligned in sun-tracking rows and a battery energy-storage system (BESS). However, in May, Helios dropped the battery component following community concerns about fire risks and insufficient information about suppression systems. Construction is now delayed until at least 2029. Community response has been mixed. Of the 179 submissions received, 23 were in favour and 12 were neutral. The remaining 144 opposed the development, with concerns ranging from fire safety and noise pollution to glint and glare from the panels. At a public meeting in Ranfurly last December, former Delta employee and whistleblower Richard Healey spoke about risks associated with utility-scale solar projects. Fire was a major concern due to the gases given off if the panels ignited. Retreat would be difficult and a possible fire would put stock at risk. Nearby residents also voiced worries over construction impacts. The plan requires driving 10,000 metal stakes 2m into the ground, a process locals fear could generate disruptive noise and vibrations.
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
‘Dunedin-centric' health services decried
Miles Anderson. Photo: ODT files A National Party MP has suggested transferring 100 mental health workers from Dunedin to Central Otago to address a lack of services in the regions. Waitaki MP Miles Anderson also suggested too much was being spent on the new Dunedin hospital project and some of that money should have been directed at the growing Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes districts. He was speaking after Associate Health Minister and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey faced tough questions from residents during a visit to Wānaka as part of a rural health roadshow two weeks ago. Mr Anderson, speaking while visiting Wānaka which is part of the Waitaki electorate, acknowledged the town lacked good mental health facilities. He said there were inequities between the resources in Dunedin and the rest of the region. "Those employed in the mental health side of things — Dunedin has 300-plus staff, and only another 100 are spread throughout the entire Otago/Southland area, so Wānaka have very few. "So, for it to be equitable, 100 need to be taken out of Dunedin and put into other areas." He also said the significant resources going into the $1.88 billion new Dunedin hospital project should have been shared more widely across the region. "There is always going to be a need for a Dunedin hospital. "When they planned the Dunedin hospital they didn't give much thought to the outlying areas of North Otago and Central Otago. It has been Dunedin-centric." "The Dunedin hospital makes sense with the med school and specialists, but if they thought about it, did it really need to be as big? "They could have put a hospital somewhere central with services." Mr Anderson said the government was aware of the inequities, including the fact 70% of those in New Zealand who lived more than two hours from a hospital with specialist care were living in the Upper Clutha-Central Otago area. A recent report by health advocacy group Health Action Wānaka highlighted these deficiencies and pointed out additional barriers such as high travel costs for residents needing healthcare elsewhere in the region. The government has responded by asking Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora for a strategic plan by December.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
'Russian Roulette': Action on speed limits demanded
Hampden's location on the state highway makes it an ideal stop-off for truckies and tired motorists, but with the busy road cutting the township in half, it is a big safety worry for residents. The situation with double-stop trucks, low visibility and speeding vehicles (across three speed limits) is getting so bad, Hampden Constable Neil Rushton says it makes him "cringe" regularly. "It's like Russian Roulette," he said. Motorists travelling south on State Highway 1 through Hampden township experience three different speed limits: 80kmh for about 450m at the northern end of the town; then 60kmh for about 1km in the township itself; then 70kmh for about 450m at the southern end of the town. "Motorists travelling north through Hampden experience these speed limits, but in the reverse order," resident Kerry Stevens said. "For motorists travelling through Hampden on a regular basis and who forget to pay close attention to the speed limit signs each time, the changing speed limits are unnecessarily confusing." Residents also have safety concerns around pedestrians emerging from between parked vehicles on to a road with a high volume of traffic travelling at 60kmh, and the safety of children walking to school each day. A group of about a dozen residents and local business-owners met with Waitaki MP Miles Anderson on Monday to present a letter asking for speed limits to be reduced from 80kmh down to 70kmh at the northern end of the town; and from 60kmh to 50kmh within the main part of Hampden. The main part of the township sits on the crest of a hill, and is home to the township's library, several shops and cafes. It is also the site, outside the township's police station, where a woman was knocked over and killed in 1999. Resident Jennifer Black said the community had tried several times to push for the change, but had been met with too much bureaucracy. "We've got this ... section at the top of the hill here where there's nil visibility. It's become a much more active business area with the very busy cafe. The hall is regularly used, the library is used most days of the week. We've got this very important police station here and, of course, the takeaways." Waihemo Community Board chairwoman Heather McGregor also agreed it was time for action. "Road safety concerns in Hampden have been a concern for many years, particularly with the three different speed limits through the township. "Pedestrians trying to cross the road between parked cars and trucks and turning into streets in Hampden is very risky. "A speed limit reduced through the township would lessen this risk." Waitaki MP Miles Anderson said he was supportive of the suggestion, and would take the issue up with the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in the first instance and then the transport minister. "More often than not, when I come through here, there's two trucks at least parked along here and then there's traffic shooting past people trying to dash across the road, that sort of thing. No zebra crossing or anything like that." He said he was also supporting similar efforts around Duntroon and Glenavy.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
MP's office picketed over equity bill
Waitaki locals stood their ground outside Waitaki MP Miles Anderson's office last week in protest of the Pay Equity Amendment Bill that passed through all stages in Parliament, after being rushed through under urgency. PHOTO: JULES CHIN Protesters in Oamaru have made their feelings known over changes to workplace regulations. The Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed through all stages in Parliament, after being rushed through under urgency last week. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim. She said changes made in 2020 had created problems. Ms van Velden said any current claims would be stopped and would need to restart under the new threshold, to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right. Opponents of the controversial legislation have said it would make it harder for women in female-dominated industries to make a claim. Judith Stanley, of Oamaru, said the group protesting outside the office of Waitaki MP Miles Anderson last Friday, were there to support the repeal of the Pay Equity Amendment Act "There was no consultation ... It was a stitched-up deal before it hit the benches in Parliament," she said. Annah Evington, of Oamaru, said the legislation was a "war on women" and would make it almost impossible for women to claim pay equity. "They've thrown hundreds of thousands of women and men, lower paid men, under the bus. "People have been working towards this for years and are now being told they're back to square one." She said essential workers were the most at risk. Mr Anderson said it was "essentially not true" that the legislation changes would affect essential workers, and it was about the comparability of various occupations. He alleged the opposition and unions were using this as a great opportunity to stir up a profile on the government, for themselves. "The sky isn't falling and people will still be able to take pay equity claims to court. "It's nothing to do with those on minimum wage, it is to do with comparison between occupations, and those discussions around gender-based discriminations in our workforce, they are still able to take claims to court," he said. Mr Anderson said different systems, for nurses or for office administrators, revealed "real complexity" and past claims had dragged on in court for too long. "It's a direct comparison between occupations and the need to make sure equal pay is not being scrapped," he said. The protest was organised by Roy Hill who said the group hoped to address their concerns with Mr Anderson. Mr Anderson was in a conference in Rotorua at the time of the Waitaki protest, but said he was "always available" for consultation.
Otago Daily Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Waitaki's new Youth MP excited about role
Waitaki Youth MP Enya O'Donnell, 16, and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson outside his Oamaru office. PHOTO: NIC DUFF Waitaki has a new youth MP. Waimate High School year 12 student Enya O'Donnell, 16, begins the role next week. She was stoked to have the opportunity. "I'm really happy I got this role. "I didn't realise an opportunity like this was out there and when I saw it I was like, oh, that sounds great." She was driven by her want to help to others when she decided to apply. "My life goal is create a positive impact on the world some way. That way, I haven't figured out yet, but I thought politics would probably be the best way to go because it's involving everyone." She is stepping outside her comfort zone. "This is something quite new to me. Growing up, politics wasn't really discussed in my family. "I'm just looking forward to learning about the whole picture of politics in New Zealand." Enya and the other youth MPs will fly to Wellington in July for this year's Youth Parliament.
