Hearing into power plant extends reporting time

Environment Waikato and Waitomo District Council closed their joint hearing into the King Country Energy plan to build a 9.6MW hydro electric plant on the river.

Its reporting time has been extended until September 26 - well over the standard 15 working days allowed under the Resource Management Act.

However, Environment Waikato has the power under the act to extend the reporting time if necessary.

Final evidence was heard in Te Kuiti on August 10, but the committee did not close the hearing for another five days, as it sought a legal opinion from Hamilton barrister Jim Milne about ownership of the Mokau River bed near the proposed hydro site.