GEOFUTURE

TE MIHI POWER STATION GENERATION OPTIONS

LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

2

Client: Project: GeoFuture No: 4322 Report: Te Mihi Generation Options Landscape and Visual Assessment Status: FINAL Date: 14 July 2021 Author: Brad Coombs Isthmus PO Box 90 366 Auckland 1142 +64 274 614 460 [email protected]

No. Date Details Author QA 1 18/12/20 1st DRAFT Brad Coombs BP, MC, TR 2 28/06/21 2nd DRAFT Brad Coombs BP, MC, TR 3 09/07/21 3rd DRAFT Brad Coombs BP, VB, CR 4 14/07/21 FINAL Brad Coombs BP, MC

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 2 INTRODUCTION ...... 5 3 METHODOLOGY ...... 7 4 EXISTING LANDSCAPE ...... 9 5 RELEVANT PLANNING PROVISIONS ...... 11 Waikato Regional Policy Statement / Te Tauāki Kaupapa here ā-Rohe ...... 11 Landscape and amenity values ...... 11 Geothermal ...... 11 Taupō District Plan ...... 11 Geothermal Activity ...... 11 District Plan Environments ...... 12 Rural Environment ...... 12 Industrial Environment ...... 13 Landscape and Natural values...... 13 6 PROPOSAL ...... 14 7 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL EFFECTS ...... 16 8 CONCLUSION ...... 20

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1 A 2008 Board of Inquiry (BOI) decision1 provided for the development of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site at the head of the Wairākei Geothermal Valley.

1.2 The Te Mihi area has a working rural character, including the existing geothermal electricity development platform, pipeline(s) and electricity transmission lines.

1.3 The GeoFuture development proposals for the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site includes expansions of the existing steam turbine generation system (Options THI_1 and THI_2) or the development of a binary plant on a lower platform further to the east of the site (Option THI_3).

1.4 The THI_1 and THI_2 options for development on the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site include extension and expansion of an existing family of structures and buildings on the same platform.

1.5 Option THI_3 introduces a new type of geothermal electricity development on a different platform.

1.6 The development of Options THI_1 or THI_2 on the existing geothermal development platform (THI A) and expansion to the site to the east (THI B) would not have any adverse effects on the landscape character of the Te Mihi area.

1.7 The development of Option THI_3 would have very low, that is, less than minor, adverse effects on the landscape character of the Te Mihi area.

1.8 The development of Options THI_1 or THI_2 would have no adverse effects on the visual amenity of the Te Mihi area.

1.9 Development option THI_3 would not be visible from any public location close to the area and would have no adverse effects on the visual amenity of the location.

1.10 The 2008 Board of Inquiry Decision provides for additional generation capacity at the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site, which can be accommodated and extended through the development of Options THI_1, THI_2 or THI_3 without having any adverse effect on the visual amenity and a very low effect on landscape character, of Te Mihi.

1.11 The development of Option THI_1, THI_2 or THI_3 on the Te Mihi Geothermal Development platform would be consistent with the Regional and District Planning framework for geothermal development and Industrial and Rural landscape management in the Te Mihi area.

1 Final Report and Decision of the Board of Inquiry. Te Mihi Station Proposal. September 2008.

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2 INTRODUCTION

2.1 This Landscape and Visual Assessment report relates to part of a larger project that Contact Energy is embarking on, named the GeoFuture Project2 (GeoFuture) . GeoFuture is a multidimensional project that relates to the ongoing development and maintenance of wider Wairākei -Tauhara Geothermal System and includes four discrete components:

1. Modifying existing Te Mihi Power Station consents to enable additional plant capacity configuration options and technology choices.

2. Re-consenting reservoir related consents for the take, injection and some associated surface discharges of geothermal fluid.

3. A new small generation plant in close proximity to the existing Wairākei station, but not on the Wairākei A or B sites.

4. Re-consenting Wairākei A and B Power Stations to enable continued operations at reduced output for a finite period of up to 5 years from the expiry of the current consents up to 30 June 2031.

2.2 This report relates to the first component in the list above which, is part of GeoFuture and will be referred to in this report as the Te Mihi project.

2.3 In 2008, a BOI3 consented the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station project and associated steamfield, transmission line and switchyard works. The BOI consent provided for the following components:

. Three 78 MW Condensing Steam Turbine (CST) generators (total generation of up to 220MW) each with a dedicated cooling tower;

. Construction of a new switchyard and rearrangement of an existing 220kV transmission line; and

. Associated discharges to the land and the air shed.

2.4 Two of the three turbine generators have been constructed inside a new turbine hall.

2.5 The main physical components of the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station project that were relevant in terms of landscape and visual effects were the earthworks for the main development platform, the turbine hall enclosing the steam turbines, the rows of the cooling towers, the switchyard and transmission line works4and steamfield components.

2.6 Contact Energy is now seeking land use consent from the Taupō District Council for the Te Mihi project to extend the existing Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station for three options. Either:

A. Te Mihi Option 1. (THI_1) – Single large steam turbine on the existing, consented footprint, gross output up to 180MW;

2 GeoFuture Project – Wairākei Geothermal Field. AEE Project Description. Prepared by Contact Energy. 3 Final Report and Decision of the Board of Inquiry. Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station Proposal. September 2008. 4 From Oruanui Road and areas further to the west of the road.

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B. Te Mihi Option 2. (THI_2) – Two smaller steam turbines, one on the existing, consented footprint and one further east, combined gross output up to 180MW; or

C. Te Mihi Option 3. (THI_3) – Organic rankine cycle (binary) plant, consisting of up to four units located on a footprint to the east of the existing Te Mihi Power Station, gross output up to 165MW.

2.7 Option 1 – one additional turbine. This option would require the existing turbine hall to be extended to accommodate the additional turbine, leading to a longer turbine hall and an additional cooling tower. Much of this option is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan, with a very small portion of the location within the Industrial Environment zone.

2.8 Option 2 – two additional turbines. This option would require an extension of the existing turbine hall (as currently consented) and a new turbine hall and additional cooling tower to the east. The area to the east is Crown land, managed by LINZ, and Contact holds a long-term special purpose lease giving it wide ranging rights on this land. Much of this option is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan, with a portion of the location within the Industrial Environment zone.

2.9 Option 3 – New Binary Plant. The proposed binary plant option would be to the east of the existing Te Mihi development platform and would create an extension to the existing development platform to the east towards the existing forestry area5. This option would introduce a new type of geothermal generation plant to the area. This area has lower overall topography than the existing Te Mihi platform of the existing turbine hall. This area is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan.

2.10 The options each have locational and functional requirements. Therefore, scale, bulk and location are largely dictated by the need to be located in proximity to the existing plant and geothermal resources. The Te Mihi project ensures expansion of the Te Mihi geothermal site that is consistent6 with the existing plant. This will include the design and colour of the turbine hall, and scale and orientation of the cooling towers.

5 The binary plant option extends into LINZ managed Crown Land over which Contact Energy hold a long-term special purpose lease. 6 All options include new geothermal electricity generation components and steamfield works that are similar in character and appearance to existing development on the platform, albeit that a binary plant would be different in appearance from the existing steam turbine generation plant.

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3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 The starting point for the Landscape and Visual Assessment methodology is a comparison of the Te Mihi project and the landscape and visual mitigation concepts that were consented by the BOI in 2008 with the environment of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site and platform as they currently exist. The three options described above are compared with both the existing and consented environment.

3.2 The three options for the main platform result in different requirements for earthworks for the platform. Earthworks plans and requirements have been studied.

3.3 The BOI’s consideration of the potential adverse landscape and visual effects of the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station project has been reviewed and considered in relation to what has been implemented and the environment that has resulted. The site has been re-visited to review those physical components and the effects generated.

3.4 The site of the Te Mihi project was visited on 29 July 2020 and 4 September 2020 and the landscape character was compared with the assessment for the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station project as presented to the BOI in 2008. Updated photographic records and notes were taken. The area around the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site has been visited a number of times since 2007 for the development of the assessment for the BOI, during the construction of the Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station project and for the planning implementation and maintenance of the landscape plantings following construction. Other geothermal development projects in the area, including Wairākei, Nga Awa Purua, Poihipi Road, Ngatamariki and Te Huka have also been visited.

3.5 The planning context for the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site was reviewed and checked against the 2008 BOI assessment to understand how the planning provisions have evolved since 2008. The Te Mihi project has been reviewed against the current 2021 planning context and is summarised in the assessment below.

3.6 The GeoFuture AEE Project Description has been reviewed to understand the Te Mihi project including, specifically the options for the Te Mihi site.

3.7 The effects of the proposal on the landscape character of the site and the surrounding area are assessed in relation to the extent to which the proposal is consistent with the existing uses, characteristics and components of the land uses, patterns and structures that currently contribute to the existing character of the area.

3.8 The effects of the Te Mihi project on the visual amenity of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site and the surrounding areas are assessed in relation to the level of visual change that the project creates within publicly available and representative views and the extent to which those changes are consistent, or incongruent with the existing visual amenity.

3.9 The landscape values are described below, with reference to a rating scale for the values. To be consistent with the ratings of the values described, in relation to potential effects, the same seven-point scale (below) is used to achieve a level of standardisation7. Words are used in preference to numbers to reduce the likelihood of using ‘scores’ in a formulaic way. A

7 The scale is symmetrical around ‘moderate’. The scale is based on the recommended NZILA Best Practice Guide, however it uses only neutral terms (and avoids ‘severe’ and ‘negligible’).

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comparison on how the value ratings relate to the RMA terminology of ‘less than minor’, ‘minor’ and ‘more than minor’ is also provided.

Very Low Low Moderate – Moderate Moderate High Very high low – high

Less than Minor Minor More than Minor

3.10 Change in a landscape does not in itself mean that a proposal will result in adverse effects. The nature of effects can be Adverse (negative), Neutral (benign), or Beneficial (positive).

3.11 An assessment of effects combines both value ratings (Very Low – Very High) and nature of effects (Adverse, Neutral, Positive). Where a proposal will have absolutely no effect, a nature of effect rating of ‘neutral’ will be provided, without a value rating. Where a proposal has an effect, but that effect is neutral, a nature of effect rating of ‘neutral’ will be provided with the appropriate value rating (e.g. Very Low, Neutral).

3.12 The assessment methodology is based on and consistent with the NZILA Tuia Pito Ora Best Practice Note Landscape Assessment and Sustainable Management 10.1. The methodology adopted for this assessment has been tailored to address the nature of the proposal, its specific context and planning provisions and the relevant issues.

3.13 The detailed methodology for the preparation of the site photographs and the visual simulations within the Graphic Attachments8 is described and illustrated at the end of the Graphic Attachment booklet and is consistent with NZILA Tuia Pito Ora Best Practice Guide Visual Simulations 10.2.

3.14 The methodology section above sets out a series of ‘steps’ that have been taken to assess the relevant landscape character and visual effects of the Te Mihi project on the receiving environment. The list is provided for completeness to set out the key matters that have been taken into consideration. The detailed description of the work undertaken and the conclusions reached is contained under the relevant headings throughout this report.

8 Attached to this report.

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4 EXISTING LANDSCAPE

4.1 The landscape9 setting for the Te Mihi project is a working rural landscape with areas of industrial land associated with geothermal electricity generation. This includes the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site on the corner of Oruanui and Poihipi Roads.

Location and context

4.2 The existing Te Mihi Geothermal Development site is on the north-west outskirts of Taupō. It is situated within gently rolling hill country that is predominantly grazed and interspersed with farm shelter trees. Glimpses of the existing power station can be seen intermittently when passing the site through narrow viewpoints between hills and trees. A rolling hill at 535m asl obscures the closest views into the site.

4.3 The surrounding site contains the -Whakamaru C high voltage (220 kV) power lines that extend from the Wairākei Power Station connecting to Te Mihi, crossing the road at Oruanui and continuing in a north west direction towards Whakamaru. There is also a 220kV line that links the Te Mihi switchyard to the Poihipi Road Power Station, approximately 1.5km to the south.

4.4 The existing Te Mihi Power Station platform is approximately 900 metres from Oruanui and Poihipi Roads and is accessed by a private road. A long rectangular constructed lined geothermal holding pond is located approximately 400m from Poihipi Road and glimpses to this and parts of the power station are visible when travelling on Poihipi Road and Oruanui Road.

4.5 Prior to the development of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site, the area on the corner of Poihipi and Oruanui Roads had a working rural character, with pastoral farming, plantation forestry, the Oruanui Pony Club and the Taupō sale yards being the main uses in the area. Some well pads and pipelines have been present in the Te Mihi area since the early 1990’s. The Poihipi Power Station and pipelines have been features in the area to the south of Te Mihi since 1996.

4.6 The Te Mihi trig sits just south of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site at a height of 558m asl.

4.7 The existing geothermal generation plant on the Te Mihi Development site includes:

• Two existing steam turbines with a rated capacity of 83MW10, inside a turbine hall which is approximately 110m long, by 27m wide and 24m high11. The turbine hall is coloured a combination of mid and dark green;

• Two Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers, approximately 130m long by 16m wide and 16m tall12;

• Existing switchyard, approximately 90 metres by 125 metres with connection to the 220kV Wairakei-Whakamaru transmission line; and

• Pipelines, ponds, roads, well-pads and other geothermal fluid processing equipment.

9 Landscape is an area’s collective features and characteristics, how people perceive it and what it means to them. 10 GeoFuture Project – Wairākei Geothermal Field. AEE Project Description. Prepared by Contact Energy. 11 Ibid. Page 45. 12 Ibid. Page 45.

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Rural landscape

4.8 The surroundings have a working rural character and amenity. The foreground to the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site adjoining Poihipi Road contains horse jumping facilities and open arena. The area adjoining Oruanui Road contains stock yards and stock effluent dump. The corner of Poihipi and Oruanui includes a sealed area for school bus turning and bus shelter. The remaining surrounding landscape is open pasture and the surroundings comprise a mixture of extensive grassland, dairying and exotic forestry.

4.9 The northern Taupō basin extending towards the Reporoa Valley and the Rotorua Lakes is mainly characterised by pastoral farming and plantation forestry, with limited remnant indigenous vegetation associated with steep slopes and the edges of streams, rivers and other waterways.

4.10 The Te Mihi Power Station is located on the Wairākei - Tauhara Geothermal System which is categorised as a ‘Development Geothermal System’ in the relevant regional planning documents. Geothermal power generation (and electricity transmission) is part of the existing landscape character north of Taupō including power stations and associated steamfields at Te Huka, Wairākei, Poihipi, Rotokawa, Ngatamariki (Tahorakuri), Ohaaki and Mokai. Geothermal pipeline networks link the electricity generation stations with production and reinjection well pads throughout the broader landscape.

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5 RELEVANT PLANNING PROVISIONS

5.1 The following section identifies the planning provisions most relevant to framing the assessment of the actual and potential landscape and visual effects. All highlighting is added to emphasise planning matters of particular relevance when assessing such effects.

Waikato Regional Policy Statement / Te Tauāki Kaupapa here ā-Rohe

Landscape and amenity values

5.2 Table 12-1 of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement / Te Tauāki Kaupapa here ā-Rohe (RPS) identifies thirteen ‘outstanding natural features and landscapes’ of regional significance. None of the proposed Te Mihi plant options are located within any regionally outstanding natural features and landscapes.

Geothermal

5.3 Objective 3.17 of the RPS is “sustainable management of the Regional Geothermal Resource is promoted by:

a) ensuring integrated management of geothermal systems; b) allocating some of the geothermal resource for take, use and discharge in a way that enables current energy needs and the reasonably foreseeable energy needs of future generations to be met, while avoiding, remedying or mitigating significant adverse effects on the Regional Geothermal Resource; and c) protecting some characteristics of the Regional Geothermal Resource from significant adverse effects.”

5.4 Section 9 of the RPS addresses geothermal matters. It includes Policy 9.1 to “sustainably manage the Regional Geothermal Resource in a way that provides for multiple uses and the extent and variety of the region’s geothermal features…” The policy is given effect to by (amongst other things) protecting significant geothermal features and some geothermal systems, while allocating other systems to development (such as the Wairākei-Tauhara System on which the Te Mihi project is located). Policy 9.3 is “Development Geothermal Systems shall be managed in a way that enables large-scale use and development of geothermal energy and water …”

5.5 This is an enabling policy supporting the efficient use and development of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site through this project.

Taupō District Plan

Geothermal Activity

5.6 Section 3o of the Taupō District Plan addresses geothermal activity. The purpose of this section of the plan is to manage the effects of surface activities associated with use of the geothermal resource13. As set out above, the site is mapped within the Wairakei-Tauhara Geothermal System which is identified by the regional Council as a ‘Development Geothermal System’.

13 Management of the resource itself being a Regional Council matter.

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5.7 The key objective (Objective 3o.2.1) is to “enable and manage the effects of land use activities associated with geothermal resource use and development.” Policies that give effect to this objective are (Policies 3o.2.1 i, ii, iii):

i. “To provide for the continued operation, maintenance and minor upgrading of existing developments utilising geothermal resources. ii. To enable land uses associated with the use of geothermal resources in a manner which avoids, remedies or mitigates adverse effects on the environment. iii. To control the land use effects associated with the use of geothermal resources by way of environmental performance standards in rules and conditions on resource consents.”

District Plan Environments

5.8 The site is within both the Rural Environment zone and Industrial Environment zone, which are addressed in sections 3b and 3d of the Taupō District Plan.

Rural Environment

5.9 The proposed Te Mihi binary plant option, and the bulk of the other options, are within the Rural Environment.

5.10 The key objective (Objective 3b.2.1) relevant to landscape and visual matters is “the management of the Rural Environment to maintain and enhance rural amenity and character.”

5.11 Policies that give effect to this objective are (Policies 3b.2.1 i-viii):

i. “Maintain and enhance the amenity and character of the Rural Environment by providing land use performance standards and subdivision rules to manage the scale and density of development. ii. Avoid urban development in the Rural Environment unless through a TD2050 Structure Plan Process and associated plan change. iii. Maintain the open space and dispersed building character. iv. Provide for a range of productive land use activities within the Rural Environment while ensuring any adverse effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated. v. Protect the District’s lakes and river margins from buildings that are visually obtrusive and/or result in a decline of the amenity of the margin area. vi. Avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects of subdivision, use and development of land on areas or features of cultural, historical, landscape or ecological value. vii. Recognise and provide for Infrastructure and Network Utilities in the Rural Environment, while ensuring any adverse effects on or arising from them are avoided, remedied or mitigated as far as practicable. viii. Recognise that the Rural Environment encompasses a range of landscape characteristics, amenity values and land use patterns and activities when considering the appropriateness of development within the zone.”

5.12 Objective 3b.2.2 is to “manage the subdivision of rural land to reflect rural amenity values, rural land use and appropriate levels of infrastructure.” Policy vi is to “manage the subdivision of

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rural land overlying Geothermal Areas to avoid conflict with the resource use and development associated with geothermal electricity generation on identified Development and Limited Development Geothermal Systems.”

5.13 In other words, while the Taupō District Plan includes an objective to maintain rural character, the provisions also provide for development of geothermal resources within the rural environment so long as the effects of such development are able to be avoided, remedied and mitigated.

Industrial Environment

5.14 The existing Te Mihi Geothermal Development site is partially within the Industrial Environment zone, which is addressed in section 3d of the Taupō District Plan. The key objective (Objective 3d.2.1) relevant to landscape and visual matters is “the maintenance of the environmental qualities and functioning of the Industrial Environment.”

5.15 Policies that give effect to this objective are (Policies 3d.2.1 ix-x):

ix. “Maintain the qualities of the Industrial Environment through controlling the bulk, location and nature of activities to ensure an appropriate scale and intensity of buildings and activities that are consistent with an industrial scale of development; i.e. an appropriate density of activity and level of environmental effects, while allowing the functioning of the area to be maintained. x. Encourage a wide range of activities within the Industrial Environment, including any activity with nuisance elements not appropriate for any other Environment, while ensuring any adverse effects are avoided, remedied, or mitigated.

5.16 While these policies seek to ensure development within the industrial environment is appropriate, the priority is ensuring the continued functioning of industrial activities in the industrial environment where adverse effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated.

Landscape and Natural values

5.17 The proposed Te Mihi project options are not located within an identified Landscape or Significant Natural Area of the Taupō District Plan.

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6 PROPOSAL

6.1 Contact Energy is seeking land use consent from the Taupō District Council to extend the existing Te Mihi Geothermal Development site for three options. Either:

A. Te Mihi Option 1. (THI_1) – Single large steam turbine on existing, consented footprint, gross output up to 180MW;

B. Te Mihi Option 2. (THI_2) – Two smaller steam turbines one of existing, consented footprint one further east, combined gross output up to 180MW; or

C. Te Mihi Option 3. (THI_3) – Organic rankine cycle (binary) plant, consisting of up to four units located on the footprint to the east of the existing Te Mihi Power Station, gross output up to 165MW.

6.2 Option 1 – one additional large turbine. This option would require the existing turbine hall to be extended to accommodate the additional turbine, leading to a longer turbine hall and an additional cooling tower. Much of this option is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan, with a very small portion of the location within the Industrial Environment zone.

6.3 Option 1 would require an extension to the turbine hall of approximately 75 m14 and an additional cooling tower approximately 220m long by 16m wide by 16m high. The orientation of the turbine hall extension and the cooling tower would be the same as the existing orientation. It is possible that the turbine hall extension could be built to the BOI approved maximum height of “not to exceed 542.4m asl”. If this additional height was required for design flexibility then the stepping in height would be barely visually perceptible from outside of the application site. The extended and new elements would be consistent with the existing development.

6.4 Option 2 – two additional turbines. This option would require an extension of the existing turbine hall (as currently consented) to accommodate one additional turbine, a and a new turbine hall and additional cooling tower to the east. Much of this option is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan, with a portion of the location within the Industrial Environment zone.

6.5 Option 3 – New Binary Plant. The proposed binary plant option would be to the east of the existing Te Mihi Geothermal power station and would create an extension to the existing site to the east towards the existing forestry area15. This option would introduce a new type of geothermal generation plant to the area. This area has lower overall topography than the platform of the existing Te Mihi turbine hall. This area is located within the Rural Environment zone of the Taupō District Plan. The platform for the binary plant would be at approximately 503 masl (subject to detailed earthworks design), some 12m lower than the existing Te Mihi platform at 515masl16. The binary plant would include two banks of air-cooled condensers, sitting on a platform measuring approximately 500m long by 145m wide. The binary plant would be up to 12m high. The binary plant would essentially be ‘recessed’ into the existing landscape.

14 Current length is approximately 110m. 15 As noted above, the forestry area extends into LINZ managed Crown Land over which Contact Energy hold a long-term special purpose lease. 16 Page 45. GeoFuture Project – Wairākei Geothermal Field. AEE Project Description. Prepared by Contact Energy.

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6.6 Options 1 and 2 essentially lead to similar physical outcomes – an extension to the existing turbine hall17 and the existing cooling towers to incorporate larger numbers or volumes of the same components into the development platform that are already present. Option 1 would lead to one long bank of cooling towers and Option 2 would require two shorter banks of cooling towers.

6.7 Option 3 would incorporate a new element to the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site – a binary plant. The binary plant would still appear to be part of the same geothermal development site. It would be different in scale and layout to the existing turbine hall and cooling tower system.

6.8 Each of the options would be connected to the existing generation and transmission systems through a network of roads and pipes similar to that that are already present.

6.9 Some existing roads, small landforms, batters, paddock layouts and fence lines may need to be changed to accommodate the options.

17 The turbine inside the hall is not visible from outside of the hall that encloses it or the development platform.

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7 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL EFFECTS

Landscape Character Effects

7.1 The existing landscape character of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site and the surrounding area is described above and is a combination of working pastoral and plantation rural landscape, which includes geothermal electricity generation nodes connected by pipeline and road networks. The geothermal generation landscape at, and surrounding, Te Mihi is almost continuously changing with new steamfield works being a constant in the landscape.

7.2 The generation plant that was consented by the BOI in 2008 was the largest single change to the Te Mihi area, leading to the development of the Te Mihi Geothermal Power station platform, the turbine hall, cooling towers, the switchyard and other associated pipeline and steamfield networks. Other geothermal development in the surrounding area18 which can be experienced from the main road networks and contribute to the geothermal generation landscape include, Poihipi Road, the Wairākei A & B Power Stations and Wairākei binary plant and the Wairākei valley steamfield (known as Eastern and Western Borefields).

7.3 The footprints and locations for Options 1, 2 and 3 are illustrated in the Graphic Attachments attached as Appendix A.

7.4 Options 1 and 2, the addition of one larger turbine or two smaller turbines, would essentially lead to a physical extension to the existing turbine hall and cooling towers within the Te Mihi development platform. The North-South orientation of the turbine hall and the East-West orientation of the cooling towers would be unchanged by the development of Options 1 and 2. The pattern of development on the platform would be extended but would remain largely consistent with the existing development pattern.

7.5 The pipeline and road networks at the top of the Wairākei Valley at Te Mihi tend to be oriented at an angle designed to follow the underlying landscape, rather than the specific North-South and East-West orientation of the turbine hall, the cooling towers and the switchyard. These patterns will also be extended to connect and incorporate options 1 and 2, but will not change in character from the existing development networks.

7.6 The cooling towers for both options 1 and 2 would produce a visible plume, which would be consistent in colour and scale to the plume generated from the two cooling towers that are currently on the Te Mihi site. See the plumes in the photographs from Viewpoints 6a, 8, 9 and 10 attached as Appendix A.

7.7 Extensions and additions to the turbine hall and the cooling towers will incorporate larger footprints, as is anticipated by the 2008 BOI Decision, as only two of the three consented turbines have been constructed, but will not change the character of the geothermal generation development on the platform.

7.8 Options 1 and 2 are consistent with the existing character and scale of development which current exists on the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site. These options will not create any adverse effects on the existing character of the Te Mihi area.

18 Within 1 to 5km of the Te Mihi site.

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7.9 Option 3, to develop a binary plant on the eastern side of the existing Te Mihi Geothermal Development site would lead to an extension of the platform, essentially doubling it in size. The platform would extend into the adjacent pastoral and plantation forestry maintaining the East- West orientation of the existing cooling towers.

7.10 The binary plant has a reasonably large footprint, with two banks of air-cooled condensers at approximately 500m long by 145m wide, sitting parallel to each other. The height of the binary plant is approximately 12m. The platform for Option 3 is approximately 6.6ha in size and the site is 12m lower than the Te Mihi platform at 503m asl.

7.11 The binary plant is similar in character to the existing development on the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site, however, it includes different components. The location of the Option 3 platform, the lower level and the lower height of the binary plant ensure that it will not be visible from outside of the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site.

7.12 The banks of air-cooled condensers and the visible fans will maintain and extend the geothermal generation character of the existing platform. The design and scale of the binary plant will introduce a new family of structures to the area, however it will still have the character of a geothermal electricity generation plant, as is evident at Te Huka, Rotokawa and Wairakei.

7.13 The air-cooled condensers do not produce any visible plume.

7.14 The change in the location of the Option 3 platform and the use of a different form of geothermal electricity generation technology19 could lead to at most, a very low effect on the character of the area.

Visual Amenity Effects

7.15 A series of site photographs have been taken from within the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site and from publicly accessible locations where existing and future development could be visible. The photographs are presented in the Graphic Attachments from Viewpoints 6a to 10. Viewpoints 6a, 6b, 7 and 10 are within the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site. Viewpoints 8 and 9 are from public viewing locations on Poihipi Road and Oruanui Road, respectively.

7.16 Visual simulations have been prepared from locations where the options are visible from public locations. Where options are generally not visible from public locations, visual simulations have been prepared from within the application site for illustrative purposes. Other viewpoint photographs simply illustrate the view from a location, without the options simulated as they would not be visible.

7.17 It would be usual practice to only present visual simulations from locations that are publicly accessible, however in this instance, the visibility of any new structures and development from public locations is very low. For that reason, photographs and visual simulations have been prepared from both publicly accessible locations and also from within the site.20

Options 1 and 2

7.18 Options 1 and 2 are illustrated in the visual simulations from Viewpoints 6a, 8 and 10.

19 Binary plant instead of the existing of the exiting steam turbines and cooling towers. 20 For illustrative purposes only.

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7.19 The view from viewpoint 6a illustrates the existing cooling towers from the eastern side of the platform. The turbine hall is not visible within the view as it is obscured by the plume from the cooling towers. The development of Option 1 or 2 would lead to the visibility of the additional bank of cooling towers and an extension to the turbine hall21. The change to the view would be an increase in the same family of structures and development, which would be visually consistent with the existing development.

7.20 The proposed cooling tower associated with Option 1 would generate visible plumes that would be consistent in colour and scale to the existing plumes.

7.21 The development of Option 1 or 2 would not create any adverse effects on the visual amenity of the area from this location.

7.22 Viewpoint 8 is on Poihipi Road where there is a view past the Te Mihi trig22 towards the existing Te Mihi development. The turbine hall, switchyard and transmission development are currently visible. The plumes from the cooling towers are also visible but not the cooling towers themselves.

7.23 The development of Option 2 would see an expansion of the turbine hall come into view along with the new cooling tower and any visible plume. The development on the platform would still read visibly as a coherent and related development and an extension of the existing buildings and structures.

7.24 The development of Options 1 and 2 would not have any adverse visual amenity effects on this location.

7.25 Viewpoint 9 is on Oruanui Road. The existing turbine hall, cooling towers and switchyard development are not currently visible from this location on Oruanui Road. The Wairakei- Whakamaru 220kV and Te Mihi to Poihipi 220kV transmission lines are visible.

7.26 The plume from the cooling towers is visible and marks the location of the development platform. The planting on the crest of the landform in front of the plume was implemented as part of the landscape and visual mitigation proposal for the 2008 BOI Decision. The heightening of the landform, through earthworks and the planting have done an effective job of providing visual mitigation23 from this view from Oruanui Road.

7.27 From Viewpoint 9 there will be no perceptible change other than some additional visible plumes under certain conditions.

7.28 The photograph and visual simulation from Viewpoint 10, illustrate the development from a viewing location inside the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site. An extension to the turbine hall and an additional cooling tower plume would be visible from this location. The additional cooling tower would be screened from view by the turbine hall extension. This ‘open view’ of the expanded turbine hall would not be available from outside of the Te Mihi Power Station platform due to the surrounding landforms and the setbacks from the site boundaries.

21 When the visible plume is not obscuring it from view. 22 To the right-hand side of the photograph. 23 Screening of the turbine hall and cooling towers from view.

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Option 3

7.29 The site photograph and visual simulation prepared from Viewpoint 6b illustrate the existing view and the development of the Option 3 binary plant. The platform for Option 3 is cut down 12m from the existing platform, ensuring that it sits down into the landscape and is largely screened from view.

7.30 Due to the location of Option 3, on the eastern side of the existing platform, the lowered development platform and the low-slung nature of the binary plant development, Option 3 will not generally be visible from public locations. Option 3 would be visible from an aerial view, such as from an aeroplane, however, it is very unlikely that it will be visible from any publicly accessible location close to the site.

7.31 From long-distance elevated locations, such as the summit of Mount Tauhara, it would be possible to see Option 3 as a small part of the overall development on the platform at Te Mihi, however with a viewing distance of approximately 12km, any change to the view would be very difficult to discern with the naked eye.

7.32 For the most part the recessed development platform and the low-slung binary plant option would ensure that Option 3 is screened from view by intervening landforms.

7.33 Option 3 would also require two new transmission towers and lines to connect the new eastern platform to the Te Mihi switchyard. The two new towers would be visible as part of and within the collection of existing transmission towers on and passing the platform connecting to the switchyard and the Whakamaru - Wairakei C line and Te Mihi – Poihipi Road towers. Any new towers and lines would be part of the electricity generation and transmission structures and character of the Te Mihi platform and would be consistent with the existing views.

7.34 Option 3 would not have any adverse effect on the visual amenity values of the area.

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8 CONCLUSION

8.1 The development of Options THI_1 or THI_2 on the existing geothermal development platform would not have any adverse effects on the landscape character of the Te Mihi area.

8.2 The development of Option THI_3 would have very low adverse effects on the landscape character of the Te Mihi area.

8.3 The development of Options THI-1 or THI_2 would have no adverse effects on the visual amenity of the Te Mihi area.

8.4 Development option THI_3 would not be visible from any public location close to the area and would have no adverse effects on the visual amenity of the location.

8.5 The 2008 BOI Decision provides for additional generation capacity at the Te Mihi Geothermal Development site, which can be accommodated and extended through the development of Options THI_1, THI_2 or THI_3 without having any adverse effects on the landscape character and visual amenity of Te Mihi.

Brad Coombs Isthmus 14 July 2021

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Appendix A

A3 Graphic Attachments

210714 4332 GeoFuture Te Mihi Generation Options Landscape and Visual Assessment