Rodney Power Station facts for kids

The Rodney Power Station is a plan to build a power plant. It would use natural gas to make electricity. This project is being developed by a company called Genesis Energy Limited.

If built, the power station would be located on a large piece of land. This land is about 48 hectares, which is like 48 rugby fields. It's found between the towns of Helensville and Kaukapakapa. This area is on State Highway 16, close to the Kaipara Harbour, north west of Auckland.

The plan for the power station also includes a big upgrade. It would improve or replace the waste water treatment plant in Helensville. This is something the local council would otherwise have to pay for.

Why Build the Rodney Power Station?

This power plant is designed to be very efficient. It would use a special method called "combined cycle gas turbine technology." This technology helps make a lot of electricity from natural gas.

The main goal is to meet the growing need for electricity. More and more people in the north Auckland area need power. Building the station in this spot would also help with electricity lines. It would make it easier to send high-voltage power where it's needed.

The Electricity Commission looked at this project. They saw it as a good way to get more power. It was an alternative to just upgrading the main power lines.

Getting Permission to Build

To build a power station, companies need special permission. This is called a resource consent. Genesis Energy asked for these permissions in April 2008. This included permission for air discharges, which means what comes out of the plant's chimneys.

The public was able to share their thoughts on the plan. A public meeting was held in September. The Auckland Regional Council then gave their approval in December 2008.

Not everyone agreed with the project. Some people who lived nearby were against it. Groups like Greenpeace and the Green Party also opposed the plan.

In March 2009, the Rodney District Council also gave permission. They approved how the land would be used for the power station. They even changed the local plan for the area. This created a special zone for energy generation. It was set up in the rural area between Helensville and Kaukapakapa.

Even though all these permissions are in place, Genesis Energy does not plan to start building soon. The resource consents allow them to build the plant within 15 years. This gives them a lot of time.

Currently, the land where the power station would be built is for sale. This makes the future of the Rodney Power Station project uncertain.