PRACTICE AREAS
Environment
Major Projects
Alcohol Licensing

Jason has developed a particular focus on the energy sector, infrastructure projects, and large-scale development proposals. He has successfully consented some of this country’s most challenging and complex projects.  Jason is also an expert adviser in alcohol licensing.

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

• Counsel for Mercury in the successful consenting of its 73 MW Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm, north of Dargaville. All proposed turbines were granted consent – the highest turbines in the country to be consented at the time (at 220m high).

• Counsel for Tilt Renewables for its coastal 133MW Waipipi Wind Farm in South Taranaki, with all 48 turbines successfully consented. At the time of construction, the turbines where the largest to be installed (4.3MW).

• Acting for Manawa Energy in respect of several ‘re-consents’ of its existing hydro-electricity power schemes in Taranaki.

• Advising Mercury on its Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm including increasing the tip height of turbines for stage two.

• Advising on a number of large-scale solar farms proposed throughout New Zealand.

• Acting for Contact Energy on the 504MW coastal Hauāuru mā Raki Wind Farm and connection to the national grid. The Board of Inquiry granted consent to all 168 turbines and confirmed transmission infrastructure resulting in the largest (by MW) consented renewable energy project since Benmore.

• Counsel for TrustPower’s 200MW Mahinerangi Wind Farm in Otago, which included successfully defending an appeal to the Environment Court and confirmation of all 100 turbines.

• Counsel for Titanium Park and Rukuhia Properties in respect of their 130ha plan change request to Waipa District Council.

• Acting on a range of major property developments, including in Cambridge and Beachlands (Auckland).

• Advising Waikato Regional Airport on a range of matters, including appeals to the Environment Court on the Waikato District Plan.

• Counsel for TrustPower for its 46MW Arnold hydro-electric power scheme proposed on the west coast of the South Island, which involved successfully defending Environment Court challenges to the scheme's residual flow.

• Successfully consenting TrustPower’s Deep Stream hydro-electric power scheme in Otago.

• Counsel for TrustPower at council and Environment Court level in respect of the re-consenting of a range of significant hydro-electric power schemes in the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Otago, and Southland.

• Acting for the developer of Omaha South residential coastal subdivision, golf course, commercial/retail development, and wastewater treatment plant upgrade.

• Advising on the application of the Public Works Act and Overseas Investment Act in the context of a major existing wind farm.

• Acting for the New Zealand Refining Company (now Channel Infrastructure) in relation to the strategic and planning issues associated with an expansion required to meet new Government fuel specifications.

• Advising Graymont in respect of consenting new and existing limestone quarry applications.

• Counsel for TrustPower on the direct referral to the Environment Court of Plan Change 7 (Otago) which dealt with mining privileges.

• Providing ongoing alcohol licensing advice to the country’s largest entertainment and hospitality provider, and to a range of other commercial interests.