By Tova O’Brien
3 News can reveal that the Waikato Regional Council allowed Crown energy company Solid Energy to frack without consent during a trial operation near Huntly 2007.
The Council incorrectly told the company it didn’t need consent to use the controversial method of pumping sand, water and chemicals at high pressure underground.
Despite Solid Energy being a Crown company, in this case the Government is keeping its distance.
“Well it's a matter between the Council and Solid Energy, obviously they went ahead without a consent,” says Minister of Energy and Resources Phil Heatley.
Both Solid Energy and the council refused to appear on camera. The council's excuse was that the topic was "too complex" and Solid Energy argued that "it's not its issue".
But Green MP Gareth Hughes says that’s not good enough.
“The public should be concerned and need to know where fracking is happening around the country," says Mr Hughes. "If the councils don't even know they can't be monitoring and the public can't know either."
In documents given to 3 News the council admits: “In hindsight, we believe this fracking should've been consented”.
But the potential for it wasn't mentioned by Solid Energy, and the energy company in turn blames the council, saying"it confirmed the activity didn't require further consent".
But this afternoon the council changed its position, saying it “was aware of the potential but didn't have concerns".
“Well I think both are responsible but I also think the central Government’s dropping the ball,” says Mr Hughes.
“We would expect them to have consent, we'd expect the Council to make it clear that they would have a consent and we'd expect them to do the activity properly and legally,” says Mr Heatly.
And it is not the first time Solid Energy has made mistakes.
Previously 3 News revealed historic fracking in Southland – when, after denying fracking was used in the region, it turned out that Solid Energy had a 10 percent stake in a company which used the method.
The Government says monitoring Crown companies is important, but says it isn't necessary for all consents.
3 News