A decision on whether to approve Far North Solar Farm Ltd's application for a solar farm near Waipara, north of Amberley, has been delayed by at least a month because of the need for a reassessment.

The Hurunui District Council has received 158 submissions on the proposed solar farm, with 125 opposed.

During a hearing at the Omihi Community Hall last month to consider the application, Waipara Valley Community Collective Inc spokesperson Elizabeth Kelsey raised ‘‘a potential conflict of interest’’ with the fire risk assessment.

Ms Kelsey said Far North Solar Farm Ltd and Renewable Engineering Group, which completed the report, had the same directors.

Since the hearing, the commissioners Dean Chrystal and Shannon Bray have commissioned an independent assessment of fire risk, with the co-operation of Far North Solar Farm Ltd.

The report will be completed by Stantec Ltd and is expected to take four weeks to complete.

Prior to the hearing, Far North Solar Farm Ltd reduced the scope of its application by withdrawing 6.8ha after it was found the land owner had cleared indigenous vegetation (matagouri), creating a compliance issue under the Hurunui District Plan.

In a submission to the hearing, Ms Kelsey said amending the application ‘‘does not remove the clearance from the scope of the application’’, or could be considered ‘‘an abuse of process’’.

In response to a letter from the Waipara Valley Community Collective Inc in December, Mr Chrystal said the applicant was able ‘‘by law’’ to amend the application ‘‘to address issues and mitigate effects right up to and including the hearing’’.

But the applicant could not expand the scope of the project beyond what was notified.

Opponents of the solar farm proposal said it would have adverse impacts on the environment and to property values, pose risk to passing motorists from glare from the panels, and questioned how the solar panels would stand up to strong winds.

At its peak, the farm's 250,000 panels would generate up to 144 megawatts, enough to power an estimated 30,000 homes.

Environment Canterbury granted non-notified resource consents to the project last year, despite a 700-signature petition from local residents calling on it to publicly notify any consent application.