Mighty River Power has moved to fast-track the proposed Turitea wind farm, asking Environment Minister Trevor Mallard to take the resource consent process out of Palmerston North City Council's hands.

Yesterday, Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor received a letter from Mr Mallard notifying the council of the application for a "call-in".

Resource consent applications for the proposed wind farm were lodged with local councils on August 8, and the city council had planned to appoint independent commissioners to hear the consent application, a process that could then be appealed to the Environment Court.

But a call-in would mean the local authorities would lose the decision- making power, and it would be given either to a board of inquiry, appointed by the minister, or the Environment Court.

Interested parties would still be able to make submissions, but the decision reached by a board of inquiry or the court could only be appealed on a point of law to the High Court.

When asked about the application for ministerial intervention, Mighty River Power's projects development manager Stuart McDonnell seemed surprised by the news, and then said he would look into the matter today.

Further inquiries to the power company resulted in a press release.

In it, Mighty River Power group strategist Neil Williams said the decision was aimed at skipping the lengthy process of hearings and appeals usually associated with wind farm applications.

"Recognising this, we think the one-step consideration offered by the call-in process is an efficient way for the matters to be heard, both in time and cost, for the community, the councils and Mighty River Power. This process still allows local consultation and input."

Under the Resource Management Act (RMA) the minister must consider both the national significance of the proposal, whether the relevant local authorities have the capacity to process and decide on the proposal, and whether they consider intervention appropriate.

The letter from Mr Mallard asks the city council to express its opinion of Mighty River Power's request.

"This letter formally seeks the views . . . as to whether the council has the capacity to process and decide the applications and whether it considers the exercise of any of the powers of intervention would be appropriate."

Palmerston North city councillors were informed of the letter by email last night, and Mr Naylor said the council was looking into the matter.

"Firstly we're going to speak to our RMA experts to find out exactly what the ramifications would be."

Councillors would consider that at an extraordinary council meeting to be held, in public, on Wednesday, September 10.

Mr Naylor was unwilling to express an opinion on the merits of the request until he had more information, but said it was important to make sure the public's rights were not diminished.

"I would have concerns if this limited in any way the people of Palmerston North's ability to have input into the process."