KEY POINTS:
The Minister for the Environment is considering fast-tracking Transpower's proposal to build giant pylons from South Waikato to Auckland.
David Benson-Pope's office would not comment yesterday because nothing had been decided and the Electricity Commission had not released its decision on whether the grid upgrade could go ahead.
"As you know, we've been talking to local councils and Transpower about possible options," said a spokeswoman for Mr Benson-Pope.
Environment Waikato special projects manager Dennis Crequer confirmed yesterday that "things were moving quickly".
All district councils had been asked for their views on the upgrade being "called in" for fast-track consideration by a board of inquiry or the Environment Court.
But council views may be irrelevant because it remained the minister's decision.
Until now Environment Waikato has been administering the resource consent process on behalf of nine territorial authorities from South Waikato to Manukau.
Environment Waikato was about to publicly lodge the notice of requirement when Transpower stepped in days ago to request it be put on hold.
Only two weeks ago the grid operator had filed its request with the district and regional councils for it to be notified.
"We were ready to go," Mr Crequer said. "We are not surprised this has happened. We are not shocked by it because of all the noise about the Resource Management Act holding things up and how critical Auckland's power supply is, and how the RMA is restricting development."
Mr Crequer said he disagreed with such views, but "logic suggests that someone, somewhere would look at calling this in".
It was presumed the reason for putting things on hold was to avoid confusion among the public about what was happening.
If the matter gets called in, the minister has to advertise his own notice of requirement, whether or not a notice from territorial authorities has already run.
About 9000 affected landowners will be notified by mail. It is understood those affected are deemed to be those living within 2.5km of the proposed lines.
Hunua landowner Jackie Julian said if the project was called in her hope was that the board of inquiry would provide a fair hearing, "which has not been afforded us since Roy Hemmingway [former Electricity Commission chief] was dispensed with".
She was sceptical about the commission's delay in releasing its decision.
"If the delay is true this may imply they've got a 50-50 split again, and [they] will be under great political pressure to ensure it's resolved to a yes."
In February the commission voted its intention to approve the project by three votes to one, with one member, Stan Rodger, abstaining.
Power struggle
* Hundreds of Waikato and South Auckland landowners are fighting Transpower's plans to build pylons for the national grid on or near their land.
* If the Electricity Commission approves the plan next month, Transpower can apply for resource consent from nine councils along the route.
* But the project may be fast-tracked by Environment Minister David Benson-Pope if he decides it is in the national interest.
* If Mr Benson-Pope "calls in" the project, he can set up a board of inquiry or refer the plan directly to the Environment Court.
