Mayors vow to foil TelstraClear cable plan

By ANGELA GREGORY

Political leaders across the Auckland region are horrified by TelstraClear's plans to hang thick black cables off power poles.

Auckland City mayor John Banks says the idea "freaks me out".

The five leaders last night reacted strongly to the proposal, some vowing to fight if the communications company tries to move into their areas.

TelstraClear wants to string up black cables, some as thick as the inside of a toilet roll, in Auckland and Manukau cities so it can introduce high-speed internet, cable television and telephone services.

It has sought resource consent in four areas of Auckland City. Applications will follow in seven other areas and Manukau City, covering Mangere and Otara.

It would mean new overhead cables on industrial and residential streets at a time power-lines company Vector is planning to put its wires underground.

TelstraClear would also have to prune protected trees in some cases so the cables could be hung.

It plans to extend its network to the North Shore and Waitakere.

Mr Banks said last night: "I am committed to the beautification of neighbourhood streets ... The prospect that these ugly cables be strung across Auckland City freaks me out."

He said the council had a programme to bury power, telephone and communication cables, and he would need a lot of convincing that the cables should be hung above the streets. "They're pushing it uphill from the outset."

TelstraClear's public affairs manager, Quentin Bright, said he and two other TelstraClear officials held a meeting with Mr Banks about two months ago to explain their proposal.

Mr Bright said Mr Banks had been delighted with TelstraClear's plans and the economic benefits it would mean for Auckland.

He thought Mr Banks understood the extent of the plans, as the company had made them clear.

TelstraClear had enjoyed a constructive relationship with the council, and the matter obviously needed clarification.

North Shore mayor George Wood said his council also was spending big money to put cables underground, especially in residential areas. "It's crazy that a company like TelstraClear can come along and want to do this," he said.

"I would be very terse if they tried that one on."

He was sure his council members would share his view. "They would be even more against it than I ... and the council on this one would reflect how the community feels."

Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey said: "It's an aerial horror story. I and Waitakere will vigorously oppose it.

"I couldn't imagine anything worse than the skylines of Piha and Karekare strung with black rope."

Manukau City deputy mayor Anne Candy said the proposed unsightly lines went against council policy to encourage underground cabling.