KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Written by Candle Light (Auckland)
It all different shades of NIMBY isn't it from the man who brought us an open power market (and along the way higher bills - thanks for nothing Max) to the Green
Concerned ratepayer
How can the government fast track something that most people definitely do not want to have. How would Helen Clark like a huge pylon in her garden? Come on Kiwis this is not what we are about. We are a democratic nation and we definitely do not want this to go ahead!
Aucklander from CBD
Bring it on. I can understand that a few farmers are frustrated, but they can't hold Auckland and 1.2mil people at gun point. With coming electrification or the rail network new pylons have to be fast tracked.
Mick (Auckland)
What happened to due process in NZ-85 per cent of the public voted against the anti-smacking bill but the govt. did what they wanted anyway! Nobody else in NZ can disregard due process when addressing RMA or Environmental issues, so why should a profit making SOE be any different? It is critical that the approval processes is not rushed & vitally important that the pubic and communities effected have confidence in the neutrality and thoroughness of any decision-making processes. This will ensure better quality decisions are made. We've had no independence so far with the sacking of Roy Hemmingway (because he said the project didn't stack up & there were better alternatives), stacking the EC board with Labourites and now to top it all off by calling the project in! Are we living in China or NZ?! There were extensive submissions on the EC website on both transmission alternatives (smaller, lower voltage lines/upgrading existing lines to the latest technology to provide even more capacity than Transpower's massive pylons) and non-transmission alternatives (generation & energy efficiency), they have all been ignored, except by Hemmingway.
DaveMc (Kingseat)
Why is the high tech cables on existing towers option not being selected? Aucklanders would have to constrain their power use by some percentage in order that existing cable be taken offline for the upgrade. We could and should as a measure of commitment to not having towers. And I agree with the tunnel from Bombay option. HV lines cause bees to drop their pollen, so underground is a great alternative, is it affordable all the way to Whakamaru? Even if built over 50 years? And of course solar panels on every roof, by building consent requirement!
Bombay resident (Bombay)
Surely there must be another way. Pylons are so ugly and ruin our magnificent rural outlook. Underground would be far more aesthetically pleasing. What about the health risks posed by overhead electricity? You just need to look at the greenery under existing pylons to see that the growth is stunted and in many places burnt off completely. I wonder if our government would be so quick to pass this if their own properties were affected.
Kate
This proposal is not the only option, not the best option and not the cheapest option - but it is the ugliest! If Auckland wants security of supply then this is not the best transmission option - it puts far too many eggs in one basket and with Transpower's history of maintenance errors power cuts will be frequent. Spreading the transmission across a number of lines by upgrading existing lines is cheaper and safer. Transpower have wasted three years by putting forward ugly, over-priced transmission proposals. The board and CEO should be sacked immediately.
Huang (Waitakere)
We need more power, and we want it cheap, and how else can we get it? Other developed countries have pylons criss-crossing the country and they don't give a damn. What is wrong with these people against it? Get real!
Matter of time we have to think of other energy options as well, and this would pale by comparison.
Jodi J
In my honest opinion, it is about time that the government showed some backbone and fast tracked this project. Already us Aucklanders have faced a one day blackout, and that embarrassed us on the world stage. Now let us imagine that this line was not built; by 2011, we would be straining the existing lines. Let us then imagine that the power goes out during the Rugby World Cup final (and given the amount of TVs on at the time, I would not be surprised) - we will never be allowed to forget that a major sporting event was affected by our ancient infrastructure. The existing lines themselves date from the 1930s through to the 1960s and it is a miracle that they have served the needs of Aucklanders for so long. It is time for another line to be built to ensure that Auckland does not end up with blackouts in a few years time. For those people that are opposed to this project on the basis - I do not want anything in my backyard, think about this - a few thousand people may be effected if we build the line; if we do not, then tens of thousands will be effected by blackouts, indeed, the entire country, as we are embarrassed again and again.
Bobnzer (in China at the moment)
I think the pylons should go ahead and will go ahead but the problem is I don't have the same options as the government Re the resource consent. If they have to make special laws for Transpower then those same laws should be available to everyone. The government by pushing it through is acknowledging that the resource consent act is inefficient and holds back commercial projects in New Zealand. I think if you ask anyone who has to apply for resource consent that they would say it is in the national interest, because in a way it is. If someone is applying for a consent it is for their good and hence overall for the good of NZ. Give me the same option as a minister to get my project built or changed.(I personally applied for a consent spending thousands of dollars and got an email from the Auckland City council telling me I wouldn't get it even before it had been looked at even though the Wellington hotline said it should be approved. The council was forcing me to go to court and they knew I would win, I gave up.) The whole thing needs to be looked at.
Peter
It is incredible to me that the Government can invest in the America's Cup with the outcome being "Positive Brand New Zealand", yet they are about to fast track what must be considered one of the most visually manmade blights on our landscape ever conceived. We are not a third world country, we are dependant on our environment for our future, let's get real on this. If there could be more publicity on where we can sign up and fight this. This is a fundamental issue of values. The discussion should be turned to pressurising the Government to bury the current lines. It's laughable that we are even debating adding to it.
Gayle (Papakura)
So much for due process in this country. Calling this in by the government is a travesty of justice. Are they afraid by following due process Transpower's monster pylon plan will show it is not the best option for NZ? Anyone in any successful business knows full well you utilize your existing assets and where possible deferring unnecessary capital expenditure - especially while new technology is waiting in the wings. Come on Transpower upgrade our existing infrastructure! If and when we do have to spend massive amount of taxpayers money (estimated to be a billion dollars and climbing) on a new grid then lets do it with the latest technology and underground where possible not build bigger 1950s style pylons to scar us forever. Think of NZ's future not just of our greed for more power. By the way, has anyone wondered where the new generation is coming from to push up these monster lines? Not many I'm guessing - do you think Transpower could install massive solar panels on them when they turn out to be a stranded asset?
Anti-pylons (Morrinsville)
Why do we have to be subjected to this constant threat of these pylons and the many do-gooders saying what is the problem, just build them and confiscate the land for them. Most of these people, would I guess, be Aucklanders or others that have no threat of huge towers covering their land and threatening emissions and destroying the aesthetics of the country, as we have. It is going to affect us, so let us decide. No towers - ever!
Jackie (Auckland)
Educate yourself Ken Haydock, there is currently a spare redundant 220kv line running from Auckland to Northland and with current generation plans for the North area there is no need for any new 400kV line to service Northland. The existing grid needs upgrading with new technology and this could save us all the cost of a new 400kV grid and also buy the time (10+ years) required to do a proper transmission upgrade which includes the latest technology. There is no rush it is just Transpower scaremongering with "the lights will go out" to get what they want. What a crock - just remember they went out in June last year which was totally due to lack of maintenance and after this the public still put so much faith in Transpower knowing what the hell they're doing! Labour stated in April 2005 that the "approval processes should not be rushed and that it is important that the wider community has confidence in the neutrality and thoroughness of decision-making processes" this just shows they do not stand behind anything they spout off! Calling it in shows the project did not stack up anyway but Labour wants what it wants at whatever cost.
Paul H
If it needs to be shipped up to Auckland then do it underground, or do it like a third world country.
Drew Hilton
Power lines should be put underground. Most other developed countries wouldn't dream of installing more pylons. The technology is available, it costs a little more. It's ridiculous that we continue polluting the landscape with these metal behemoths.
Ben
Anyone ever wondered why this new line is needed? Too much immigration perhaps? Do we really need all these people in this country, especially Auckland which is the end of the transmission line? I think the time is right for a good debate on the whole sustainability thing and include immigration in it.
Max Bradford
It is probably the only practical decision. But won't it be a real laugh when the government suspends the Resource Management Act and forces through their always-preferred option for this powerline?
Given Labour's trenchant opposition to the Clyde dam legislation in the 1970's - which ironically created the renewable energy they are now so much in favour of - the use of this power will make hypocrites of the Clark labour government.
Or are they simply being mugged by reality, as all governments are in the end?
Lawrence (Auckland)
Gosh, how far we have NOT progressed since the Think Big projects of the 70's. This is another unneeded development that will scar the country forever. Transpower wish to build a large facility for revenue purposes, 'secure Auckland's power supplies' is only a justification to bulldoze this through without due process and diligence. The population of NZ especially those that will wear the extremely negative effects of this project are to be steamrolled. The viable options of a: proper maintenance of existing structure i.e $30 shackles b: reduction of usage wastage (incl transmission losses) and c: localised generation and solar are being ignored in the interests of big SOE revenue generation.
Bucklands Beach
It is essential have a reliable and stable electricity system. Auckland is by far NZ's biggest city and it is growing so fast that it is necessary to provide the infrastructure to ensure continuity of supply.
Andrew
We all know that bringing in power from other regions is only a stop-gap measure at best. Auckland should look at a more permanent solution to its power needs. A locally sourced power resource. The way Auckland is growing, going, nuclear is the only solution.
Anthony Hunt (Mt Eden)
I see it as a real problem when Transpower and then possibly the government seek to over-rule the people's vote with 400x70m pylon monstrosities erected in beautiful farms. The property values will plummet, the vistas for all will be degraded, electro-magnetic radiation will soar, cancer levels will rise. What more needs to be said? Surely a better solution is to underground the lines? Yes this will be more expensive, but shouldn't us Aucklanders foot the bill for that since the power is for our gain? Why does this country think that everything has to be done on the cheap? Let's start looking to the future and aim for quality rather than quantity, even it hurts us initially. We will thank ourselves in years to come, not to mention our children and our children's children.
Andrewakl (Papatoetoe)
Why do we so often build ugly power pylons across our country? It may cost us a lot more to bury them but it is the best option for the long term. We are often short-sighted and only focus on the short-term goals with no regard to the future. An example of this is the constant denial of authorities to make significant changes to our roading. It seems that as always the cheapest option is used to "get by" in the meantime.
There are significant health risks to high voltage lines running overhead properties. There are many documented cases of Leukaemia attributed by EMF from such lines. Why do we find it acceptable to continue to string them out every which way? A main trunk power feed such as they are seeking approval for I would have thought should be definitely buried. The following link is only one of multiple articles on the same.
NB: I don't own a lifestyle block so have no hidden agenda to make the comments I have about power lines. I just don't like seeing us destroy the country we have with ugly pylons and massive amounts of EMF!
Stuart Hayman
All this should be undergrounded as I think is the case overseas. Assuming we need the lines and aside from property rights, which is important, the visual pollution effect is drastic. A wind farm is far more aesthetic than strings of pylons.
Ken Haydock, North Island system controller (retired)
If Auckland and the far north wants to be able to continue to turn their lights on then additional power transmission capacity from the south is urgently required. Before Huntly was built in the 1980s transmission capacity into Auckland was at its limit in the winter. While the building of Huntly and additional gas fired generation at Otahuhu and Southdown eased this situation for some years. Now with additional growth in load more transmission capacity is urgently required. And of course a transmission line working at 400kv will be the most economical way to do this. The fact that the line will have to be strung on 90m high towers is just a fact of life.
Susan O'Neill
Auckland should sort its power solutions out in Auckland not be a blot on the Waikato's landscape, so much for the consultancy process, just lip service, the pylons were always going to be built and any objections were just ignored. The lines should have been put underground, lets hope that we are not going to get more tornados here, could be quite devastating to Auckland if the pylons fell over in one. Certainly will spoil NZ's clean green image if you have massive pylons all over the countryside.
AJ
Line should be underground from south side of Hunua township. I've seen no investigation of a HVDC line being run down the Waikato River bed.
