New approach to pylon access wrangles

Rob Storey is dubious about Transpower's plans to run an even bigger set of pylons through his property.

The former National MP, who runs a farm at Ohinewai with his daughter, Dianne Allen, is used to having all four existing transmission lines crisscross his land.

But the experience has not given him any confidence about access rules for the proposed new line that in theory allow Transpower to work on his land without notice.

Mr Storey, a former Environment Minister, recently became so fed up with Transpower's contractors gaining access to his farm that he investigated getting trespass orders against them.

"It just wasn't possible," he says, shrugging his shoulders.

Under the Electricity Act 1992, which covers existing lines, Transpower has to give five days' notice to access the lines to inspect them, and 10 days' if they want to do any work.

The standard letter Mr Storey received clearly states: "You can see that Section 23(D) does not give the land-owner the legal right to deny access to a line-owner".

The problem, Mr Storey says, is Transpower has numerous contractors working for it so he and his daughter never know who is turning up.

Dianne Allen says the visits muck up stock rotations because they have to move cattle from the paddocks affected and helicopters working on the lines play havoc with milk production.

The lines cause power surges and outages and regularly interfere with radios, television and the computerised cowshed.

Transpower's environment and property manager, Allan Bradshaw, says land-owners have always had concerns about access rights but the proposal for the new lines will make each party's rights clearer.

Transpower will buy an easement from the land-owner of between 65m and 100m, or in extreme cases buy the land outright.

The easement will be registered against the certificate of title and in each case land-owners will be given an easement agreement that outlines restrictions on land use in the easement.

An aerial map of the affected land will be produced and land-owners can dictate what accessways they want Transpower's contractors to use, says Mr Bradshaw.

The catch with easements, however, is that Transpower will have no legal obligation to warn land-owners, as they do now, of an impending visit.

But Transpower communications manager Chris Roberts says that as good business practice the company will maintain the notification system as it stands.

And land-owners will be entitled to fair compensation under the Public Works Act 1981.

The compensation would reflect any loss in value to the property arising from the presence of the new transmission line and the associated easement.

Mr Storey and Mrs Allen are sceptical about this.

One of the proposed route options for the new line runs between their homes.

"They're going to completely fill our farms - we're going to be baked," says Mrs Allen.

Transpower has said they will shift cowsheds, buildings and houses to make way for the lines, she says, but "where would you shift us that hasn't already got a pylon?"

Mr Storey says compensation offered for the last two lines that went through the farm worked out to be about 10 a pylon and, based on his calculations, about 35c a year to date.

He says that compensation takes no notice of rising land value over the years, the increased nuisance as Transpower has done more work on the lines, and the reality that farmers want to intensify their farming practices.

Mr Bradshaw says with the new 400kV line Transpower will have no rights to upgrade it any further.

What it's about

The top half of the North Island - especially Auckland - can't get enough electricity from the rest of the country because transmission lines are outdated.

Transpower, the company that runs the national grid, wants to solve the problem by building a new line of bigger pylons up to 70m high through private land across Waikato and South Auckland.

Many land-owners are horrified. They say the pylons will wreck their property values, restrict their ability to use their land and may also damage their health.

This week the Herald examines the argument from both sides. We talk to the planners who say the new line is essential, and the protesters vowing to fight it to the bitter end.

The series

Monday: Land-owners vow to fight.

Tuesday: Do we really need it?

Wednesday: The effect on land values.

Tomorrow: Our clean, green image, plus readers' views.

Feedback: What do you think? Send your views to newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz.


Checking the lines and working on them

The old rules

Access to present lines running across land is governed by the Electricity Act 1992.

Transpower or their contractors must give five days' notice if they want to inspect the lines or 10 days' notice if they want to do any work on them.

Landowners have the right to impose reasonable conditions of entry but they cannot deny Transpower entry.

The new rules

If the new proposed line goes ahead, Transpower will pay landowners for an easement (a right to go across someone else's land) of 65m or up to 100m wide along the line.

Landowners will be given individual conditions outlining what they can do with the land.

Transpower will have no legal obligation to notify landowners of proposed work in the easement but as a business practice the company says it will maintain the same notification requirements.