Protests but few submissions for power line proposal

There may have been protests verging on violence but few people have responded to the South Waikato District Council's call for public submissions on Transpower's planned transmission line through the district.

On February 3 the council called for submissions on Transpower's plans to build a 400 kilovolt transmission line up the centre of the island to Auckland.

The plan includes building pylons up to 70m high and has prompted angry protests at recent meetings at Tirau, Matamata and Morrinsville.

But despite the opposition at meetings only two submissions have so far been received by the council.

Council environmental development group manager Roger Fisher said it was important for people to make submissions so Transpower would know what people thought. The council is sending its views to Transpower and says residents who make submissions of their own can copy them to the council if they wish.*

One of the two submitters, south Waikato farmer Don Riley, said many farmers didn't have the time to put pen to paper and were instead ringing Transpower directly to make their point.

"Farmers are the kind of people who just go from one thing to the next. They are busy -- they haven't got the time to sit down and write letters about everything they believe in."

South Waikato New Era Energy spokeswoman Christina Baldwin said many farmers chose to make their submissions through other means because of a lack of faith in the council.

- NZPA


* An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the council would forward residents' submissions.