Pylon fast-track fears raised

Opponents of Transpower's $500 million power line into Auckland fear planned law changes signal possible Government intervention that will railroad the project through.

The concern follows the release under the Official Information Act of a December briefing paper from Government officials to new Energy Minister Trevor Mallard.

A bill amending the Resource Management Act, which is before a parliamentary committee, enhances the existing "call-in" process that allows the Government to intervene in a project should it be asked.

Commenting on the project, the paper says the bill "could provide a range of options that may assist, including Government call-in of the RMA decision process if it were necessary or desirable to have the matter heard by a single body".

Transpower yesterday refused to rule out asking the Government to call-in the project and the Government refused to rule out granting such an application should one come.

The 400kV line from Whakamaru to Otahuhu - which Transpower says must go ahead by 2010 to avoid blackouts - has met strong opposition in Waikato, including effigy burnings.

Putaruru accountant David Graham, head of New Era Energy which opposes the lines, said yesterday he feared the project could get the green light if it was called-in and given to a panel of Government appointees.

"Our fear ... is that that committee gets loaded with people of Government thinking and the thing gets railroaded through."

Transpower spokesman Chris Roberts said it was more than happy dealing with local councils, which had indicated a willingness to unite on one process.

But Transpower was not ruling out seeking a call-in decision from the Government.

"We have to get this line built by 2010, so we certainly can't rule out approaching the Government, but we would prefer not to have to do that."

In turn, Associate Environment Minister David Benson-Pope told the Herald he could not rule out the Government deciding to grant such an application. The decision would be for the Environment Minister.

He said under the bill, call-ins would work at several levels - from special funding or help for a local authority to run the process through to a board hearing the application.

But Mr Benson-Pope said there was no intent to interfere in the outcome.

"The Government's got no capacity to interfere with the decision of that board. It's not a Government conspiracy - that's why we kept ministerial paws off it. We're trying to come up with a proposal that does confront some of the issues with delay and cost in the RMA."

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons warned the bill would not allow a board's decisions to be appealed to the Environment Court.

Forest and Bird conservation manager Kevin Hackwell said the paper was confirmation of the Government's plan to fast-track big projects under a new "Think Big" programme.

The paper also reveals the first of a batch of infrastructure national policy statements and environmental standards - which will provide guidance to local authorities - will cover power lines and be ready for Cabinet approval for consultation by July.

By November other standards - relating to electricity generation and telecommunications facilities - are due to be ready for Cabinet approval for consultation by November.

The bill will enable greater use of such national standards.

Mr Mallard's office referred the Herald to Mr Benson-Pope for comment.

RMA guidance

The dates officials hope new national standards on "network infrastructure" will be ready for Cabinet approval for consultation:

* July 2005 for electricity transmission.

* November for electricity generation and telecommunications facilities.

* March 2006 for land transport noise.

* March 2007 for stormwater runoff from roads, and gas pipelines and facilities.