Transpower prefers pylons to march west

The state power lines company has announced a western option as its preferred route for 490 giant electricity pylons from the middle of the North Island to Auckland.

Transpower yesterday began informing landowners about the preferred of two routes to start round two of the countryside battle in which tempers have frayed and an effigy of Transpower chief executive Dr Ralph Craven was burnt in the main street of Tirau.

Hundreds of landowners, from the South Waikato to hobby farms on Auckland's southern fringe, believe the plan is being rushed and forced on them without seriously looking at the alternatives and considering the effects on the environment, property values and the health of those living beneath the pylons.

Dr Craven last night called for public submissions on the "interim decision" before a final decision on the preferred route was made in July.

"It is war," Brookby resident John Corse-Scott said yesterday after being visited by Transpower officials and being told more of his land would be taken in the idyllic South Auckland farming community.

Mr Corse-Scott told Transpower officials they would need a police escort and bulldozers to enter his property in future and predicted the biggest civil revolt since the 1981 Springbok tour.

"If I go to jail, what the hell," said the 61-year-old retired builder and developer.

Energy Minister Trevor Mallard, who has kicked the $500 million pylon plans into touch until well after this year's election, said he expected the Electricity Commission to make a final decision on the upgrade after considering all the alternatives for securing Auckland's electricity supply.

The "interim" preferred route for the 400kv transmission line follows the existing 110kv line between Arapuni and Auckland. The existing Arapuni to Pakuranga line would be removed. South of Arapuni, the route will take an eastern route through forest land to Whakamaru.

At the northern end, the overhead cables stop short of the ridgeline south of Ormiston Rd and the route has been widened in the Brookby area to address concerns by Ardmore Airport.

Airport chief executive Richard Gates has warned Transpower that pylons up to 70m high crossed a major flight path and were a potential aviation hazard. At Brookby Hill, 188m above sea level, any taller pylon "leaps well into the air space", he said.

Dr Craven stressed that since Transpower released two possible routes last October and had received feedback from landowners and communities, more work had been done on site visits, aerial mapping, viewing district plans and discussions with groups like Federated Farmers and the Department of Conservation.

 

"From July, Transpower will continue to consult with landowners and other stakeholders and will undertake further environmental and engineering investigations to determine the finale alignment of the line with the route. Transpower will be seeking to negotiate access agreements and the purchase of easements from landowners," Dr Craven said.

The chairwoman of Underground in Manukau, Catherine Tuck, said Transpower did not seem to have any idea of the effect its 400kv line would have on people, nor developed any respect in the seven months since the project became public.

"Right from the start it's shown a willingness to ride rough-shod over the people in the path of this planned line."

Catherine Tuck said the group of Whitford, Brookby and Clevedon residents supported the power line upgrade but opposed the idea of 400kv lines hung on towers up to 70m high. The average height of the existing 110kv line was 39m.