Residents will fight Transpower's power poles relocation project

Maungatapu residents say they will fight a decision to grant Transpower consent to build "super poles" more than 35 metres high either side of the Maungatapu bridge.

Independent commissioners this week announced a decision to approve the national grid operator's resource consent applications to Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Transpower sought consent to realign a section of its 110V transmission line between Matapihi and Maungatapu.

The $7 million project will see both the pylon in Rangataua Bay and lines hanging over Rangataua houses removed.

The line, which supplies Mount Maunganui with power, will be rebuilt to align with State Highway 29A, with the two big poles allowing the lines to cross the harbour in a single span.

While the decision will be good news for residents of Rangataua homes under the powerlines, some Maungatapu residents who will have the new poles in their view are not happy with the commissioners' finding that the proposal would have an overall positive effect.

Commissioner Greg Hill acknowledged it would have adverse effects on some people's views but said there would also be "significant positive effects" on the wider environment and the project would honour Transpower's long-standing commitment to remove the line from Māori land.

Tai Taikato, chairman of Maungatapu Marae, said he was "very disappointed".

"While we are pleased these lines will finally be removed from our club area, we're not happy they'll be relocated to where they'll be in other residents' faces," he said.

"As a club and a marae, we feel a responsibility to support other residents in the wider community who will be significantly impacted by this decision.

"There will definitely be an appeal," Taikato said.

Maungatapu Rd resident Peter McArthur said the decision was "a real shame for all the people of Tauranga".

He was among opposers who called for Transpower to consider other options for crossing the harbour, such as attaching the line to a bridge - which already carried the backup line - or running it under the harbour.

McArthur said he would discuss options for next steps "over a beer" with other opposing residents.

Te Hono St resident Craig Malpas called the decision a "retro step".

"Residents and visitors should be asking themselves why a transmission line was successfully put across the bridge at ground level 24 years ago and now Transpower thinks it's appropriate to put lines and poles across Rangataua Bay."

Transpower's grid projects acting general manager Rebecca Wilson said the company was delighted to reach this important milestone.

"We know that many people in the community support the realignment and will be happy when we move the lines, including the Te Ariki sports community, Ngai Tukairangi horticultural block, local hapῡ and approximately 50 properties and neighbours."

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said while he understood the angst of some residents the decision was made by two independent commissioners, not by the councils.