Removal of powerlines spanning Whanganui River deferred - again

Powerlines between Whanganui's Hatrick's Wharf Substation and Whanganui East are no longer in use and are to be removed. Photo file / Stuart Munro

Powerlines above the Whanganui River - which were to have been removed on March 10 - will stay in place a bit longer.

The six lines span the river from the Hatrick's Wharf Substation to Whanganui East. They were to have been removed on Sunday, but the removal is postponed until it gets the okay from Te Pou Tupua - the entity that acts on the river's behalf.

Te Pou Tupua meets on March 13.

Its approval has been necessary since the passing of the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlements) Act in 2017, Powerco service delivery and systems operation general manager Ian Skipworth said.

The work is to be undertaken by Downer as contractor. It met with Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, the settlement's governance entity, about the matter on March 7.

The iwi does not oppose the lines' removal, the Chronicle understands, but wants to make sure it happens according to what has been agreed in the settlement.

The lines were first about to be removed a month ago, but that was postponed.

Their removal is not urgent. They have not carried electric current for about three weeks.

Starting from the eastern side of the river the power has been rerouted underground from Purua St, along Anzac Pde, across the Whanganui City Bridge and upriver to the substation.

The change was made due to unstable ground putting the overhead network at risk, Skipworth said.

When the removal is done, it will start on the Anzac Pde side by lowering the lines into the river. They will then be wound ashore on the Taupo Quay side.

The whole exercise will take several hours, and boats have been warned to stay out of the way.

A Coastguard Wanganui boat will be on hand during the operation.

The work is part of a major upgrade to supply by Powerco, New Zealand's second largest electricity and gas distribution business.