2 March 2007

Latest Transpower proposal a slap in the face for Manukau residents

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says the decision by Transpower to build its substation at Brownhill Road is a slap in the face for residents of Manukau.

Transpower has announced that the site of its substation at the northern end of its North Island grid upgrade will be at Brownhill Road in Manukau, instead of the site preferred by Manukau City Council at Hampton Park.

Sir Barry says he is appalled. “The council and the community most affected by the grid upgrade have worked hard to find a better solution but have been ignored.

“This decision has been made simply to cut costs, at the expense of the surrounding countryside and nearby communities. The Hampton Park site is much more suitable. In addition, the substation Transpower plans to build at Brownhill Road will be ugly and unenclosed, with little attempt made to minimise the visual impact on the surrounding area. It will be an eyesore, as will be the expanded substation at Pakuranga if Transpower’s plan goes ahead.

“The power pylons will also be a monstrous imposition on the landscape. They will be 70 metres high, more than double the size of other pylons in the network. That is unacceptable. I predict there will be not only outrage in the nearby communities if the pylons go up, but rebellion.

“The whole planning process under which these decisions are being made is flawed. At the start of the process years ago, a properly-compiled environmental impact report should have been undertaken. This would have allowed input from all sections of the community and produced a much better outcome.

“We do not accept Transpower’s decision. Because of their bloodymindedness, the council will be forced to take action through the Resource Management Act court processes. We will not let this issue die.”

ENDS

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