14 May 2005
Transpower Announces Interim Route Decision
Transpower has today announced its interim decision on a preferred route for the proposed 400 kV transmission line
between Otahuhu and Whakamaru.
Transpower Chief Executive Dr Ralph Craven says public submissions on the interim decision are now being called for,
with a final decision on the preferred route to be made by mid-July.
“In October last year, after a long investigation into both the need for a new transmission line and where it might be
built, Transpower released two possible route options for public consultation,” Dr Craven said.
“Since October, feedback received from landowners and local communities has been added to the information already
available from district plans, site visits, aerial mapping surveys and organisations like Federated Farmers and
Department of Conservation. Together with technical studies and investigations all of this information has been used in
determining the interim preferred route."
Dr Craven says information packs are being mailed to landowners/occupiers along both route options as well as to those
living close to the routes and people are encouraged to make submissions.
“There is now an opportunity for affected landowners and other interested parties to contribute any other information
that could influence the final route decision to be announced in mid-July 2005. From July Transpower will continue to
consult with landowners and other stakeholders and will undertake further environmental and engineering investigations
to determine the final alignment of the line within the route. Transpower will be seeking to negotiate access agreements
and the purchase of easements from landowners."
The final decision on whether or not the proposed new line goes ahead will be made by the Electricity Commission, the
industry regulator. The Commission will make its decision after considering Transpower’s proposal and alternatives to
it. Interested parties will have the opportunity to contribute to both the Electricity Commission and Resource
Management Act processes.
The Minister of Energy has stated his expectation that in the meantime Transpower should continue with route selection
and negotiations with landowners.
ENDS
THE INTERIM ROUTE
As previously announced, underground cable will be used through the dense urban area south of Otahuhu. From the overhead
termination area south of Ormiston Road, the interim preferred route follows the western option. The western route south
of Hunua has also been preferred over the eastern option. The interim route then follows the existing Arapuni-Pakuranga
110 kV line to Arapuni and then through farm and forest land to the south. There is a new section through forest land to
connect the western route with the eastern route south to the planned substation at Whakamaru.
Minor alterations have been made to the route at the northern end. The overhead route now stops short of the ridgeline
south of Ormiston Road. The route has been widened slightly in the Brookby Ridge area to ensure concerns raised by
Ardmore Airport users can be addressed. The interim route requires the complete removal of the existing Arapuni to
Pakuranga line.
Additional Facts on the Interim Route decision
Length of interim overhead route
190 km
Number of landowners on the interim route
600
There are 854 land parcels on the interim route. Some properties are made up of numerous land parcels. Therefore the
total number of landowners on the interim route is a smaller number - around 600.
NB. The route is typically 500 metres wide. The final easement required for the line will be a minimum of 65 metres
wide. This will further reduce the number of directly affected landowners.
Number of landowners on the alternative routes
500
There are 558 land parcels on the route sections not selected. The number of individual landowners now excluded from the
interim route is around 500.
Arapuni to Pakuranga 110 kV line
This line is 147 kms long and was built in the 1930s. The interim route follows this line for a total of 124 kms. The
interim route requires the total removal of the Arapuni-Pakuranga line.
There are 128 land parcels which would lose the Arapuni-Pakuranga line and not get the new 400 kV line.
Towers
Around 490 new steel towers will be needed for the 400 kV line. Most will be between 40 and 60 metres high, with a small
number up to 67 metres high.
The 460 existing steel towers (average height 25 metres) on the Arapuni- Pakuranga 110 kV line would all be removed.
Route selection process
All of the gathered information was divided into four categories: Environmental, Social, Cultural and Economic, with a
range of aspects identified within each category. For example:
Environment; construction impacts, visual impacts and impacts on ecology and valued vegetation.
Social; tourism and recreation values, the number of dwellings affected and effects on sensitive land uses such as
schools.
Cultural; tangata whenua values and archaeological sites.
Economic; impacts on aerial topdressing and property compensation costs.
Each route was divided into 15 sections and a scoring and weighting system applied to each of the aspects for each route
section.
The Interim Route Decision Report is available from www.gridupgrade.co.nz
Making a submission
Written submissions on the interim route decision are now being accepted. A Project Submission Form is available from
www.gridupgrade.co.nz or by phoning 0800 33 88 66.
Written submissions, and requests to make an oral submission, must be received by Transpower no later than 4.00pm on
Friday 3 June.
Informal hearings to allow for oral submissions have been arranged at 9 venues on the 14th and 15th June:
Whitford:
War Memorial Pavilion, Whitford-Maraetai Road
Clevedon:
VinAlto Winery, 424 Creighton’s Road
Hunua:
Committee Room, Hunua Hall Community Centre
Ngatea:
Hauraki District Council, Orchard Road
Huntly:
Riverside Room, Civic Centre, 148 Main Street
Morrinsville:
Central Motor Lodge, 362 Thames Street
Cambridge:
Cambridge Service Centre, Waipa District Council, 23 Wilson Street,
Putaruru:
Putaruru Timber Museum, 2337 SH1
Mangakino:
Board Room, Mangakino Service Delivery Centre, Rangatira Drive.