Transpower and farming leaders will keep talking

04 September 2007

Transpower and farming leaders will keep talking

Transpower has committed to ongoing dialogue with farming leaders following a meeting this afternoon at the head office of Federated Farmers in Wellington.

Senior Transpower managers met with four provincial farming representatives, ahead of their meeting with Government Ministers and Opposition MPs.

GM National Grid David Laurie said the meeting was very valuable and all those in attendance agreed that further progress had been made on several issues.

“The President of Waikato Federated Farmers made it clear to us today that they were not seeking retrospective compensation for existing transmission lines. This was an important matter to be clarified.

”For new lines, Transpower will make significant compensation payments to obtain easements. But we cannot make retrospective payments for lines which were lawfully established many decades ago.”

David Laurie said Transpower has been working hard over the past year to address many of the concerns previously raised by Federated Farmers.

“A considerable amount of time and resource has been spent developing, in conjunction with South Canterbury farming leaders, a comprehensive Land Access Protocol. This landmark agreement, which Transpower intends to offer to landowners across the country, clearly states the obligations Transpower and its contractors must meet when inspecting or working on transmission lines.

“We have also developed a standard easement agreement for new transmission lines and produced new booklets which explain in easily understandable terms the rights and obligations of both landowners and Transpower.”

David Laurie said it was agreed today to establish a Standing Committee that would meet regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern. Transpower also undertook to provide a legal opinion on the issue of landowner liability. The issue of rentals was discussed, but only briefly.

“There appears to be different views within Federated Farmers on the issue of rentals, which they no doubt will take up with the Government,” David Laurie said.

ENDS

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