Huge number of submissions on monster pylons!

October 10, 2007

Huge number of submissions on monster pylons!

The number of submissions made to the Ministry for the Environment on Transpower’s proposed 70 metre pylon line through the Waikato will likely exceed 1200, showing the widespread opposition to this potential environmental disaster being proposed by Transpower.

Submissions closed on October 5th. A Board of Inquiry has been set up by Pete Hodgson, acting for the Ministry for the Environment, to hear those submissions and further evidence on the environmental impact of the proposed line. The proven health risks for those living and working under the lines is likely to be a major issue for the Board of Inquiry.

“The Transpower proposal, apparently being rammed through by the Government in an attempt to mislead Auckland voters and cater to the Government’s Kyoto obligations, will actually reduce Auckland’s security of electrical supply” says Bob McQueen, a spokesman for the New Era Energy group opposed to Transpower’s proposal.

“What is needed now is not Government support for this billion dollar white elephant line to nowhere, but rather Government encouragement for the construction of two new generating stations in Otahuhu and Rodney which could be up and running in 2-3 years, and if built would eliminate the need for this monster line forever, while actually greatly increasing security of electricity supply to the Auckland and Northland regions”.

The Electricity Commission in January of this year reversed a previous decision under sacked former Chairman Roy Hemmingway that had turned down Transpower’s original proposal as being uneconomic in comparison to cheaper transmission alternatives.

The recent Peter Harris led Electricity Commission decision to approve the line is under an increasing cloud of suspicion as to whether it followed the law, or instead cooked the numbers to get a result which would approve the proposal. Possible requests for a Judicial Review of that Electricity Commission decision are being considered by several parties.

The daunting task ahead for the Board of Inquiry in considering the massive opposition to the Transpower proposal will likely further delay an acceptable solution to Auckland’s security of electricity supply, and might take several years to conduct its hearings before an decision is available.

“If Transpower and the Government had worked together three years ago to put together a realistic package of new Auckland area generation and upgrade/reconductoring of existing transmission lines, a solution would likely already have been built, with the co-operation and support of landowners. Instead, a huge mess has been created by the Government backing of a Kyoto influenced transmission line. This is Government interference and mismanagement at its very worst.”

Further information:
http://notowers.co.nz

ENDS

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