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Resource Management Act Proposed National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission: Discussion Document Online version
Appendix 4: Proposed NES for transmission activities
Objective
The objective of these proposals is to provide a consistent framework for managing the adverse effects of transmission activities throughout New Zealand by:
- providing for transmission activities that do not have significant adverse effects to be classified as permitted activities (as long as they comply with specific terms and conditions to define the threshold of effects)
- defining resource consent requirements for activities which are not permitted.
Note: if a transmission activity is not listed in the standard as permitted (table A4), controlled (table A5) or restricted discretionary (table A6), it should be regarded as a discretionary activity. In addition, table A7 lists activities specifically identified as discretionary.
Scope
The proposals for national environmental standards apply to transmission activities. In other words, the NES proposals apply to the operation, maintenance and upgrading or enhancement of transmission lines, including work undertaken adjacent to the lines that is required to achieve a specified activity (eg, moving a transmission tower requires associated earthworks). The proposals do not apply to activities undertaken at substations. The proposals only apply to the line owner or authorised agent.
How the proposals would work
Plans cannot be more lenient nor more stringent than the proposed NES. Refer to figure 3 (page 21) for a flowchart of the steps involved in determining consent requirements under the proposed NES for transmission activities, and to section 4.3 for an explanation of activity types. The steps are given below, and the detailed requirements for each activity type are set out in the following tables.
1. Is the activity listed as a permitted activity (Table A4)?
a. If so, does it meet the terms and conditions listed (and the additional terms and conditions for noise and earthworks)? Then it is a permitted activity.
b. If the activity is listed in the permitted activities list, but fails to meet the terms and conditions, then it will default to controlled, restricted discretionary or discretionary. The permitted activities table will specify where the activity defaults to.
2. Is the activity listed as a controlled activity (Table A5)?
a. If so, does it fall within the detailed definition? Then it is a controlled activity.
b. If the activity falls outside the definition, the table will specify where the activity defaults to (generally restricted discretionary).
3. Is the activity listed as a restricted discretionary activity (Table A6)?
a. If so, does it fall within the detailed definition? Then it is a restricted discretionary activity.
b. If the activity falls outside the definition, the activity will default to discretionary.
4. Is the activity listed as discretionary (Table A7), or is it not listed in Tables A4 to A6?
a. If so, it is a discretionary activity.
b. If the activity falls outside the restricted discretionary descriptions, or is listed as defaulting to discretionary, then it is a discretionary activity.
Examples of determining consent requirements
1. Reconductoring a line with a conductor of the same size (for maintenance reasons) at the same configuration, and the replacement of some insulators.
Status: The reconductoring would be permitted under Table A4 (1).
Changing the insulators would be permitted under Table A4 (15).
2. Increasing carrying capacity of an existing line with tower increases of 18% to comply with the NZECP 34 ground-to-conductor clearances.
Status: The carrying capacity increase would be permitted under Table A4 (17).
Increasing the height of the towers is over 15% and exceeds the allowable height increase for a permitted [Table A4 (3)] or controlled activity [Table A5 (21)]. Therefore consent will be required as a restricted discretionary activity [Table A5(32)]. Note that since the increase in tower height results from line enhancement work by the line owner, the additional height increase allowed in Table A4 (3) point 4 for rectifying breaches by third parties does not apply.
3. Upgrading of an existing transmission line from 220 kV to 330 kV with insulator changes and increases to towers over 23% to comply with the NZECP 34 ground-to-conductor clearances.
Status: The increase in voltage would be permitted under Table A4 (17).
Changing insulators would be permitted under Table A4 (15).
As for example 2, increasing the height of the towers is over 15% and therefore consents will be required as a restricted discretionary activity [Table A6 (32)].
4. Construction of a new 220 kV line
Status: The construction of a new line is outside the scope of the proposed NES. The provisions of district plan rules will apply, unless the line owner arranges a designation in a district plan. Relevant provisions of regional plans will also apply.
Table A4: Proposed transmission activities NES: permitted activities
View proposed transmissions activitives NES: permitted activities (large table).
Table A5: Proposed transmission activities NES: controlled activities
View proposed transmission activities NES: controlled activities (large table).
Table A6: Proposed transmission activities NES: restricted discretionary activities
View proposed transmission activities NES: restricted discretionary activities (large table).
Note: there are no defaults specified for these activities, because if an activity is outside the description it will default to a discretionary activity.
Table A7: Proposed transmission activities NES: discretionary activities
| Activity |
|---|
40. Creating new access tracks through scheduled cultural or historic sites, or scheduled landscape / ecological protection areas |
41. Work in the coastal marine area or in the beds of lakes and rivers |
42. Any transmission activity not defined as permitted, controlled or restricted discretionary. |
Note: line upgrades which result in a significant increase in line voltage, in the number of circuits or in the number of conductors would require additional work, such as increasing tower height or significant earthworks. Such projects would be unlikely to meet the terms and conditions specified for permitted, controlled or restricted discretionary activities and would be likely to default to discretionary activities.
