Accessibility. Skip to main content.

How the National Environmental Standards deal with electricity transmission activities (10 of 12)

These pages set out aspects of the NES that Transpower and councils need to consider for transmission activities.

  1. Summary of the NES
  2. Operation of existing transmission line and use of access tracks
  3. Overhead conductors and adding overhead circuits
  4. Earthwires and telecommunications cables
  5. Work on underground conductors / Taking existing overhead transmission lines underground
  6. Increasing voltage or current rating / Electric and magnetic fields
  7. Transmission line support structures — alteration, relocation, and replacement / Temporary / Removal
  8. Telecommunications and signs / Devices / Signs
  9. Discharges
  10. Trimming, felling, and removing trees and vegetation
  11. Earthworks
  12. Noise and vibration from construction activity

Trimming, felling, and removing trees and vegetation

Explanation: vegetation clearance

Vegetation management is needed around the transmission network because of the potential for vegetation to:

  • threaten the reliability of the electricity supply through trees touching or falling on lines
  • public safety through the presence of hazardous voltages around trees that contact transmission lines.

The Trees regulations require Transpower to ensure that safe distances between trees and overhead lines are complied with.

Vegetation trimming, felling or removal is also needed to keep access tracks clear or cut new access tracks.

Explanation: vegetation clearance permitted

Tree or vegetation trimming, felling or removal is permitted - regulation 30 - provided that:

  • it is not specifically protected by a rule in a plan
  • it is not in a natural area
  • it is not on land protected by a rule in a regional plan for soil conservation or river protection purposes
  • felling or removal would not cause land instability or erosion
  • it is not on land administered by the Department of Conservation
  • vegetative debris (slash) does not enter water or the coastal marine area.

Explanation: vegetation clearance controlled

The trimming, felling or removal of a tree or vegetation is controlled - regulation 31 - if the tree or vegetation is in a natural area and it is required to reduce the risk to a transmission line, and all other permitted activity conditions are met. 

Control is reserved over:

  • replanting
  • disposal of trees and vegetation
  • visual, landscape and ecological effects.

Explanation: vegetation clearance restricted discretionary

Other trimming, felling or removal of trees or vegetation is restricted discretionary - regulation 32 - if any of the permitted activity conditions are breached but the activity does not meet the requirements for a controlled activity in regulation 31. The local authority has discretion to take account of any of the following matters in determining whether to grant the consent, and in setting conditions:

  • replanting
  • disposal of trees and vegetation
  • control of erosion and sediment
  • visual, landscape and ecological effects
  • the effects on drainage, flooding and overland flow paths.

|

Last updated: 18 January 2010