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How the National Environmental Standards deal with electricity transmission activities (4 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

Earthwires and telecommunications cables

Explanation: adding, replacing and maintaining earthwires and telecommunications cables permitted

Adding and replacing earthwires and overhead telecommunications cables (or parts thereof) is a permitted activity where conditions relating to the number of earthwires or cables, and their size are met – regulation 7. 

Maintaining earthwires and overhead telecommunication cables is a permitted activity – regulation 7(3).

For technical information see Adding earthwires and earth peaks.

Explanation: work on earthwires and telecommunications cables as restricted discretionary

Work on earthwires and telecommunications cables that does not comply with the permitted activity conditions is restricted discretionary - regulation 9(3) and (4). 

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:

  • visual effects
  • the effects and timing of construction works
  • the effects on services and infrastructure.

Associated activities that may need consent

Work on earthwires and telecommunications cables  may require ancillary work such as tracking to access the lines, earthworks to create platforms for equipment. Noise may be generated by machinery.

See Work on earthwires, telecommunications cables and telecommunications devices to work out other consents that may be needed for a project to maintain or upgrade earthwires and telecommunications cables.

 

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Last updated: 18 January 2010