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How the National Environmental Standards deal with electricity transmission activities (8 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

Telecommunications and signs

Telecommunication devices

Explanation: Maintaining telecommunications devices permitted

Maintaining telecommunications devices is a permitted activity without any specific conditions - regulation 21(2) - see technical information.

Explanation: installing or modifying telecommunications devices

Installing or modifying a telecommunications device is permitted as long as it does not exceed 1.8m in width.  The device must also not extend more than 2.5m above the height of the structure - regulation 21(1). 

If the size or height of the telecommunications device exceeds the limits for permitted, the activity is restricted discretionary - regulation 22. 

The local authority has discretion to take account any of the following matters in determining whether to grant the consent, and in setting conditions:

  • the size, height, and number of telecommunication devices and associated telecommunication cables; and
  • visual and landscape effects.

Signs

Explanation: signs on or near transmission line support structures

Signs are placed on transmission line support structures to identify the structure or its owners and for safety or navigation purposes - see technical information.

To be a permitted activity, identification signs must be no more than 1m2 in size; signs for safety or navigation purposes can be up to 6m2. A single support structure can carry both types of sign - regulation 23.

Signs that are larger than these limits, or that are not physically attached to a support structure, are restricted discretionary - regulation 24.

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 on services and infrastructure.

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Last updated: 18 January 2010