National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities: project examples of application (2 of 7)
Activities that may make up a transmission activities project:
Access track and mid span earthworks
Project description: Work is needed to reform an existing access track. The access track is partially within a council area designated for water supply purposes and also within an identified 'Significant Feature – Ecological' zone covered by district plan rules.
Earthworks is also needed to increase the safe clearance distances under two transmission line spans. The earthworks are partially within an identified 'Significant Feature – Ecological' zone in the district plan.
Activities required to complete project: The access reformation work will require clearance of gorse and some native vegetation and disturbance of 80m3 soil.
The earthworks under two spans requires:
- Span A: cut volumes of 100m3 and area 65m2
- Span B: cut volume of 40m3 and area 65m2.
| Main activities | Status under NES |
|---|---|
| All earthworks Earthworks and vegetation clearance in area covered by designation for water supply purposes |
Any relevant regional earthworks rules will apply.
The existing designation will prevail over the NES (section 43D of the RMA). Any activities within an area designated by a third party will require the approval of the requiring authority (that is, the council or water supply authority). Consents may also be required under the NES if the permitted activity conditions are not complied with – see below. |
| Earthworks in 'ecological' zone in district plan | This is a 'natural area' as defined in the NES. To be a permitted activity, earthworks related to each tower (or in this case, the span between the towers) need to be less than 50m3 or 100m3 per access track. The area is not in historic heritage area, the coastal marine area, bed of a lake or river, or on potentially contaminated land. Provided the conditions relating to land stability and restoration are met, the earthworks under span B are permitted under regulation 33 (2)(a)(b) of the NES. Earthworks under span A is controlled, because the limit in regulation 33 (2)(a) is exceeded. |
| Vegetation clearance in 'ecological' zone in district plan | This is a 'natural area' as defined in the NES. Vegetation clearance fails the permitted activity condition under regulation 30 (2)(b). The activity will be controlled so long as the applicable conditions in regulation 30(3) to (6) are met. |
| Earthworks and vegetation clearance not in a natural area | Earthworks and vegetation clearance will be permitted, provided all of the relevant conditions in regulation 30 and regulation 33 are met. Transpower could choose to apply for a certificate of compliance for the permitted activity work. |
| Other potentially relevant activities | Status under NES |
| Noise from machinery | Noise from machinery is permitted by regulation 37, provided it meets the limits in NZS6803:1999 Acoustics Construction Noise |
| Discharges to water | Permitted by regulation 28, provided conditions (2) to (6) are met. |
Last updated: 18 January 2010
