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National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities: project examples of application (3 of 7)

Activities that may make up a transmission activities project:

  1. Relocation of poles to enable roading development
  2. Access track and mid span earthworks
  3. Work on towers involving rivers
  4. Undergrounding
  5. Adding a circuit
  6. Tower foundation cleaning and painting
  7. Thermal uprating on a 220kV double-circuit transmission line

Work on towers involving rivers

Project description: Transpower proposes to undertake tower and bank protection work along an existing double circuit 220kV line on steel towers, on the bank of a river in North Canterbury. The work is required to enable Transpower to maintain the safety and security of the transmission lines and its associated structures (specifically to protect towers). The proposed work includes continuous lateral rock armouring against the river bank and the construction of rock spurs.

The proposed works includes the cartage and placement of rip rap along the riverbed for a short distance around the tower site.  All rock to be placed will be imported to the respective sites. No river gravels or materials from the immediate area will be used for this work.

The tower is located 4 metres from the river bank. Proposed work includes backfilling the edge of the roadway with imported gravel and the placement of 180m3 of continuous lateral rock armouring against the river bank adjacent to the road.

Main activities Status under NES
Placement of rip rap rock in riverbed to protect tower Under regulation 33(7), the work is not permitted because it is undertaken in the bed of a river.
The activity is controlled – regulation 34(1) – as the conditions in regulations 33(8) and (9) do not apply.
Other potentially relevant activities Status under NES
Discharges to water Permitted under regulation 28, provided conditions (2) to (6) are met, otherwise the activity is controlled - regulation 29.
Vegetation clearance Permitted under regulation 30, provided conditions (2) to (6) are met.
Noise from machinery Noise from machinery is permitted by regulation 37, provided it meets the limits in NZS6803:1999 Acoustics Construction Noise. Any vibration would need to meet the vibration standard DIN 4150–3:1999.

 

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Last updated:16 April 2012