Transpower’s North Island Grid Upgrade Project – proposal for a new electricity transmission line
August 2007
Transpower New Zealand Ltd has lodged notices of requirement and applications for resource consents for its proposal to build a new overhead electricity transmission line, underground cables and substations, from Whakamaru to Otahuhu and Pakuranga (the proposed North Island Grid Upgrade Project).
Hon Pete Hodgson, on behalf of the Acting Minister for the Environment, has ‘called in’ the notices of requirement and applications for resource consent because he considers Transpower’s proposal to be of national significance.
Why has the Minister called in Transpower’s proposal?
Hon Pete Hodgson has called in the matters involved in Transpower’s proposal for the following reasons:
- it has aroused widespread public concern and interest about its actual or likely effect on the environment
- it involves significant use of natural and physical resources
- it affects more than one region or district
- it involves technology, processes or methods that are new to New Zealand and may affect the environment
- it is likely to result in or contribute to significant or irreversible changes to the environment.
The Minister has directed that the matters be referred to a Board of Inquiry. The Board will decide whether to approve the notices of requirement and applications for resource consents. The Board is independent of the Minister and all other parties involved, and will consider all submissions.
What exactly is Transpower proposing?
Transpower is proposing to build an electricity transmission line which would be 400kV capable and 186km in length. The map on the following page shows its proposed route.
The proposed line would provide electricity to Auckland and Northland and would run through the following local authority districts: Manukau City Council, Franklin District Council, Waikato District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Waipa District Council, South Waikato District Council and Taupo District Council.
Transpower has lodged notices of requirement with the local authorities listed on page 1 to be able to construct, operate and maintain the proposed transmission line. It has also applied for resource consents from Auckland and Waikato regional councils.
Can I have a say about the transmission line?
Yes. Any person can make a submission by filling in the submission form. The closing date for submissions is 5.00pm 5 October 2007. Please see the information on page 6 in this information sheet about how to fill in the submission form.
A Board of Inquiry will receive the written submissions and they will also hold public hearings to listen to the submitters who indicate they wish to speak at the hearing.
What is a notice of requirement?
A notice of requirement is the way a network utility operator (such as Transpower) is able to give formal notice to a city or district council of its requirement for designation of land for a project under the Resource Management Act.
Transpower has lodged notices of requirement with relevant councils for land to be designated to upgrade the transmission line, cable routes and substations of the North Island grid.
A designation, once included in a district plan, gives effect to the notice of requirement. This enables the utility operator to undertake specified activities without a land use consent from the city or district council.
A designation requires anyone wanting to do anything within the designated area that would prevent or hinder the project to get written consent from the requiring authority (in this case it would be Transpower). This applies from the time a notice of requirement is lodged.
Why does Transpower need resource consents?
Transpower’s resource consent applications are for earthworks and the construction of stream crossings associated with the underground cable section between Pakuranga and Brownhill substations. These have been lodged with Auckland Regional Council.
Resource consent applications have been lodged with both Auckland Regional Council and Waikato Regional Council for earthworks associated with the overhead lines.
Transpower has applied for the ‘main’ resource consents that are required for the proposal to proceed. These consents have been called in by the Minister and will be considered at the same time as the notices of requirement.
Transpower may need to lodge further resource consent applications with district councils for some associated activities, such as access works. These will be lodged separately, with the relevant council, if required.
What is the role of the Ministry for the Environment?
The Ministry for the Environment will service the Board of Inquiry for administration of its functions. In doing so the Ministry will use the support and processing systems previously established by the councils where appropriate. This support is coordinated by Environment Waikato (Waikato's regional council).
What is the Board of Inquiry’s process?
A Board of Inquiry must be chaired by a current, former or retired Environment Court judge. It will have between three to five members.
The appointment of the Board by the Minister will follow the Cabinet process for appointments. The Minister will choose members with skills and experience relevant to the inquiry.
Once established, the Board of Inquiry will consider Transpower’s proposal. The Board will decide whether to commission any reports and it will also establish the process for hearing submissions. The duration of the hearing will depend on the number and nature of the submissions.
Following the hearing, the Board of Inquiry will issue a draft decision. Everyone who made a submission, councils, Transpower and the Minister then have an opportunity to comment before the Board makes its final decision. The process to be followed for a Board of Inquiry is set out in the Resource Management Act.
The Board’s final decisions can only be appealed to the High Court on points of law.
What happens next?
- The Minister calls for submissions and places a public notice in national and local newspapers about the ‘direction’ to call in Transpower’s proposal. [8 September 2007]
- Submissions close 20 working days after public notification. [5.00pm 5 October 2007]
- The Minister appoints a Board of Inquiry. The Board receives all the submissions.
- The Board holds a public hearing. The timing of this is dependent on the Board’s processes. All submitters will be advised.
- The Board releases a draft report. This is sent to all submitters.
- The Board releases final decisions on Transpower’s notices of requirement and resource consents.
Where can I view Transpower’s proposal?
Transpower’s application for notices of requirement and associated resource consents consists of a large amount of information. There are separate volumes of material for each aspect of its proposal.
Transpower has prepared an executive summary of its proposal which will help you determine which parts of the proposal documents you need to see. These summaries are in one booklet called “Transpower New Zealand Ltd North Island Grid Upgrade Project - Notices of Requirement and Resource Consent Application Documentation - Executive Summaries”.
You can view the executive summaries and full copies of Transpower’s proposal, including notices of requirement, resource consents and accompanying information at the following locations.
Ministry for the Environment
Auckland Office
Level 6, Tower Centre
45 Queen Street
Auckland
09 985 4800
Head Office
Environment House
23 Kate Sheppard Place
Wellington
04 439 7400
Christchurch Office
Level 7
Te Waipounamu House
158 Hereford Street
Christchurch
03 365 9270
Council offices, public libraries/information centres
Auckland Regional Council
21 Pitt Street
Auckland
09 366 2000
Manukau City Council
Manukau Office
Ground Floor Kotuku House
4 Osterley Way
Manukau City
09 263 7100
Botany Library
Sunset Terrace
Botany
09 272 0010
Clevedon Library
Main Road
Clevedon
09 269 0500
Franklin District Council
Pukekohe Office
82 Manukau Road
Pukekohe
09 237 1300
Tuakau Office
Geroge Street
Tuakau
09 237 1333
Pukekohe Library
Roulston Street
Pukekohe
09 237 1333
Hunua Help Site
Hunua Motors
2320 Hunua Road
RD 3
Papakura
09 292 4820
Environment Waikato
Hamilton Office
401 Grey Street
Hamilton East
07 856 7148 / 07 859 0999
Taupo Office
Paora Hapi Street
Taupo
07 378 6359
Paeroa Office
13 Opatito Road
Paeroa
07 862 8376
Waikato District Council
Ngaruawahia Office
15 Galileo Street
Ngaruawahia
07 824 8633
Ngaruawahia Library
4 Jesmond Street
Ngaruawahia
07 824 5905
Huntly Office/Library
142 Main Street
Huntly
07 828 7551 / 07 828 8539
Hamilton City Council Building
Garden Place
Hamilton
07 838 6699
Te Kauwhata Library
5A Main Street
Te Kauwhata
07 826 4820
Matamata-Piako District Council
Te Aroha Office
35 Kenrick Street
Te Aroha
07 884 0060
Morrinsville Office
Canada Street
Morrinsville
07 889 8388
Matamata Office
Tanui and Tui Street
Matamata
07 881 9050
Te Aroha Library
Rewi Street
Te Aroha
07 884 7042
Morrinsville Library
Canada Street
Morrinsville
07 889 8388
Matamata Library
Tui Street
Matamata
07 888 7157
Te Aroha Information Centre
102 Whitaker Street
Te Aroha
07 884 8052
Matamata Information Centre
45 Broadway
Matamata
07 881 9050 (for the area office)
Waipa District Council
Te Awamutu Office
101 Bank Street'
Te Awamutu
0800 924 723
Cambridge Office
23 Wilson Street
Cambridge
0800 924 723
Cambridge Library
23 Wilson Street
Cambridge
07 823 3838
South Waikato District Council
Tokoroa Office
Torphin Crescent
Tokoroa
07 885 0340
Tokoroa Library
Mannering Street
Tokoroa
07 886 6574
Putaruru Office
Overdale Street
Putaruru
07 883 7189
Putaruru Library
Overdale Street
Putaruru
07 883 7187
Tirau Information Centre
State Highway 1
Tirau
07 883 1202
Tirau Library
Station Street
Tirau
07 883 1208
Taupo District Council
Rifle Range Road
Taupo
07 376 0899
Taupo Library
29 Totara Street
Taupo
07 376 0070
Mangakino Service Centre
Rangatira Drive
Mangakino
07 882 8700
Transpower’s proposal is available on their website: www.gridnewzealand.co.nz
Electronic copies of Transpower’s full proposal are available on a DVD. It is also possible to get a CD version which excludes some of the larger files, eg, Part 1A ariel photography and some specialist reports (see contact details below).
Contact details
To receive electronic information about Transpower’s proposal or for questions about how to submit and about the Board of Inquiry process:
Email: tpcallin@mfe.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 TPNIGRID (0800 876 447)
Website: www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-transpower
To obtain a submission form
If you received an information pack, a submission form should be enclosed. If not, please use the contact details above to request one, or download it from the Ministry for the Environment's website: www.mfe.govt.nz
For information on other work programmes on electricity transmission see: www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/central/transmission/index.html (proposed National Policy Statement on electricity transmission) and www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/standards/electricity-transmission.html (proposed National Environmental Standards for electricity transmission).
How to fill in the submission form
Your submission must be in writing, dated, signed by you and include the following information:
- Your name and address, including a phone number, fax number and email address (if applicable).
- Details of the notice(s) of requirement or application(s) for resource consents in respect of which you are making the submission.
- Whether you support or oppose the relevant notice(s) of requirement or application(s) for resource consent or whether you are neutral regarding the notice(s) or application(s).
- The reasons for your views.
- The decision you wish the Board of Inquiry to make, including the general nature of any conditions sought.
- Whether or not you wish to be heard in respect of this submission.
Please return your submission by 5.00pm 5 October 2007 to the Minister for the Environment and send a copy to Transpower. See the freepost addresses below.
Send your submission form to:
Minister for the Environment
FreePost Grid Upgrade Submissions
PO Box 4405
Hamilton East
Hamilton 3247
or email to: tpcallin@mfe.govt.nz
or fax to: 04 439 7700, please make this for the attention of “Transpower Grid Upgrade Submission”.
A copy of your submission form must also be sent to Transpower at:
The National Grid Upgrade Project
Transpower
FreePost 182915
PO Box 1021
Wellington
or email to: submissions@transpower.co.nz
or fax to: 04 819 7624
Want to know more?
Phone 0800 876 447, email tpcallin@mfe.govt.nz, or visit www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-transpower
