FFNZ Moves On Transpower Plan

WAIKATO FEDERATED FARMERS
15 November 2004 PR 211/04

FFNZ Moves On Transpower Plan

Federated Farmers of New Zealand's National Council has passed two remits relating to Transpower's proposal to build a new transmission line in the upper North Island. The remits are:

"That Federated Farmers New Zealand supports the investigation of local power generation for Auckland."

"That Federated Farmers opposes the construction of power lines on private property unless the landowner willingly sells that interest in their land."

The remits stem from concerns among members of the federation's Auckland and Waikato provinces about plans to erect large pylons and string high voltage lines on and over private land between south Auckland and north of Taupo.

Transpower intends to build a new 400,000 volt transmission line connecting substations at Otahuhu and Whakamaru, a distance of around 200 km.

The remits were passed at a meeting of the federation's National Council -- key decision makers comprising the national board, representatives from eight industry groups, and presidents from 24 provinces throughout New Zealand.

"The first remit shows that members would prefer to see power generators examine an option which did not require Transpower to build more power lines across farm land. The lines are undesirable because they impact on farming operations, damage the environment, and lower property prices," said John Fisher, President of Waikato Federated Farmers.

"Many of our members in Waikato and south Auckland do not want these lines acoss their land.

"The second remit supports federation policy on the necessity of a negotiated settlement carried out in good faith between a willing buyer and willing seller of property rights.

"Regardless of compensation, in no circumstances will the federation ever support any move by Transpower to force landowners to hand over a corridor of their land if they do not want to. Preservation of property rights is a fundamental tenet of the federation," Mr Fisher said.

ENDS

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