Collins Comments

By Judith Collins

Counties Manukau Gymnastics celebrated 30 years on Saturday with the unveiling of its honours board. 30 years of dedication, effort, time, commitment and excellence is very worthy of congratulations.

Transpower I’m sure many of you have read about my strong opposition to the proposal for 70 metre pylons through Ardmore, Clevedon and Whitford in past "Collins Comments". You will have another chance to have your say.

Transpower is set to announce its preferred route on Saturday May 14. The public will be given a summary and a map of the proposed route. I have been very concerned that Transpower has continued to over-react to criticism of its processes and its concept of consultation. Each of my newsletters results in a letter from Transpower criticising my stance on this issue. Ardmore, Clevedon and Whitford residents are not anti-growth, are not advocating using candles as a power source and are not violent offenders who need Police patrols to attend Transpower public meetings. They are, however, extremely concerned that 70 metre pylons are about to be placed through their landscape, with scant regard to the location of the busiest airport in New Zealand – Ardmore – with trainee pilots the norm, rather than the exception.

People in our electorate don’t like being told they are being consulted when they sense that Transpower is not listening, not realistically looking at alternatives, and they don’t like being told that they will not be compensated fully and generously. They particularly do not like being treated badly by a 100 percent taxpayer owned entity that so far has not listened to its owners.

Submission If you would like to comment on the proposed route, you will soon be able to. Submissions will be taken by Transpower before 4:00pm on Friday 3 June. Informal hearings will be held on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 June for those who want to present their submissions orally. This gives people 10 minutes speaking time to a panel of Transpower consultants. For more information on submissions go to http://www.gridupgrade.co.nzor call 0800 338866.

You can send submissions to Transpower

Letter: Submissions, National Grid Upgrade Project, Transpower NZ Limited, Freepost 182915, PO Box 1021, Wellington.

Fax: Submissions, National Grid Upgrade Project, (04) 472 0559

Email: submissions@transpower.co.nz

Leaky Buildings National MP, Richard Worth, is hosting a public meeting on this issue at 4.00pm on Saturday 14 May. The venue is Mt Eden Normal Primary School, corner Valley and Sherbourne Roads, Mt Eden. All welcome.

This newsletter is available on my website http://www.judithcollins.co.nz.

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