27 April 2006

Electricity Commission decision on new Auckland power transmission line welcomed

Manukau City Council is welcoming the draft decision by the Electricity Commission to reject Transpower’s proposal to build a new 400 kilovolt line into the Auckland region.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says the Council was strongly opposed to Transpower’s plan from the beginning, due to major concerns about the environmental impacts in the areas the overhead line would pass through.

The Council believes the line should be placed underground to minimise its impact.

Sir Barry says the process used by Transpower was flawed because it did not include a range of options which included analysis of the social, economic and environmental effects of its plans.

He says, “The Government should now take time to revisit the issue to find a longer term solution that is acceptable to the entire region, and provide a secure source of power for the future.

“We acknowledge there is an urgent need to get more electricity into the Auckland region, and a way forward must be found soon.

“Growth is being put at risk due to the lack of secure supply, and it is an issue which affects households as well as the business community, as everyone will suffer if there is a shortage of power.

“However I must add that Manukau City Council is concerned about a suggested 50 per cent increase in the amount of power currently transmitted by the existing overhead lines. This proposal would not be acceptable to the residential communities where the lines pass through.”

ENDS

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