Power Decision Welcomed

April 27, 2006

Power Decision Welcomed

Farmers and other land owners are pleased that the Electricity Commission has turned down Transpower’s grid investment proposal, said Peter Buckley, President of Waikato Federated Farmers.

“It is encouraging that the commissioner’s alternatives involve intermediate investments that make bigger investments unnecessary for a number of years.

“However, many land owners are not free of the uncertainty that hangs over their land. The commissioner’s alternatives depend on new generation possibilities, but still involve installing new transmission lines in 2017 or 2021 -– compared to Transpower’s proposal to have new lines in 2010.

“Federated Farmers will be making strong submissions in support of upgrading the existing lines, rather than building new lines along new corridors.

“Farmers fully appreciate that the Auckland electricity supply needs an urgent upgrade to meet future growth demands, but not to the detriment of land owners.

“If a new corridor is ultimately deemed the best option, the Federation will be working to ensure that Transpower pays full and fair compensation to all affected landowners, Mr Buckley said.

“Transpower has to realise that land access is the most important part of its business and must develop an effective business partnership with landowners.

“Towers result in significant and ongoing losses for landowners. These losses stem from the removal of land from production due to the lines, towers and access to the towers, restrictions on land management decisions, lower property values, and reduced opportunity to change land use,” Mr Buckley said.

ENDS

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