‘Outstanding Natural Feature and Landscape’ to be compromised once again by Transpower’s lowest cost option for new 110,000-volt line.
A Transpower support pole sits high at the very northern end of Te Ariki Park, Maungatapu, overlooking Rangataua Bay toward Matapihi. Te Ariki Park is owned by Ngāti He hapu, original owners of the Maungatapu peninsula whose marae sits below Te Ariki Park on the shores of Rangataua, visible to all traveling south on SH29A. Te Ariki Park is home to the Rangataua Sports and Cultural Club and its rugby grounds and tennis courts are enjoyed by the wider community.
Breach of the Act causes ongoing offence
The Transpower support pole is part of the 110,000-volt transmission network which delivers electricity to Papamoa and Mount Maunganui. This section of line was erected by the Ministry of Works / NZ Electricity Department in the late 1950’s following access to Ngāti He land pursuant to the Public Works Act. The Crown Law Office admitted in 1999 that a breach of the Act had occurred in that Ngāti He had not been specifically advised of this activity.
Compensation outstanding
While the trustees of the Maungatapu Marae always objected to the erection of the line, no compensation was ever paid and the Ministry stated that any claim for compensation was then outside the time-frame permitted for a claim. Later, this line was vested to Transpower, a new state-owned enterprise, but in ongoing discussions with Transpower the trustees were told that Transpower was not the Government and was not responsible for any previous failings of the Crown.
Mt Maunganui and Papamoa A-Line at risk of collapse
This ‘A-Line’ hangs low directly over the rugby field and tennis courts at Te Ariki Park and is then supported by a double pole atop the cliff overlooking Rangataua Bay. Following heavy rain in 2013 a large slip appeared directly in front of these poles after a section of the cliff face and trees fell into the harbour below. Transpower obtained urgent Resource Consent to install additional ground anchors in the park, and to place concrete anchor blocks on the foreshore below to reduce the risk of its poles toppling into the harbour.
B-Line tucked away on Maungatapu Bridge
Transpower also has a duplicate line (B-Line) running in parallel to this section of its line, from Te Hono Street overbridge, on 18m poles alongside SH29A to the end of Maungatapu Rd, where the cables are buried, cross the harbour attached to the road bridge, then run over Matapihi orchards on poles before continuing again alongside SH29A. This line alone does not have the capacity to supply all of the power required by Mt Maunganui and Papamoa.
Transpower’s cheapest solution
Transpower has recently stated that, ‘Some of the support structures on the A-Line require extensive maintenance to ensure their continued reliability but due to their present location, … ongoing maintenance will be more prohibitive’.
Transpower’s solution is to remove the A-Line and erect a new line. This proposed new line would require that the 18m high B-Line poles from Te Hono St bridge be replaced with new poles 10 metres taller, and with additional conductors attached to these as far as the Maungatapu Rd / SH29A intersection. Between that point and the harbours edge beside the Maungatapu Bridge would be three new poles up to 34 metres tall. The new cables would then be slung across the harbour to poles 47 metres tall on the Matapihi harbours edge.
Rare view shaft and outstanding natural character compromised
This means that as one drives south across the SH29A Matapihi bridge, the high-tension power lines would then pass through the view shaft, in between the bridge and the unique, iconic Maungatapu marae.
Transpower states that it has considered alternative options such as burying cables in both land and below seabed, and also a new cable bridge alongside the existing road bridge, but has discounted these on basis of cost, although independent studies have shown over the lifespan of the cables, due to the low maintenance of submarined cables, the lifetime costs are similar.
BOPRC and TCC legislation can protect the Tauranga community
A number of aspects of Transpower’s proposed new line are outside national policies which enable the operation of our high voltage transmission network and are also not ‘permitted’ activities under legislation administered by BOPRC and TCC. To proceed Transpower has applied for Resource Consents to erect structures where, and in the style that they are not automatically permitted. A number of local residents have claimed that Transpower’s public consultation process was not done in good faith and done with a ‘take it or leave it approach’.
Community seeking to avoid repeat of 1950’s behaviour
Public submissions have now closed with 55 submissions listed on the TCC website. No submissions object to the removal of the current A line, while 34 strongly oppose the erection of the new line as it is proposed, between two very high poles, beside the bridge and directly in front of the Maungatapu Marae view shaft.
Submitters have also suggested that as well as adverse effects on them, health risks, and loss of property value, the new line would breach Transpower’s own stated goal of undergrounding all new HV lines in urban areas, and numerous local authority policies highlighting the ‘High Natural Character’ and ‘Outstanding Natural Feature and Landscape’ classifications given to this location.
Right approach, within right time-frame would deliver right outcome
Local residents have suggested that if our local authorities and SOE’s would stop working in silos, Transpower’s need to replace its failing line could well result in a win-win situation for all parties involved, especially our community.
Transpower’s full application, and all public submissions can be viewed online at: www.baywaka.nz/transpower
Does allowing Transpower to use its lowest cost option, suspending new high voltage lines through our valued urban, coastal and historic location align with Tauranga City Council’s own claim to be one of NZ’s most progressive local authorities, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents?
We invite you to have your say, and we will forward that to Tony Ryall, now Chairman of Transpower, and your local Authorities to remind them of their own goals. Email: transpower@baywaka.nz
