Message from the Chairman: Transpower to show greater social responsibility
Submitted by kate on 17 September, 2007 - 22:09.
TOES Chairman, Jim Jackson, responds to the recent approval of Transpower’s resource consent for increasing capacity on the Henderson-Otahuhu transmission line.
On September 3rd, Auckland City Council gave Transpower the green light to a 30% increase on its Otahuhu-Henderson 220,000 volt transmission line that cuts through the residential and industrial areas of Auckland's City's central isthmus area.
The Auckland City Council hearing commissioners were satisfied that any adverse effects caused to people living or working close to the line would be minor and outweighed by the need to ensure a secure and increased power supply to Henderson, North Shore City and Northland.
The increase granted to Transpower enables them to meet the constantly increasing demand for electricity between Henderson and Cape Reinga.
The consent also allows Transpower an unlimited number of times when they can increase the circuits a further 10% for 15 minute periods.
Since the consent allows Transpower to operate the line at a much higher current rating on a permanent basis, people living and working along the length of the line will be subject to a corresponding increase in the Electro Magnetic Field strength (EMF) which will further raise their concerns regarding long term health issues directly associated with the increase in the lines operating capacity.
Transpower is a major New Zealand Government corporation that should display a strong sense of corporate social responsibility and commence relocating and undergrounding their transmission lines through Auckland's central isthmus by adopting a method similar to what they are currently using to connect their Penrose and Albany substations together.
Transpower is currently installing a compact concrete encased underground ducting system for their transmission cables as part of the North Shore Busway project to be complete by 2009. The ducting system will significantly reduce the electromagnetic field strength and associated adverse effects to people and in addition will not cause the visual pollution that Transpower's towers cause in other parts of Auckland.
Transpower is currently reviewing proposals to upgrade their existing overhead lines or build new lines through Auckland all of which will involve the RMA process and will cause disruption and legal challenges by local communities.
By using "prudent avoidance" and adopting an undergrounding system along
Auckland's motorway corridors Transpower significantly reduces the adverse effect on people living and working under the overhead line avoids the RMA process and delays in the Environment Court.
In addition Transpower also enjoys commercial privilege under existing legislation and they are not required to make payment to occupy this space.
Transpower must show a strong since of social responsibility and work towards achieving a strong and robust power supply though Auckland by avoiding the counter productive adversarial process they constantly engage in.
On September 3rd, Auckland City Council gave Transpower the green light to a 30% increase on its Otahuhu-Henderson 220,000 volt transmission line that cuts through the residential and industrial areas of Auckland's City's central isthmus area.
The Auckland City Council hearing commissioners were satisfied that any adverse effects caused to people living or working close to the line would be minor and outweighed by the need to ensure a secure and increased power supply to Henderson, North Shore City and Northland.
The increase granted to Transpower enables them to meet the constantly increasing demand for electricity between Henderson and Cape Reinga.
The consent also allows Transpower an unlimited number of times when they can increase the circuits a further 10% for 15 minute periods.
Since the consent allows Transpower to operate the line at a much higher current rating on a permanent basis, people living and working along the length of the line will be subject to a corresponding increase in the Electro Magnetic Field strength (EMF) which will further raise their concerns regarding long term health issues directly associated with the increase in the lines operating capacity.
Transpower is a major New Zealand Government corporation that should display a strong sense of corporate social responsibility and commence relocating and undergrounding their transmission lines through Auckland's central isthmus by adopting a method similar to what they are currently using to connect their Penrose and Albany substations together.
Transpower is currently installing a compact concrete encased underground ducting system for their transmission cables as part of the North Shore Busway project to be complete by 2009. The ducting system will significantly reduce the electromagnetic field strength and associated adverse effects to people and in addition will not cause the visual pollution that Transpower's towers cause in other parts of Auckland.
Transpower is currently reviewing proposals to upgrade their existing overhead lines or build new lines through Auckland all of which will involve the RMA process and will cause disruption and legal challenges by local communities.
By using "prudent avoidance" and adopting an undergrounding system along
Auckland's motorway corridors Transpower significantly reduces the adverse effect on people living and working under the overhead line avoids the RMA process and delays in the Environment Court.
In addition Transpower also enjoys commercial privilege under existing legislation and they are not required to make payment to occupy this space.
Transpower must show a strong since of social responsibility and work towards achieving a strong and robust power supply though Auckland by avoiding the counter productive adversarial process they constantly engage in.
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