Transpower’s Corridor Management Plan threatens Onehunga’s future growth
Restricted development zones around National Grid lines threaten Onehunga business and property values
Property development and business growth in a 64 metre wide band under transmission lines running through Onehunga are likely to be severely affected by Transpower's Corridor Management Plan.
Auckland Council has requested an extension on their requirement to agree to Transpower’s Corridor Management Plan by April 2012 within the forthcoming Auckland Plan. However this still does not address the CMP requirements of a 64 metre buffer zone.
The Onehunga Business Association encouraged businesses, property owners and residents to make submissions to the Auckland Plan to ensure Council doesn't ratify Transpower's Corridor Management Plan as it currently stands.
In its own submission, the OBA urged Council to advocate for undergrounding of Transmission lines. Read the OBA's submission here.
See below for comprehensive BACKGROUND INFORMATION on this issue
OPEN INVITATION TO TRANSPOWER AGM: 17 NOVEMBER
Transpower, the owner and operator of New Zealand’s National Grid, invites members of the public to its Annual General Meeting. The meeting provides an opportunity for Transpower’s stakeholders to learn more about its business performance, key challenges and plans for the future.
When: Thursday November 17, 4-5pm with light refreshments after the meeting
Where: The Heritage Auckland Hotel, Robert Laidlaw 2 room, 35 Hobson Street, Auckland
RSVP to communications@transpower.co.nz
A Letter from Onehunga Business Association to Members and local businesses from Peter Gibson, President of the Onehunga Business Association
Re Submission to the Draft Auckland Plan
I attach for your information a generic submission on the Auckland Plan relating to Transpower’s 220kv and 110kv transmission lines. The purpose of the submission is to bring to the attention of Auckland Council, what the effects of the lines will have on the re-development potential of land beneath and in close proximity, to the lines.
The ability to make a submission on the Auckland Plan provides an opportunity to outline to the Council that the introduction of a strategic policy and directive requesting that the lines are “under grounded “ will contribute to the economy of Auckland. And furthermore outline to the Council that land is a scare resource. The submission also allows for the opportunity to point out to the Council that their growth strategy for the city is also compromised especially where the lines cross areas that have been identified as growth and development areas.
Transpower’s approach to the management and protection of the lines has already impacted on development and re-development opportunities across the city through opposing developments and requiring Council’s to change their various planning Documents.
(Thanks to Bob Demler for this diagram. Bob's report is included in Background Information below.)
Background Information
Presentation made to Onehunga Businesses regarding Transpower NZ Ltd's Corridor Management Policy within Auckland Council Monday 17 October 7‐00am, Library Café Onehunga
Resource Management specialist Bob Demler has summarised the threat to Onehunga from Transpower's CMP this document
Compliance with the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008 (NPSET)
The NPSET came into force on the April 2008.
Auckland Council has a mandatory requirement to notify a plan (NPSET) change by April 2012.
Can Auckland Council undertake a review and plan change process to 11 separate operative plans by April 2012? (this has the potential to become a very complex costly and confusing process for all parties)
Can Auckland Council use the Unitary Plan which is due to be publicly notified early 2013 as a more straight forward process however does not meet the timeframe as specified in the NPSET?
Key Points regarding Transpowers requirements.
- No development within a distance of 12m either side of the centre line (red zone).
- Transpower will manage any development within a distance of 20m either side of the red zone defined as the orange zone.
- Transpower generally advocates that a 32m buffer corridor be applied on either side of existing transmission lines.
Policies 10 and 11 of the NPSET require that the Council initiate a consultation process with Transpower to identify an appropriate buffer corridor to avoid reverse sensitivity effects. This buffer corridor must be provided for within Council planning documents.
Based on other Council plan reviews across the country and existing Council plan changes, it has been observed that Transpower generally advocates that a 32m buffer corridor be applied on either side of existing transmission lines1. This is in line with Transpower’s internal non-statutory Corridor Management Policy (CMP). The objective of the CMP buffer corridor is to limit land use immediately under existing lines, by seeking very limited or no development within a distance of 12m either side of the centre line (red zone), and to manage development within a distance of 20m either side of the red zone (orange zone). The whole area within the red corridor will be required to be protected from any future development and new activities within the orange corridor
will require resource consent to undertake development. Only those activities compatible with high voltage transmission lines will be able to occur within the corridor. The CMP document is nationally consistent and does not recognise the existing environment in which the line is placed.
- read the rest of Resource Management specialist Bob Demler's document, which includes diagrams showing the impact on Onehunga.
Auckland Council's position
Auckland Council's Regional Development & Operations Committee considered how Transpower's CMP should be brought into the forthcoming Auckland Plan at its 15 September, 2011 meeting. (The attached report includes detailed plans.)
Attached: Meeting Agenda and notes for Item 13: Compliance with the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008
Minutes to the meeting record the following Council resolution:
Compliance with the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008
Resolution number RDO/2011/180
MOVED by Cr Wood, seconded Cr Penrose:
a) That the report be received.
b) That the Council approach to compliance with the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008 (NPSET) be by way of incorporation of the NPSET provisions into the Unitary Plan.
c) That the approach in (b) above be achieved by the Council extending the timeframe for compliance, using its powers under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
d) That prior to formally extending the timeframes for compliance, the Council writes to the Minister for the Environment and Transpower seeking their views on the proposed course of action.
e) That the views of Transpower and the Minister be reported at the same time as formal consideration under Sections 37 and 37A of the RMA to extend the timeframes for compliance occurs.
f) That any proposed plan change currently in progress be altered, where relevant, to ensure that the NPSET provisions are incorporated into the operative plan.
CARRIED
Information from Transpower
www.gridnewzealand.co.nz
North Auckland and Northland Grid Upgrade Project (NAaN Project) (brochure)
Transmission Corridor Management - Managing activities near high voltage transmission lines
Guide for developelopment near high voltage transmission lines
- page 7: Residential Development
- page 13: Retail & Commercial development
- page 17: Industrial development
1. Email your submission to: theaucklandplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
2. Complete an online Submission Form and attach supporting documents at the bottom of the form.
3. Drop your submission in to the Onehunga Community Library, 83 Church Street by 4pm Monday 31 October.
All submissions must be lodged by 4pm, Monday 31 October, 2011
