17/08/2006
- The government has launched work on a nationally
consistent framework to support and protect electricity
transmission across New Zealand under the Resource
Management Act 1991.
Economic Development Minister
Trevor Mallard, Environment Minister David Benson-Pope,
and Energy Minister David Parker say the work
being undertaken recognises the need to safeguard
the country’s security of electricity supply.
The ministers said the work
would provide consistent guidance across New Zealand
for the management and future planning of the
national grid.
Trevor Mallard said that currently
there are inefficiencies for local authorities,
Transpower and communities, with different rules
applying to the same types of activities and assets.
“More consistency throughout
the country will benefit all these interested
parties.”
At present, there is no national
framework that local government can use when they
have to decide on proposals for transmission lines.
The framework will be laid out
in a National Policy Statement on electricity
transmission.
“As well as acknowledging the
importance of the national grid, the policy statement
will ensure there is a balance between the national
benefits and local effects of electricity transmission,”
said David Benson-Pope.
The policy statements will set
the overall policy framework within which individual
projects will be considered, but does not address
individual electricity transmission projects.
A National Environmental Standard
on electricity transmission will define minor
activities required to operate and maintain the
national grid which Transpower can undertake without
requiring resource consents.
David Parker said that to further
ensure security of the national grid, the government
has also requested that an additional standard
be investigated that would specify activities
in the vicinity of the electricity transmission
network which should be controlled in a nationally
consistent manner.
"For example, in some cities
we have power pylons surrounded by houses, which
are now difficult to access for maintenance or
replacement.
"To help address this,
Transpower will need to be consulted when resource
consent applications are made for activities which
could impact upon the grid."
A possible environmental standard
setting out acceptable and unacceptable levels
of electric and magnetic fields associated with
electricity transmission is also being investigated.
The national policy statement
and standards will build on the work done by a
reference group made up of central and local government
officials, Electricity Commission, Transpower,
Federated Farmers and Business NZ representatives,
set up in 2005 which recommended the development
of an NPS and NES for transmission.
The work on electricity transmission
will apply to the network of pylons, power lines,
and substations across the country. It will not
apply to the infrastructure of electricity generation
or that of local electricity distribution companies.
Hon David Benson-Pope
