Hon Pete Hodgson - 22/08/2007
- Transpower’s application for a major electricity
transmission project is now available online
and at local libraries and councils for
anyone wanting to view the proposal, Minister
Pete Hodgson says.
The Minister is encouraging anyone who
has a view on the proposed electricity transmission
line to familiarise themselves with the
documents now that they are publicly available
and before the period for public submissions
begins.
“I made the decision to call in the application
under the Resource Management Act because
of its national significance and the level
of public interest in it and I believe it’s
vitally important that the public have their
say,” Pete Hodgson says.
“The first step is to learn about the application,
and how the proposal will affect people
in the seven districts the proposed line
will go through.”
“The application is extensive and I urge
anyone thinking of making a submission to
get a head start by familiarising themselves
with it. Legal requirements mean that from
the time the project is publicly notified
– public notification is expected to be
on 8 September - there will be 20 working
days for anyone with an interest to get
their submission in.”
From 22 August, the application documents
will be on Transpower’s website (see www.gridnewzealand.co.nz).
There will also be links to Transpower’s
application documents via the websites of
the Ministry for the Environment, the seven
councils, Environment Waikato and Auckland
Regional Council. Councils and libraries
will also have publicly-available copies
of the documents.
If anyone has questions about the process,
or would like to obtain sections of the
application on CD, or the whole application
on DVD, they can call 0800 876 447.
Pete Hodgson announced on 9 August he would
use provisions in the Resource Management
Act to call in Transpower’s proposal to
build the electricity transmission line.
He announced an independent Board of Inquiry
who hear public submissions and then consider
the project. The Board of Inquiry will be
chaired by a current or former Environment
Court judge.
“Anyone will be able to state their views
to the Board, whether they are in favour
or opposed to the proposal,” Pete Hodgson
says.
