Poll finds majority opposed to pylons

A nationwide Herald DigiPoll survey shows more people oppose than support the Waikato power pylon project.

State-owned Transpower is facing vocal opposition to its $500 million plan to build a 400kV line from Whakamaru to Otahuhu, a project it says is vital to security of power supplies to Auckland.

The survey of 800 voters between May 22 and 29 showed 46.8 per cent believed it should be aborted, while only 35.9 per cent thought it should go ahead.

Political parties - except the Greens - have so far kept a low profile on the project, which has to be evaluated and approved by the Electricity Commission before planning permission is sought.

National has expressed the strongest support, United Future and Act have no firm position yet, and the Greens and NZ First oppose it.

Energy Minister Trevor Mallard said through a spokeswoman yesterday that ministers could not and would not comment on the proposal's merits, because they could not interfere in the statutory processes that must take place.

But he said the Government was committed to striking the right balance between the desire for a clean, healthy environment and a sustainable energy system to meet the demands of households, industry and economic growth.

National's energy spokesman, Roger Sowry, said the party supported the project in principle but was critical of Transpower's processes.

"It's clearly needed. We think you are going to need more power delivered into Auckland."

But he said it was unfair residents under the proposed route should have to continue living in uncertainty, so Transpower should start paying compensation now. "You should not have to sit there and wait for a year while the Government messes around with whether it's going to go on this particular route or not."

Act energy spokesman Ken Shirley said he wanted to see the "options and alternatives" and the commission's evaluation, due mid-next year.

The party wanted the option with the least impact on property rights, he said, but at the same time he acknowledged there was no alternative to investing in new transmission.

NZ First energy spokesman Peter Brown said the party opposed the pylons, preferring local power stations instead.

United Future energy spokesman Gordon Copeland said he would also like to see all options evaluated. But if it turned out to be the cheapest and best option, then opponents should think again.

"We would support it only if it proved to be the cheapest viable alternative, and then we would certainly want people to have a look at it in the national interest."