Onehunga's business association believes proposed buffer zones around electricity transmission lines will hamper Auckland's urban intensification drive in places such as the suburb's new railway station.
Association president Peter Gibson says a push by Transpower for buffer zones of up to 32 metres on each side of the three sets of high-voltage lines through Onehunga is "nationalisation by stealth" that would destroy property values in many urban centres.
He said such a zone would block development of up to a third of the Onehunga railway station site, which the former Auckland Regional Council bought for $8 million, intending to complement it with mixed-use commercial and residential development.
But Transpower, which is trying to persuade councils throughout New Zealand to follow a Government policy statement aimed at a unified approach to protecting the integrity of the national electricity grid, indicated last night it was prepared to be flexible.
"There is flexibility for the corridor to be less than 32 metres and we will work with the Auckland Council ... to develop appropriate buffer corridors within its various suburbs and areas," spokeswoman Adele Fitzpatrick said.
