Pylons threatening property values

Pylons are bad news for homeowners. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Millions of dollars will be wiped off Waikato property values if Transpower goes ahead with plans to build massive pylons through the region to feed Auckland's ever-increasing thirst for power.

Hamilton valuer David Smythe said properties with pylons on, near or across them would face "significant reductions" in value.

The closer the pylons -- or the 400,000 volt cables that hang from them -- came to someone's home, the bigger the effect, he said.

In a "greenfields" situation, the impact would be much greater, he said.

"Nevertheless, those that have currently got pylons will also be seriously affected."

It is the greenfields situation that is most concerning Matamata farmers like Bruce Tiddy and Russell Alexander.

From Mr Tiddy's toy-strewn back yard, he has wonderful views west towards the Maungakawa bush reserve that will be ruined with the presence of 70m towers spaced 400m apart.

He said a fall in land values was just one of the "hidden costs" of the scheme.

With the pylons having a base of up to 20sq m, it also limited his use of his property.

"It has an obvious effect on our ability to do what we want to do with our land," Mr Tiddy said.

Mr Alexander, who with father Ian and brothers Dean and Craig, owns a 500ha sheep farm at Hinuera with stunning views east to the Kaimai range, will also lose his vista.

Mr Alexander will be doubly affected because his farm is also the site of Hobbiton, where tourists flock daily to see where Peter Jackson filmed the Lord of the Rings series.

One of the reasons Jackson chose the site -- after scouring the country by helicopter -- was that it afforded views untouched by 20th century clutter such as roads, buildings and powerlines, Mr Alexander said.

Mr Alexander and Mr Tiddy are typical of landowners all along the 200km of proposed route.

From Whakamaru in the south to the fringes of New Zealand's biggest city, farmers, lifestylers and residents of rural towns are vowing to fight the plan.

They have been quick to mobilise into action groups to stop Transpower.

They cite health, environmental and visual issues, and falling land values, as their major concerns.

- NZPA