Transpower confirms pylons route

Property owners have voiced objections to the pylons plan. File picture / Chris Skelton

Transpower today confirmed its giant pylons will take the western route through the Waikato to South Auckland and said it was ready to start negotiating to buy properties.

Transpower communication manager Chris Roberts said staff would hand-deliver letters to about 600 landowners today confirming a western route had been chosen for the transmission line from Whakamaru to Otahuhu.

The route travels near Arapuni, Horahora, Te Miro, Morrinsville, Te Hoe and Maramarua (see link below for map of the route).

Mr Roberts said letters were today also posted to about 500 landowners on the eastern route which had been ruled out.

He said the letters to the affected landowners would comprise an indicative centre line showing where the transmission line might go. That line crossed about 600 properties.

It would probably take Transpower until November to work out with landowners exactly where on their properties easements for the transmission line might go, Mr Roberts said.

A 65m easement is being proposed by Transpower.

But Mr Roberts said some landowners had indicated that they would sell entire properties rather than just land for easements.

"If a property is clearly affected then yes -- on a willing buyer, willing seller basis we would be happy to negotiate to buy properties."

New Era Energy chairman David Graham said any negotiations were premature.

"The Electricity Commissioner hasn't given a verdict yet. There's so much more water to go under the bridge."

While Energy Minister Trevor Mallard has said Transpower can continue planning the route, he has asked the Electricity Commission to look at alternatives and make a decision by mid-2006.

The commission is studying alternatives and will report its initial findings in September.

- nzpa