Transpower prefers chats to more public meetings

Transpower has pulled the plug on a new series of public meetings over its Waikato pylon project, citing the fiery reception it received at its February meetings.

Transpower communications manager Chris Roberts said the meetings, with angry scenes in Tirau and Matamata, "didn't achieve a lot" and had been replaced with one-on-one meetings.

"We saw what happened in February and although it gave residents a chance to vent their feelings we didn't think it helped either party much so we've changed the focus," he said.

Mr Roberts said the sessions would allow residents to discuss property issues in more detail, given that the preliminary route would be announced next month. Transpower consultants would also visit concerned landowners.

Transpower is proposing spending $500 million on a 200km stretch of 400-kilovolt transmission lines between South Waikato and South Auckland carried on pylons up to 70m tall.

Bob McQueen, vice-chairman of opposition group New Era Energy, said his organisation was having nothing to do with the meetings.

"The bottom line is that we don't trust Transpower any more."

New Era Energy had instead focused on researching alternative plans which it hoped the Electricity Commission would investigate. Mr McQueen said the group would release a set of alternative options next month and would then hold its own meetings.

- NZPA