Transpower wants chats, not 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 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 anymore."

New Era Energy had instead focused on researching alternative plans which it hoped the Electricity Commission would investigate.

The commission has the responsibility of deciding the best solution for the country's energy needs.

Mr McQueen said that early next month the group would release a set of alternative options. It would then hold its own meetings and try to get political support.

The alternative options are likely to involve using direct-current transmission lines either underground or above ground or a combination of the two. There are suggestions DC lines would require smaller pylons and might also be easier than AC lines to put underground.

New Era Energy believed the DC lines could be built on one of the three existing 200kV lines through the Waikato.

Mr McQueen said the group hoped the Electricity Commission would also look at alternative generation options.

Transpower has said putting an AC line underground would cost $5 billion.

- NZPA