Infrastructure

Date: 11/03/2016

Transmission lines blight the foreshore and adjacent communities. Is undergrounding the answer and who should pay? 

MHRS continues to advocate for undergrounding the transmission lines crossing the foreshore and our harbour neighborhoods. Together with TOES and OBA, MHRS is working with Transpower to investigate opportunities to underground lines utilizing the right of way of the East West link. MHRS also submitted through the Unitary Plan process requesting policies encouraging undergrounding be included in the Unitary Plan.

Thanks to David Holm of the Puketapapa Local Board and local MPs for successfully petitioning Parliament. In April 2015, Mr Holm and Jim Jackson made oral submissions to the Select Commerce Committee requesting the committee initiate a public inquiry into creating a long-term program to underground overhead transmission lines nation-wide.

Overhead electricity transmission lines cross the Manukau Harbour foreshore, particularly in the Mangere Bridge, Onehunga and Hillsborough areas. These lines and towers detract from the visual appearance of the harbour as well as the use and enjoyment of the bays and foreshore. Replacing these overhead lines and towers as they end their useful lives with assets underground will improve the appearance, use and enjoyment of the harbour its bays and foreshore and allow better use of extensive areas of underlying property.

 

To read more indepth information and the MHRS Submissions to Auckland Council on the Transmission Lines click HERE

Also Read - East West Link  and  New Mangere Pedestrian Bridge