'Unacceptable': Prominent businessman urges council to act
“This is not a minor upgrade or maintenance of existing infrastructure. These towering 21m poles will drastically alter the landscape.”
A prominent Invercargill businessman has sent the mayor and city councillors an “urgent request” asking them to review the planned 21m power poles at Mill Rd South.
Although it doesn’t appear he will get his wish with Mayor Nobby Clark saying the council’s “hands are tied”.
Nigel Finnerty - a former Invercargill Airport CEO - sent a letter to Mayor Clark and councillors expressing his “deep dissatisfaction and frustration” around the planned 21m power poles along Mill Rd South.
He said there had been a lack of consultation with residents and he asked the Invercargill City Council to review the line development being carried out by PowerNet.
“This situation is unacceptable, as our community has been disregarded, and our environment will be permanently degraded.
“We expect the council to take immediate action to rectify this situation and protect the rights and interests of its residents and ratepayers along this power corridor,” Finnerty wrote to the mayor and councillors.
Finnerty later told The Tribune that his frustration was more so with the council for allowing it to go ahead than PowerNet which is carrying out the work.
However, Mayor Clark said while he has empathy for the Mill Rd resident’s situation there was nothing the council could do because it falls under the Electricity Act.
“Mill Rd is not covered by us in any shape of form… The issue is, do [PowerNet] need one of our consents to do it?
“The answer is no, because it is covered by the Electricity Act and that’s totally independent of all councils.
“It allows for developments of those of national interest. It is something I can’t influence,” Clark said.
“It is unfortunate, and it is something I’m not pleased about, but there is nothing I can do.”
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One of Finnerty’s key frustrations in his letter to Invercargill’s elected members was what he believed was a lack of consultation.
Finnerty said the first Mill Rd South residents learned of the proposed 21m poles was through media coverage following a meeting that other residents had with PowerNet in August.
The first official notice they received was via a PowerNet letter on November 4, Finnerty said.
They have since received letters on November 18 and 27 explaining technical aspects.
“This is the only direct communication, and it came far too late for any meaningful input.”
“In essence, there has been no consultation (or consideration of our concerns) with all residents affected by this significant change; we have only been told that this project is going to happen,” Finnerty said.
“This is not a minor upgrade or maintenance of existing infrastructure. These towering 21m poles will drastically alter the landscape.”
PowerNet has advised the residents that placing the power lines underground for the new 19.5km line to Awarua would be too expensive.
Although Finnerty felt it was a “no-brainer” that the more expensive underground option be carried out to avoid the environmental and visual impact - amongst other things that 21m poles will bring to the area.
“The distance along Mill Road South is only 3.4 km. Using PowerNet’s estimates of costs this would add approximately $4.4 million (or only $93,600 per property) to the project,” Finnerty says in the letter to councillors.
The other option would be for PowerNet to find an alternative route for the power lines through farmland that avoids proximity to residential properties, Finnerty added.
Finnerty said there was already examples that the planned 21m power poles had significantly devalued properties with some property owners now struggling to sell.
Mayor Clark acknowledged the concern around the possible impact on property values.
“The potential for devaluation has been quoted as a third, which is a huge equity hit for families that live out there. It is absolutely massive.
“People just won’t buy where there are transmission lines, so I feel sorry for them. But my hands are tied, I can’t do anything,” Clark said.
Clark has suggested to Finnerty, and other residents, that they talk with Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds.
He felt Simmonds would potentially have more sway on the matter than the Invercargill City Council.
“She will have the ear of the infrastructure minister which is where this probably needs to go. Or someone that has some authority over electricity.”
“It seems a little bit unfair that [the council] are not advocating, but again we can’t advocate because we can’t influence the decision of a private company.”
Consultation, communication, cooperation (or lack of) seems apparent in this case.........especially when you think of Invercargill virtually being "pole free" (except for Racecourse Rd and Otatara). What would Power Nets attitude have been in their Queenstown supply area. Underground I am certain!
If a private person outside the city wants their power supply upgraded or put in for a new house they pay the costs. In this case its a business wanting a major upgrade so why don't they pay the costs. The Invercargill ratepayers have subsidised the upgrades to the sewerage treatment station at Clifton so it could take their waste product and now seems their need for extra power is more important than the aesthetics of people's neighborhoods where they chose to live. I always thought the RMA was designed exactly for this purpose. To give people a voice before any big changes to their properties.