| Designation Number |
3005 |
| Requiring Authority |
Counties Power Ltd |
| Location |
104 Manukau Road, Pukekohe to Buckland Road, Buckland (to Waikato District Council boundary)
|
| Rollover Designation |
Yes |
| Legacy Reference |
Designation 151, Auckland Council District Plan (Franklin Section) 2000 |
| Lapse Date |
Five years from being operative in the Unitary Plan, unless given effect to prior |
Purpose
Electricity distribution - Pukekohe to Tuakau 110kV overhead electricity line.
Conditions
1. Plan Information
That the works to give effect to the new Designation for the construction, operation, maintenance and modification of one overhead electricity line of up to 110kV nominal voltage, shall be in accordance with:
a. The Notice of Requirement;
b. The Assessment of Environmental Effects prepared by Boffa Miskell, titled Counties Power, Notice of Requirement for a Designation for 110kV Electricity Line from Pukekohe Substation to Proposed Tuakau Substation, Volumes I, II and III and the additional information supplied to Council dated 11 December 2007 and 24 January 2008 (and any subsequent addenda or errata provided by the requiring authority at or before the hearing of the Notices of Requirement on 18 and 19 February 2008);
c. The Designation plans prepared by Boffa Miskell titled ‘Counties Power, Proposed Corridor for New Electricity Line’, Drawings 01104-000 to 01104-013, 01104-017 to 01104-018 provided as further information but superseded by Drawings 01104_19 and 01104_20 presented at the hearing. NB Drawings 01104-000 (providing an overview of the route), 01104 019 and 01104 020 are appended as Figures 1-3;
d. The designation is to provide for the construction, operation, maintenance and modification of one overhead electricity line of up to 110kV nominal voltage comprising a maximum of three conductors (i.e. lines), one earth wire and one fibre optic cable, and local electricity distribution lines where it would be appropriate and promote efficiency of the network, these supported above ground level by poles spaced at an average of at least 80m apart plus all necessary ancillary fixtures and fittings; and
e. Subject to any amendments required by the following conditions and any other minor alterations proposed by Counties Power to the satisfaction of Auckland Council.
2. Buckland Screen Planting
Counties Power, when formulating the Outline Plan, shall liaise with Ontrack, Auckland Council and the Buckland Community Centre to ascertain an appropriate and practical extent of screen planting through Buckland village alongside the poles and will provide detail of such planting in the Outline Plan. The purpose of such planting will be to supplement the mitigation provided by undergrounding of the local lines and the extent and placement of screen planting shall also take into account the requirements of Ontrack to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the railway corridor.
3. Maximum Number of Pylons
The maximum number of pylons used as part of the support structures for the line shall be restricted to two (2) to overcome topographical features.
4. Nuisance Mitigation
That Counties Power and its contractors take all reasonable steps to prevent or mitigate any nuisance to adjacent properties during construction.
5. Construction Management Plan
Prior to the commencement of any earthworks or construction activity on the designated site excluding site investigations, Counties Power shall prepare a Construction Management Plan and submit that plan for the approval of the Auckland Council. The Construction Management Plan shall include the procedures, methods and measures to be applied to address the following:
a. Exclusion of the public from the construction site;
b. Dust arising due to construction;
c. Prior notification to landowners of the use of machinery likely to generate vibration effects to dwellings, where such vibrations may be felt in the process to be followed to ensure that such effects are addressed;
d. Maintenance of road, rail and property access during construction;
e. Movement of construction traffic on local roads;
f. Hours of operation of trucks and service vehicles;
g. A single point of contact to field general enquiries and complaints from the public;
h.The control of stormwater, runoff, sediment and contaminants during construction;
i. Methods for earthworks, stormwater control, sediment control, replanting of any exposed areas; and
j. Traffic management around the local roads during construction.
6. Liaison Person
That a permanent liaison person shall be immediately appointed by Counties Power for the duration of the works and be a readily accessible point of contact for persons affected by the designation and construction works. Counties Power shall advise the liaison person’s name and contact details to affected parties. This person must be available for ongoing consultation on all matters of concern to affected persons and provide a timetable as to the construction works to adjoining property owners and occupiers.
7. Maximum Capacity of Transmission Line
The electricity line is to comprise a maximum of one 110kV circuit (comprising 3 conductor wires and an earth wire) plus lower voltage circuits where required and a maximum of one fibre optic cable, supported on poles generally as described in section 4.2 of the Assessment of Environmental Effects submitted with the application, or on pylons if required to cross the gully at grid reference V11 on Drawing 01104-006 to X12 on Drawing 01104-007.
8. Width of the Designation
The width of the designation is generally to be in accordance with the representations shown on Drawings 01104-000 to 01104-013 submitted as part of the application.
9. Written Approval
Counties Power is to grant its written approval (as requiring authority) under sections 176(1)(b) and 178(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991 to enable the New Zealand Railways Corporation, or any other party authorised by New Zealand Railways Corporation, to undertake any activity on the land that is authorised by the existing rail designation and / or to undertake any other activity on the land that will not prejudice Counties Power’s rights under its occupancy agreement with New Zealand Railways Corporation.
10. Removal of Local Transmission Lines
Counties Power shall mitigate the visual impact of the new line by removing some existing local transmission lines as follows:
a. The removal of the existing 400V overhead local lines on the eastern side of Station Road (adjacent to the A and P showgrounds) within 1 year of the commissioning of the Pukekohe - Tuakau 110kV line;
b. Unless removed earlier, the second set of overhead local lines (currently at 11kV but planned to be upgraded to 22kV) on the eastern side of Station Road and adjacent to the A and P Showgrounds shall be removed within 2 years of the zoning of the A and P Showgrounds land for high density urban intensification being notified as part of a Plan Change;
c. The existing local lines on the eastern side of Station Road from alongside Lot 1 DP 101010 to alongside Lot 2 DP 91559 shall be removed within 2 years of the zoning of this land for Residential use being notified as part of a Plan Change.
d. Removal of the existing lines where the route passes Residential zoned land in Buckland, generally as shown on Drawing 01104_019 (supplied at the hearing) – refer appended Figure 2;
e. Removal of the existing lines in the vicinity of the War Memorial in Buckland;
f. Removal of the existing lines where the route passes Residential zoned land in Tuakau, generally as shown on Drawing 01104_20 (supplied at the hearing) – refer appended Figure 3; and
g. Removal of the existing lines in Ryders Road not marked for removal on Drawing 01104_20 (refer appended Figure 3) once development plans for the area are sufficiently clear.
Note:
Conditions a., b. and c. seek to ensure that over time, both sets of local overhead lines are removed from Station Road adjacent to the land mentioned in them, given the potential for this land to be subject to urban intensification in the future as shown in the Franklin District Growth Strategy 2051;
11. Colour of Poles
Counties Power shall provide, as part of the Outline Plan of Works, details of pole placement and provide an assessment of whether a darker coloured pole is appropriate given the location and background of the poles. Council shall audit these details as part of the Outline Plan process to ensure that the use of darker poles in the locations stated is the most appropriate way to reduce the visual impact of the line when viewed within its visual catchment.
12. Archaeological Assessment
That an archaeological site inspection be carried out along the notified designation corridor as part of the detailed design and Outline Plan of Works process. This inspection should:
a. locate on the ground all recorded cultural heritage sites in the vicinity of the designation;
b. dentify any previously unrecorded archaeological or other cultural heritage sites within and adjacent to the designation; identify what if any effect(s) the construction of the power line and associated works will have on these sites, and how any effects can be avoided;
c. Identify any original or pre 1900 features of the railway within the designation; identify what if any effect(s) the construction of the power line and associated works will have on these features and how any effects can be avoided. Embankments, cuts and any structures such as bridges and culverts constructed prior to 1900 could be considered archaeological, and as such, could require an Authority to Modify from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust if they are affected;
d. Make any further relevant recommendations in relation to the requirements of the Historic Places Act 1993 and the Resource Management Act 1991 based on the results of the site inspection;
e. Counties Power shall consult with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on the findings of the archaeological site inspection so that the New Zealand Historic Places Trust can confirm the need for any Authority/Authorities to Modify under the Historic Places Act 1993; and
f. A copy of the archaeological site inspection shall be provided to the Council as part of any Outline Plan of Works required by section 176A of the Resource Management Act 1991.
13. Iwi Consultation
a. Counties Power shall consult with iwi regarding the possible existence of archaeological sites within the proposed designation corridor before detailed design work commences and as part of the archaeological site inspection of the transmission line route.
b. The outcome of such consultation shall be provided to the Council as part of any Outline Plan of Works required by section 176A of the Resource Management Act 1991.
14. Review of Designation Width
Within three months of the construction and successful commissioning of the electricity line, Counties Power shall review the area of land subject to the designation, taking into account the location of the line as constructed, and the access agreements with landowners along the route. Where appropriate, Counties Power will seek to alter the location and the width of the designation corridor so as to provide reasonably for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance and modification of electricity line. Alterations to the location and width of the designation corridor shall recognise that the designation originally sought may be wider than necessary to provide for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance and modification of the electricity line.
15. Term of Designation
For the purposes of section 184(1)(c) Resource Management Act 1991, the term during which the Designations shall not lapse unless given effect to is ten (10) years commencing from the end of the appeal period on the decision of Counties Power or the determination of any appeals on this designations for a 110kV transmission line.
Advice Notes
1. The requiring authority will need to obtain all other necessary resource consents and permits, including those under the Building Act 2004 and any regional consents required from Environment Waikato and Auckland Council.
2. The requiring authority is advised that once the Designations have been formalised, any minor alterations or omissions to the designated areas should be rectified through alterations to the Designations pursuant to section 181 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
3. The requiring authority is advised of their statutory obligations under section 172 of the Resource Management Act 1991, which include the following:
a. Within 30 working days of receiving the Council’s recommendation, the requiring authority is required to advise the Council whether it accepts or rejects the recommendation in whole or in part;
b. The requiring authority shall only modify the requirements if, and only if, the modifications are recommended by the Council or are not inconsistent with the requirements as notified; and
c. Where the requiring authority rejects the recommendation in whole or in part, or modifies the requirements, the authority shall give reasons for its decision.
4. Counties Power should ensure that prior to construction, formal contact is made, and permission or consents are obtained as required, from the operators of any network utilities where their services and facilities may be affected by the construction works for the project.
5. An Outline Plan of Works, pursuant to section 176A of the Resource Management Act 1991, shall be submitted to Auckland Council prior to construction. These detailed plans will need to show the final route and measures that will be implemented to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects on the environment. These details will also confirm whether any resource consents may be required.
6. Pursuant to sections 35 and 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991 the actual and reasonable costs incurred by Council in monitoring conditions of this recommendation shall be paid by Counties Power.
7. Counties Power shall work with other parties involved in Plan Change 22 (to the Franklin District Plan) process to ascertain whether an alternative route for the line is possible through the plan change area.
Attachments