''The existing location of these transmission lines through the Alexandra pylon corridor is inappropriate, particularly when they will end up in the middle of future residential and commercial expansion of the town, and may well serve to be an inhibiting feature to both further expansion and overall economic growth,'' developer Russell Ibbotson said.
Mr Ibbotson made his submission on behalf of Molyneux Estate Ltd, Molyneux Lifestyle Village Ltd, Molyneux Landscapes Ltd and Bob Kilgour. Molyneux Landscapes Ltd was the owner of ''a large section of the pylon corridor'' and the company comprised 19 individual residential lot owners of sections, he said. The Central Otago District Council's hearings panel received 13 submissions on plan change 8, which focused on rules surrounding the national grid transmission lines through the district.
Transpower owns and operates the network. A 12m corridor is proposed either side of the high-voltage lines and pylons and poles, with activities and building restricted in that area. In the case of subdivisions, a similar corridor, but 32m either side, is proposed as a buffer zone. The panel heard from submitters this week and has reserved its decision. Mr Ibbotson said there had been an increasing awareness about the protection of the environment and what was aesthetically acceptable.
''There can be no possible disputing the fact that the existing pylon `corridor' on the outskirts of Alexandra is neither aesthetically pleasing [n]or environmentally acceptable.''
The town needed more ratepayers and population growth to give a wider spread of the high fixed charges ratepayers faced. Every incentive should be given to further residential and commercial expansion to the north, extending from the existing Pines and Molyneux Estate subdivisions towards the golf course, he said.
The pylons would end up in the middle of the future development and expansion of the town, which was ''unacceptable'' and Transpower had a moral and ethical responsibility to sort out the problem. The cost to Transpower of relocating the line away from the town or placing it underground would be minor compared to the amount it spent upgrading the transmission line, Mr Ibbotson said.
During Tuesday's evidence, Transpower was asked about placing high-voltage lines underground. Transpower environmental strategy and approvals group manager Steven Taylor said it already had been done several times, mostly around Auckland, and ''it's more often associated with a very large development''.
Every time it was done, the cost had been either paid by the developer or shared between the developer and the local authority concerned, Mr Taylor said.
In his submission, Mr Ibbotson said the cost should be borne by Transpower, rather than being another burden on ratepayers.
