Transpower, which owns and operates the national grid, has appealed to the Environment Court against the Central Otago District Council's Plan Change 8 decision earlier this year.
The district plan change focused on the national grid and controlled activities near high voltage transmission lines. It took effect from September 14.
The plan change was in response to the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission. One of the changes was a buffer zone, so building within 12m of the centreline or 12m from the outer edge of a high voltage line pylon was non-complying.
However, several exclusions from that rule were listed. Buildings and structures in the rural resource area and associated with primary production which were at least 12m from the outer edge of the pylon were one exclusion. Transpower made a submission on the plan change and asked for milking sheds and intensive farming buildings to be included in the rule. In its notice of appeal to the court, Transpower has asked for such buildings to be ''avoided'' within the buffer zone.
''This amendment will ensure that the operation, maintenance, upgrading and development of the transmission network is not compromised,'' it said in the document. It has also asked for resource consent to be refused for the construction of ''habitable'' buildings and structures within the buffer zone.
Transpower claims the Central Otago plan change does not have proper regard for the national policy statement. It did not address reverse sensitivity effects and did not ensure the operation, maintenance, upgrading and development of the network was not compromised, Transpower said.
The matter had been referred for mediation, Environment Court Christchurch case manager Christine McKee said. The council received 13 submissions on the district plan change. Transpower, Pioneer Generation and Contact Energy supported the bulk of the changes at that stage while property developers, farmers and vineyard operators were among those opposing the changes.
At the plan change hearing, Transpower safety director Wayne Youngman said the 12m corridor would also reduce the risk of electric shocks to humans and animals. Transpower owns and operates eight transmission lines in Central Otago, made up of about 1228 steel towers and 150 poles.
