Andrew Steven is the third generation of his family to farm at Rosewill, South Canterbury, and there have been pylons on the property as long as he can remember. But the stand he and others are taking in the region, threatening to prevent Transpower finis
Locking out national grid operator Transpower is a last resort, say representatives of a group of South Canterbury landowners seeking compensation for pylons on their properties.
Their threat hit national headlines a fortnight ago when the group gave the state-owned-enterprise seven days in which to respond to their requests. It is the latest twist in a saga that has been rumbling on for four years, and has nationwide implications, they say.
The “business model” of Transpower is failing, they believe, because it incentivises the SOE to put profit ahead of security of supply. Legislative changes are needed to change that culture and allow annual compensation of landowners hosting such vital national infrastructure.
Federated Farmers’ electricity spokesman Philip York has written to Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee requesting annual payments and a commission of inquiry into the issue.
“Many grievances are being raised by farmers that are long overdue for settlement and it would be prudent for the Government to instigate a formal process to ensure that the matter is addressed as a priority,” states the letter.
The upgrade work on the Roxburgh (Otago) to Islington (Christchurch) line which sparked the South Canterbury group’s action is about to be extended south, from the Waitaki to Clutha rivers.
York says that will affect 250 landowners, many of whom have never had any compensation for the pylons built on land taken under Public Works Act powers.
A NZ Institute of Economic Resources report commissioned by the Federation found every pylon adds as much as $5000/year to cropping and dairy operations, $2000/year to forestry, and $552/year to sheep and beef.
Yet the sentiment of the Public Works Act is that landowners should be no better and no worse off for hosting these structures, says cropping farmer and co-chairman of the South Canterbury group David Moore.
“In the vast majority of developed nations transmission infrastructure invokes easements which yield a return to the landowner. Here, cellphone towers and wind farms attract annual rentals. Why not pylons?”
Moore stresses it is not so much about the money, as doing what is right by landowners and electricity users today, and for the future; sorting out the legislation and business model to restore what was once a world leading transmission system.
“It’s not about greed; it’s about fairness.”
As Rural News went to press the South Canterbury group was consulting members on what its next move should be given Transpower’s failure to respond.
