New power line

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32560, 20 March 1971, Page 18

New power line

The New Zealand Electricity Department will start constructing an 84-mile, steel tower transmission line from Invercargill to Roxburgh power station, crossing the Hokonui Hills, soon. The line will cost about $2.7m and the whole project almost s3m. It is hoped to finish the line by the end of 1972. The route has been accepted by the Nature Conservation Council. At the request of the council, the department investigated a route round the Hokonui foothills, but this was found to have a number of difficult angles and foundation problems. Surveying has been completed, and establishment of construction camps started. The Winton construction camp will be used, the Ettrick camp brought back into use, and a camp will be built - at Waikaka. About 100 men will be employed on construction of the line, starting first on tower foundations. Wherever practicable the towers will be placed below the countryside skyline.

The 220,000-volt line will extend from the Invercargill substation, past Hedgehope, over the Hokonui Hills, pass about 10 miles west of Gore, continue west of Waikaka . and Roxburgh, and on to Roxburgh power station. It will augment the existing transmission system and enable the New Zealand system to receive a larger block of the power available from Manapouri.