Lansdowne power station

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 14

Lansdowne power station

Sir, —Why do not people wake up as they did in saving Lake Manapouri? Lansdowne Valley needs democratic support to survive against the invasion of the steel and wire and the destruction of the natural beauty which the “proposed” Lansdowne power station will cause. Manapouri was saved only because the majority opinion was voiced. Lansdowne Valley can be saved if action is taken now to stop further progress in the planning of the station.— Yours, etc.

A. B. WEBB. March 6, 1972.

Sir, —That Mr T. M. McGuigan, member of Parliament for Lyttelton, has sufficient confidence to assert that an error of judgment has been made in the proposed siting of a new substation in the Lansdowne Valley area, yet claim it is not too late to resite it, is indeed most heartening. May many thousands more express their support to retain this unique, tranquil area as a most pleasant rural enviroment already enjoyed and appreciated by holidaymakers, visitors, and residents. May the wisdom of Mr McGuigan and the conversion of Mr Maclntyre culminate in the resiting of such a monstrosity.—Yours, etc., G.A.R. March 7, 1972.

Sir,—Lansdowne Valley is a unique area only a few miles from Christchurch and is worthy of the utmost effort of conservation. A large substation is an industrial type of complex and should be placed on land zoned for this purpose. Industry is potentially by far the largest user of power in any case.— Yours, etc., LANSDOWNE RESIDENT. March 8, 1972.

Sir, — A power substation is ugly, landscape it as you will. The size of that substation merely compounds the ugliness. To put perhaps the biggest substation in Christchurch in the scenic, and at present, rural, Lansdowne Valley would effectively ruin the environment there for all time. The addition of streams of pylons festooning the hills for all to observe, can only add to the ugliness and degrade that environment, also. This combination can discourage people from settling on the hill lands of Christchurch and further encourage the use for housing of the scarce first-class soils that lie at the foot of these hills. These first-class soils are needed for food production now and in the future. Let us not make this double environmental mistake. Let us put our substation on the poorer soils near the industrial area already sited and zoned near Shands Road. — Yours, etc., HAVE SENSE. March 7, 1972.

Sir, — Unless the National Government reconsiders its attitude on Lansdowne, and without delay, the large group of predominantly National voters in the area must surely abandon their traditional political loyalties in favour of a clear conscience and an unsullied environment. The present Government’s attitude on such an important issue in a marginal seat appears to be political suicide. It is a gross environmental blunder to site an industrial complex in a scenic area when industrial zones are available. — Yours, etc., SWINGER. March 7, 1972.

Sir, — Having lived in and travelled fairly extensively

in many countries in the last decade, I am constantlyamazed by the trouble and expense local bodies in other more populated countries will go to preserve old trees and scenic and beauty spots. I am equally appalled by the short-sighted policies of our own local bodies in this respect. In no country is desecration as prevalent, and here I regret I must place Christchurch at the top of the list. The erection of a power station in the beautiful Lansdowne Valley is just one more step in this so-called progress. There is still time for the New Zealand Electricity Department to reconsider what in years to come will be considered an appalling blunder. — Yours, etc., NON-RESIDENT. March 7, 1972.

Sir, —As a land owner in Lansdowne Valley, I join with many others to protest against the proposed power station. As a fanner, I am obliged to eradicate the gorse and broom on my property, and the aerial topdressing and spraying contractors will not operate near power lines. This, obviously, affects production and carrying capacity. What would the Minister of Agriculture have to say about this?—Yours, LAND OWNER. March 8, 1972.

Sir,—l wish to join the many making their protest against the proposed substation in Lansdowne Valley. Being a farmer, I, like all others, have to study costs; have the Electricity Department studied theirs? They, in all their wisdom, bought land which the experts led them to believe was the least capable of increased production, paying $lOOO an acre for two 10-acre blocks at auction. Furthermore, with their hungry appetite for more land, they proceeded to buy a town milk supply farm and a mixed cropping farm, prices undisclosed. Becoming farmers, the department then left these farms vacant for some months. By now the department must have had second thoughts on their proposed site. They now have leased their land to a progressive fanner for five years at a very high rental with right of renewal. Not only have they to consider the money which is already spent in buying land but surely the cost of fencing the Port Hills in pylons.—Yours, etc., INTERESTED. March 8, 1972. Sir,—l add my objection to the scheme to build power pylons and cables through Lansdowne Valley. It seems to me that there are alternative routes through less attractive country over the Port Hills. I do not write this letter because the pylons might spoil my own view; I would not see them. However, I feel it would be a great pity to detract from the beauty of the Lansdowne Valley.—Yours, etc, SPUR-DWELLER. March 7, 1972.

Sir, —I share Mr McGuigan’s concern over the trees above Princess Margaret Hospital being chopped out to make way for a subdivision. I recall that it was the same member of Parliament who two years ago drew attention to the proposals for a major substation in Lansdowne Valley and a thermal power station in Akaroa or Lyttelton Harbours. Only now are the people waking up to what is going on. Is it too late to save these two areas?— Yours, etc, WORRIED. March 8, 1972. [This correspondence is now closed.—Ed, "The Press.”]