Pylon plan review

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 6

Pylon plan review

The Christchurch City Council might have another look at its support of a back-up, power supply -for eastern suburbs. Councillors still want the security of a second line-of supply in case of emergencies, but they told the council’s public utilities committee ’ yesterday that the apparent need for controversial suburban power pylons to give that security might mean the project should not go ahead. Cr Vicki Buck said the public meeting on Monday showed that many people valued their residential area more than security of supply.

She agreed that pylons running through a residential area between Bromley and Marshland were “totally unacceptable,” even though an additional supply to east Christchurch was needed. There was evidence that a Marshland substation to achieve that goal could go ahead with out the Bromley link. The Mayor (Mr Hamish Hay) said the committee needed another justification report from the Municipal Electricity Department for its January meeting. The council had to consider whether taking the risk of being without a supply for a couple of days was

better than putting up with the pylons. . ; ■ ' There had never been council support for a specific .route, said the committee chairman (Cr Rex Lester). Th'ere had been general support for a back-up energy supply.. “Our officers should know we. do -not necessarily approve of the project,” Cr Buck said. . “We have had that message,” said the'M.EvD.’s' general manager . (Mr J. H. Donald). The committee agreed to look again at implications of the pylon proposal, and pos-. sible options if-it wanted'to get the supply another way.