Dr Shearer inspects eastern suburbs

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 4

Dr Shearer inspects eastern suburbs

Residents of the eastern suburbs were tired of being “lumbered" with the sewage and rubbish of Christchurch, and the threat of having power pylons as well was just too much, the Minister for the Environment (Dr Shearer) was told yesterday. Dr Shearer was taken on a guided tour of the eastern transmission corridor, where the Electricity Division of the Ministry of Energy plans to put powCr pylons to carry electricity from the bulk supply at Bromley sub-station to a proposed new point of supply at Marshlands. The tour began at Cedarwood Park, in Hulverstone Drive, where the pylons will cross the Avon River, and was conducted by the AntiPylon Action Committee and the National Party candidate for Avon, Mr C. McNicholl. Mr C. McKenzie, secretary of the committee, said that

the 220 Kv Bromley-Marsh-lands power line, which would cost about $150,000 a kilometre, was in excess of requirements. “There is not going to be a big increase in population or a big increase in the demand for power, and the committee contends that the transmission line, across the tops of houses, is quite unnecessary,” he said. “In the event of any increase in the demand for power, a 66 Kv line could be put through the area underground. One such line is going through Hagley Park, as I understand it, from Armagh Street to Addington,” he said. “The residents of the eastern suburbs have had enough, though, with rubbish tips, landfill sites, sewage-treat-ment works, and now power pylons,” he said. A total of 2000 houses

would be affected by the power pylons, which would be visible for about 200 m on either side. Dr Shearer advised the committee that it should ask the M.E.D. what justification there was for the line, and it should write to the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch), asking him to release the summary of submissions about the transmission line. Dr Shearer said he had hoped to be able to visit the controversial Waimairi landfill site, but that he did not have time on this occasion. He intended to see the site some time after the General Election. “I have undertaken to talk to the Minister of Health about the landfill site,” he said. “As I understand it, it is really in the hands of the Health Department." Dr Shearer said he had a lot of sympathy for residents of the area.