Poles through bush worry residents of Arthur’s Pass

Press, 13 March 1986, Page 2

Poles through bush worry residents of Arthur’s Pass

Some residents of Arthur’s Pass are concerned about what they say was a lack of public consultation in the move to install power to the Temple Basin ski-field. The Central Canterbury Electric Power Board began work last week on the new system of underground and overhead wiring from the village to the field.

The 3.5 km of wiring will follow the existing pylon corridor to the top of the pass, then branch off up the mountainside to the basin which houses the lodges and ski tows. The final section of overhead wiring, consisting of eight poles running from part-way along the access track, then along a valley to the field, is the main cause of concern to the residents. A spokeswoman for the group said yesterday that there had been no consultation with local residents about the proposal, and that there were a lot of people in the village concerned about it. “There should have been more publicity about it. It seems it has all gone through very quickly and quietly, without any public discussion,” she said. She said it appeared the proposal had been dealt with by the ski clubs, the Lands and Survey Department, and the power board. She would like to see a public meeting on the matter.

“We don’t have any complaint about the power going up to the field, but we object to the

visual impact of power poles through the bush and on the mountain — the people who have made the decision don’t live here,” she said. The Assistant Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr Brian Sly, said the proposal, forwarded by the Christchurch and Canterbury University ski clubs, had been approved after about two years of consultation and investigation by the Lands and Survey Department, the North Canterbury National Parks and Reserves Board, and the Nature Conservation Council.

“We think the final approved system has the least visual and environmental impact on the land,” said Mr Sly.

He said research had shown the present use of diesel as the energy source on the field had a detrimental effect on the environment. “Diesel leaks are a great threat to the subalpine and alpine plants, and any damage can take decades to repair.” Mr Sly said the department had to evaluate the two different systems in terms of environmental risk, and in granting approval for electrification had stipulated that all diesel be removed from the field, except for that used to run the top tow. “This uses very little diesel and is removed from the lodge area. We intend to look at replacing the use of diesel to run it some time in the future.” He said the first section of poles, from Arthur’s Pass village to the top of the pass, followed the main utility corridor which was recognised as available for the main trunk power for Electricity Division pylons. “The new proposal means poles will be placed alongside the main pylons in bush that is not

as protected as that in the rest of the park. It has a human use already committed to it and we are not breaking into any new parts.”

The second section of wiring up the mountainside will initially be underground from the carpark and along some of the access track, then will be overhead to the field.

“The underground section will minimise the visual impact, and the poles up the hillside are the least threat to surface erosion. Underground cabling here would be messy to put in and would create a pipe-line view up the hill.

“With poles we can fly them in by helicopter and the operation is very neat and clean.”

Mr Sly said there could be a small amount of aesthetic damage to the park, but that the poles would create no environmental damage.

Poles were also easier to repair after a storm or lightning strike, and would mean people in lodges would have to use emergency energy systems for three or four days rather than the one or two weeks needed to locate damage in underground cables. "The pole positions have been carefully worked out to provide the smallest visual impact possible,” Mr Sly said. The groups that had made the decision and formed the proposal represented the public. The idea had been well aired in local newsletters and magazines, he said.

“We received no response or objection, and believe the proposal is for the good of both and public and the environment.”

The ski clubs felt that electrification would improve their image and thereby increase their market share, Mr Sly said.