You are here: home › Projects ›

Northpower Limited

Click an image to enlarge:

Northpower Limited – Pompallier Estate Drive – Whangarei (Whangarei District)

Comment

Reyburn and Bryant was commissioned by Northpower to project manage a notice of requirement for a new substation. The project involved advising Northpower on planning related issues, co-ordinating the employment of relevant industry professionals, providing consultation advice and preparing and submitting the requirement to Whangarei District Council. Reyburn & Bryant also provided representation for Northpower at the hearing. The designation was confirmed by Whangarei District Council and accepted by Northpower subject to specific conditions.

Key Features

The proposal was to assist Northpower as a requiring authority to designate a site in Maunu for substation purposes (Generally speaking, the nature of the designation is to establish, construct, operate (including the substation and electric networks connection to substation), maintain, replace and repair, (including upgrading as necessary) an electricity substation. The designation is also proposed to cover works relating to electricity transformation, distribution and related communication requirements).

A number of sites around the Maunu area were evaluated in order to meet the requirements of the Act. Requirements for a suitable location included (but were not be limited to):

Proximity to existing sub-transmission lines
Within load centre
Accessible routing of out feeds
Number of affected parties
Topography.

The need for the designation was clearly identified by Northpower “To ensure the long-term security of power supply to meet the demand of residential growth in the Northland region thereby supporting community growth and development. “

A full assessment of environmental effects was managed and undertaken by Reyburn and Bryant (in consultation with other experts including a noise acoustic consultant, landscape architect and network engineer). The assessment covered the following matters:-

Visual Character and Amenity;
Loss of cultural/spiritual & heritage values;
Traffic, Access and parking;
Lighting;
Noise;
Temporary impact from Construction;
Soil contamination;
Electromagnetic Fields & Radiation; and any
Positive Effects.

Prior to lodgement of the Notice of Requirement application voluntary consultation was undertaken by Northpower, following the advice of Reyburn & Bryant. This helped to keep members of the public fully informed about the proposal and emphasised the strong relationship that Northpower has with the community. Following on from this, Northpower have undertaken to keep immediately surrounding neighbour up to date with development and landscaping plans.

Progress

Whangarei District Council has released a decision confirming the notice of requirement. Currently, Reyburn & Bryant, Northpower and their legal counsel are reviewing the decision, and will be shortly be making a recommendation to the Whangarei District Council.

Next project: Oakura Beach Estate