HEARING STATEMENT - PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL PLAN CHANGE 15A - RURAL ZONE (GENERAL ISSUES)

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1 11111 TRANSPOWER Keeping Ihe energy flowing Sarah Shand Phone: Transpower House 96 The Terrace PO Box 1021 Wellington 6140 New Zealand p F ]00 ww'w.transpower.co.nz 17 November 2015 Palmerston North City Council Private Bag Manawatu Mail Centre Palmerston North 4442 Delivered by lo:merle.lav;n@pncc.qovl.nz Dear Merle HEARING STATEMENT - PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL PLAN CHANGE 15A - RURAL ZONE (GENERAL ISSUES) I write regarding the above Plan Change and the public hearing to be held on 18 November Given Transpower's limited submission points on this topic we will not be attending the hearing. Please confirm receipt of this letter and ensure this letter is tabled at the hearing. For your reference, the National Grid assets located within the Palmerston North City Boundary are shown in the attached map. Background In its submission Transpower generally supported Plan Change 15A Rural Zone (General Issues) and the changes to Section 9 - Rural Zone of the Palmerston North City Council District Plan. However, Transpower did seek that provisions to manage buildings in close proximity to the National Grid introduced in Section 23 - Network Utilities, be included in the zone based chapters. Alternatively Transpower sought that a note or cross reference be included in Section 9 (and the other zone based chapters) to refer Plan Users to the network utilities rules in Section 23. In Transpower's further submission (FS-11/9), Transpower supported PowerCo's relief (S059/52) to include advice notes particular to compliance with the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Electrical Safe Distances (NZECP 34:2001) and the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations Comments on Section 42A Report I have reviewed Ms Coopers Section 42A report and note that submission S059/51 has been accepted and is recommended as "Notes for Plan Users - All Rules" in Section 9.4 Transpower New Zealand ltd The National Grid

2 Methods. Transpower supports the recommendation but notes a typographical error in the reference to NZECP 34:2001. A corrected version is provided below: (Deletion in strikethrough, addition in bold underline) New Zealand Electrical Code of fleractice for eglectrical s afe IQistances (NZECP 34:2001)... In preparation for the Section 23 - Network Utilities hearing (held on 11 th November), Transpower had ongoing discussion with Ms Cooper about various provisions, including providing a consistent approach across all sections of the Plan by way of using notes or cross references to the relevant National Grid Yard rules. Transpower is appreciative of the opportunity to discuss such matters with Ms Cooper prior to the hearing. It is Transpower's understanding from this, the Section 23 Section 42A report, and subsequent hearing that Ms Cooper is in agreement with Transpower that there is a need for plan users to be able to easily find and identify the relevant provisions that affect their land. Therefore in regards to Transpower's primary relief sought for the Section 9, Transpower is comfortable with the provisions provided there is a cross reference in Section 9 or a notation on the planning maps (as has been proposed by Ms Cooper) directing Plan Users to Section 23 of the Plan, and in particular the National Grid Yard rules. It is noted that if a cross reference in Section 9 is to be favoured, the recommended amendment version of Section 9 does not reflect this and further amendments would need to be made. Similarly, if the proposed planning maps and legend are to be notated, these will also require amendment to reflect this. Should you require clarification of any matter, please contact me ( ) or Joanne Mooar, Regulatory Environment Team Leader, ( ) or alternatively we can both be contacted on environmenl.policy@transpower.co.nz. Yours faithfully TRANSPOWER NEW ZEALAND LIMITED ~J--e- Sarah Shand Environmental Planner Attachment: Map of Transpower assets in Palmerston North City Transpower New Zealand Ltd The National Grid

3 o District Boundary mli SUbstation... COMMSSile [jj HVDCSile TEE Sile Transmission Line by Voltage 110 kv 220 kv Underground Fibre Optic Cable -- Major Road

4 APPENDIX 1: POWERCO SUBMISSIONS ON PLAN CHANGE lsa RURAL (GENERAL ISSUES) WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE REPORTING PLANNER ARE SUPPORTED Submission or FS No. 5059/52 Submission or FS 9 Rural Zone Include the following "Notes to Plan Users" to alert plan users to the requirement to appropriately avoid, remedy or mitigate potential adverse effects of inappropriate subdivision, use and development on Powerco's electricity sub-transmission and distribution network, to give effect to the policy framework of the One Plan and district plan, and to comply with NZECP34:2001 and the Tree Regulations 2003 in relation to all electricity lines: Recommendation of Reporting Planner Accept The Reporting Planner proposes wording as per Powereo's submission. Powerco's Recommendation to Committee Support the recommendations 1. The New Zealand Electrical Code of practice for electrical safe distances (NZECP 34:2001) contains restrictions on the location of structu res and activities around electricity lines. Compliance with this code is mandatory. Compliance with this plan does not ensure compliance with NZECP34:20010 The electricity line operator can be contacted for advice for any activities around the electricity network. 11Page

5 APPENDIX 1: POWERCO SUBMISSIONS ON PLAN CHANGE 15A RURAL (GENERAL ISSUES) WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE REPORTING PLANNER ARE SUPPORTED Submission Submission or FS Recommendation of Reporting Planner Powerco's Recommendation to Committee or FS No. 2. Vegetation to be planted near electricity lines should be selected and/or managed to ensure that it will not result in that vegetation breaching the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations To discuss works, including tree planting, near any electrical line, contact the line operator. 5059/26 Section Retain Objective 1 and Accept Support the recommendation Policies without modification FS24/2 Section 9.3 Objective 3 and Reject Support the recommendation corresponding policies The Reporting Planner considers that Changes to Section 23 of the District Plan are the adequate policy direction with regard to this subject of PC15G. Submissions and a statement Powerco supported in part a new matter is provided in Section 23 (network on this topic have been made to ensure potential Policy and corresponding explanation utilities). reverse sensitivity effects are appropriately as proposed by Radio NZ Ltd regarding addressed. protecting network utilities in the rural zone from reverse sensitivity There is an appropriate reference proposed in effects. the introduction to Topic 9 (Rural) to draw the attention of plan users to potential impacts on network utilities: Network utility operotions and renewable electricity generation facilities are also located in the rural environment, often due to their operational requirements and the location of 21Page

6 APPENDIX 1: POWERCO SUBMISSIONS ON PLAN CHANGE 1SA RURAL (GENERAL ISSUES) WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE REPORTING PLANNER ARE SUPPORTED Submission Submission or FS Recommendation of Reporting Planner Powerco's Recommendation to Committee or FS No. natural resources in the District. Development in close proximity to network utilities and renewable electricity generation facilities requires careful management, as it can lead to adverse effects on the operation, maintenance and upgrading of these importantfacilities. The location ofnetwork utilities and high voltage electricity transmission corridors (The National Grid) are shown on the Planning Maps. FS24/3 Section 9.3 Objective 2 and Reject Support the recommendation corresponding policies The Reporting Planner considers it more appropriate that the policy framework for Powerco supported in part a new recognising and providing for network utilities Policy and corresponding explanation is contained in the Network Utilities section of as proposed by Radio NZ Ltd to the Plan, where it can be applied across the recognise that importance of existing City regardless of the zone. The Reporting infrastructure in the rural zone. Planner notes that the relief sought would create repetition and duplication across the plan. 31Page