Farmers to Continue Lines Discussions

Federated Farmers will continue to talk to Transpower and political leaders to seek solutions to issues around power pylons over private land.

Farmer leaders from four provinces visited Wellington yesterday for meetings with Transpower, government ministers, and opposition MPs.

“The meetings were reasonably successful but there is still a lot of negotiating ahead of us,” said John Sexton of Auckland Federated Farmers.

Farmers are seeking to negotiate enduring access and easement agreements which would give Transpower the ability to maintain and upgrade existing lines while recognising the implications on farmers.
“At present farmers provide free access to power pylons on their land, but this access and the presence of lines and pylons comes with a cost to landowners due to disruption to farming practice – including restrictions on land use activities along line corridors and on land adjacent to lines.

“This issue has been brought in to stark focus by the upgrading of lines in some provinces, a process which involves teams of workers and heavy machinery which is highly disruptive to land owners.

“The lack of access and easement agreements has led to bitter and long-running disputes between landowners and Transpower, and Federated Farmers is trying to proactively find a solution on behalf of its members.

“One positive out of yesterday’s meetings was a commitment to set up a working committee of representatives from Transpower and Federated Farmers. The committee would meet regularly to discuss the access issue,” said Mr Sexton.

“It is important that farmers’ claims are fairy represented.

“Farmers are seeking access and easement agreements including an annual rental for power pylons, but only when they are upgraded.

“They are seeking a clear agreement which benefits all parties, providing certainty on Transpower’s access to its power pylons, and an acknowledgement of the costs on land owners of providing access and lines corridors.

“We did not expect a breakthrough at the meetings yesterday, but we will continue to negotiate and talk to the government and Transpower,” Mr Sexton said.

“The minister’s claim that agreements will cost $100 million a year is an exaggeration. An access agreement will add 0.3 cents per unit of energy, which is miniscule compared to recent retail power price rises,” Mr Sexton said.