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Appendix 4: Proposed NES for transmission activities

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Published:

PDF download,nes electricity transmission discussion doc oct07, 1.3 MB

Published:

PDF download,nes electricity transmission discussion doc oct07, 1.3 MB

The objective of these proposals is to provide a consistent framework for managing the adverse effects of transmission activities throughout New Zealand by:

Objective

  • providing for transmission activities that do not have significant adverse effects to be classified as permitted activities (as long as they comply with specific terms and conditions to define the threshold of effects)
  • defining resource consent requirements for activities which are not permitted.

Note: if a transmission activity is not listed in the standard as permitted (table A4), controlled (table A5) or restricted discretionary (table A6), it should be regarded as a discretionary activity. In addition, table A7 lists activities specifically identified as discretionary.

Scope

The proposals for national environmental standards apply to transmission activities. In other words, the NES proposals apply to the operation, maintenance and upgrading or enhancement of transmission lines, including work undertaken adjacent to the lines that is required to achieve a specified activity (eg, moving a transmission tower requires associated earthworks). The proposals do not apply to activities undertaken at substations. The proposals only apply to the line owner or authorised agent.

How the proposals would work

Plans cannot be more lenient nor more stringent than the proposed NES. Refer to figure 3 (page 21) for a flowchart of the steps involved in determining consent requirements under the proposed NES for transmission activities, and to section 4.3 for an explanation of activity types. The steps are given below, and the detailed requirements for each activity type are set out in the following tables.

1. Is the activity listed as a permitted activity (Table A4)?

a. If so, does it meet the terms and conditions listed (and the additional terms and conditions for noise and earthworks)? Then it is a permitted activity.

b. If the activity is listed in the permitted activities list, but fails to meet the terms and conditions, then it will default to controlled, restricted discretionary or discretionary. The permitted activities table will specify where the activity defaults to.

2. Is the activity listed as a controlled activity (Table A5)?

a. If so, does it fall within the detailed definition? Then it is a controlled activity.

b. If the activity falls outside the definition, the table will specify where the activity defaults to (generally restricted discretionary).

3. Is the activity listed as a restricted discretionary activity (Table A6)?

a. If so, does it fall within the detailed definition? Then it is a restricted discretionary activity.

b. If the activity falls outside the definition, the activity will default to discretionary.

4. Is the activity listed as discretionary (Table A7), or is it not listed in Tables A4 to A6?

a. If so, it is a discretionary activity.

b. If the activity falls outside the restricted discretionary descriptions, or is listed as defaulting to discretionary, then it is a discretionary activity.

Examples of determining consent requirements

1. Reconductoring a line with a conductor of the same size (for maintenance reasons) at the same configuration, and the replacement of some insulators.

Status: The reconductoring would be permitted under Table A4 (1).

Changing the insulators would be permitted under Table A4 (15).

2. Increasing carrying capacity of an existing line with tower increases of 18% to comply with the NZECP 34 ground-to-conductor clearances.

Status: The carrying capacity increase would be permitted under Table A4 (17).

Increasing the height of the towers is over 15% and exceeds the allowable height increase for a permitted [Table A4 (3)] or controlled activity [Table A5 (21)]. Therefore consent will be required as a restricted discretionary activity [Table A5(32)]. Note that since the increase in tower height results from line enhancement work by the line owner, the additional height increase allowed in Table A4 (3) point 4 for rectifying breaches by third parties does not apply.

3. Upgrading of an existing transmission line from 220 kV to 330 kV with insulator changes and increases to towers over 23% to comply with the NZECP 34 ground-to-conductor clearances.

Status: The increase in voltage would be permitted under Table A4 (17).

Changing insulators would be permitted under Table A4 (15).

As for example 2, increasing the height of the towers is over 15% and therefore consents will be required as a restricted discretionary activity [Table A6 (32)].

4. Construction of a new 220 kV line

Status: The construction of a new line is outside the scope of the proposed NES. The provisions of district plan rules will apply, unless the line owner arranges a designation in a district plan. Relevant provisions of regional plans will also apply.

Table A4: Proposed transmission activities NES: permitted activities

  • All permitted activities are subject to the terms and conditions for earthworks and noise listed in (18), (19) and (20).
  • The terms used to describe transmission activities are explained in the Glossary.

Activity

Terms and conditions

Default if fail to meet terms and conditions

1. Repair, addition or replacement of conductors

The work results in:

  • no more than duplex configuration
  • conductors not exceeding 50 mm diameter
  • where the existing conductor already exceeds 50 mm, any new or replacement conductor not exceeding the diameter of the existing conductor.

Restricted discretionary (39)

2. Addition or replacement of earth wires and aerial communications cables (including earth wires containing an optic fibre ground wire)

The work results in:

  • no more than 2 earth wires per pole / tower, or 1 earth wire and 1 communication cable per pole / tower
  • wires or cables not exceeding 25 mm diameter.

Restricted discretionary (39)

3. Alterations to or replacement / strengthening of towers and foundations (note: the definition of towers includes cross-arms)
  1. The tower height increase must not be more than 15% (including foundations and earth peaks) and the additional height must comply with any airport surface limitation or scheduled view shaft in a plan.
  2. The tower foundation footprint must not increase by more than 15% of the existing tower base footprint, calculated on an area basis.
  3. The tower foundation footprint must not be relocated by more than the tower relocation envelope for permitted activities (ie, no more than 60% of the width of the base, see figure 6, page 75).
  4. If the height increase is to correct an NZECP 34 violation created by parties other than the line owner, it may increase by up to 25%.

Controlled (21) or restricted discretionary (32)

4. Alterations to or replacement / strengthening of poles (note: the definition of poles includes cross-arms and guy wires)
  1. The pole height must not increase by more than 15% (including foundations and earth peaks) provided the additional height complies with any existing airport surface limitation or scheduled view shaft in a plan.
  2. The pole must not be relocated by more than 2 m, measured as a horizontal distance, from the pole it replaces.
  3. If the height increase is to correct an NZECP 34 violation created by parties other than the line owner, it may increase by up to 25%.

Controlled (22)

5. Replacement of a tower with a pole

The replacement pole must not exceed the height of the tower it replaces by more than 15%.

Restricted discretionary (32)

6. Removal of existing lines

 

Controlled (27)

7. Addition of circuits to lines designed to carry an additional circuit:

  • Inangahua - Kikiwa B
  • Inangahua – Westport B
  • Haywards – Melling A
  • Hairini – Mt Maunganui B

The conductors must not exceed 50 mm in diameter.

Restricted discretionary (39)

8. Trimming or removal of trees or vegetation for the purposes of transmission line maintenance

1.   Trees or vegetation are:

  • not explicitly scheduled in a district plan
  • not within a scheduled landscape / ecological protection area or land administered by the Department of Conservation under the Conservation Act 1987 or any other Act specified in Schedule 1 to that Act
  • not planted for authorised river control purposes.

2.   Trimming or vegetation clearance:

  • is supervised by an arboricultural professional; and
  • does not contribute to or create slope or land surface instability, including subsidence, or erosion of the bed or bank of any river, stream or lake.

Controlled (25) or restricted discretionary (36)

9. Signs attached to transmission infrastructure
  1. The total face area per pole / tower does not exceed 1 m2.
  2. For signs required for safety or navigation purposes, the total face area per pole / tower does not exceed 5 m2.

Restricted discretionary (37)

10. Temporary structures required for transmission maintenance or upgrade

Structures are erected not more than 20 working days before commencement of line works and removed no later than 20 working days after work finishes.

Controlled (24)

11. Painting of transmission support structures, components and foundations

 

n/a

12. Non-abrasive washing of transmission support structures and components
  1. Washing is not to be undertaken within 50 m of a water body or public road, or within 100 m of an occupied building.
  2. The wash water is not to contain chemical additives.
  3. All readily collectible waste and debris arising from abrasive blasting is to be removed from the site.
  4. There is to be no discharge of contaminants to water, and no discharge to land of contaminants that could enter water.

Controlled (28)

13. Wet abrasive blasting of transmission support structures and components
  1. Wet abrasive blasting is not to be undertaken within 50 m of a water body or public road, or within 100 m of an occupied building.
  2. Abrasive material is to contain no more than 5% free silica.
  3. No paint stripper (except solvent rag used for degreasing), fungicides, acids, alkalis, sodium hypochlorite or other oxidising agents is to be used for surface preparation.
  4. There is to be no discharge of contaminants to water, and no discharge to land of contaminants that could enter water.
  5. There is to be no discharge of contaminants to air that are noxious, dangerous, offensive or objectionable at the notional boundary of any occupied building.
  6. Prior to wet abrasive blasting work on towers coated with lead-based paint, a geotextile material of a filter quality shall be positioned on and around towers to capture spent abrasive material.
  7. All readily collectible waste and debris arising from abrasive blasting is to be removed from the site.

Controlled (28)

14. Dry abrasive blasting of tower foundations

1. Dry abrasive blasting is not to be undertaken:

  • within 50 m of a water body or public road, or
  • within 100 m of an occupied building, or
  • more than 1 m above ground level.

2. Abrasive material is to contain no greater than 5% free silica.

3. Prior to dry abrasive blasting work on towers coated with lead-based paint, a geotextile material of a filter quality shall be positioned on and around towers to capture spent abrasive material.

4. All readily collectible waste and debris arising from abrasive blasting is to be removed from the site.

5. There is to be no discharge of contaminants to water, and no discharge to land of contaminants that could enter water.

6. There is to be no discharge of contaminants to air that are noxious, dangerous, offensive or objectionable at the notional boundary of any occupied building.

Controlled (28)

15. Maintenance, replacement, alteration or addition of components or electrical fittings on support structures or conductors; for example (but not restricted to) hanger brackets, insulators, marker balls

There is to be no increase in the height of the structure unless permitted by items (3) or (4) of this table.

Controlled (21 or 22)

16. Enhancement of existing circuits – retensioning, re-sagging, nip-tuck

 

n/a

17. Operating at design voltage and increasing the voltage and / or carrying capacity of a line (this does not include any physical works required to upgrade the line)

  

n/a

18. Any earthworks (including tracking) associated with the above permitted activities
  1. The volume of any earthworks (including tracking) associated with a permitted activity shall not exceed any relevant permitted activity threshold specified in a regional plan.
  2. Earthworks in any scheduled landscape or ecological protection area identified in a district plan shall not exceed 50 m3 per tower or pole in a calendar year, or 100 m3 per track.
  3. All areas of bare ground shall be protected from soil erosion for the duration of the works.
  4. All areas of ground disturbance for foundation works shall be appropriately remediated at the completion of activities.

Controlled (27)

19. Any earthworks (including tracking) associated with the above permitted activities

 
  1. Earthworks shall not contribute to nor create slope or land surface instability, including subsidence, or the erosion of the bed or bank of any river, stream or lake.
  2. Excavated material or debris shall not be placed where it can enter any water body or the coastal marine area.
  3. No earthworks to be undertaken in the coastal marine area or the beds of lakes and rivers.
  4. Any earthworks undertaken on land identified in a contaminated land register held by a district or regional council shall comply with any relevant requirements of a district or regional plan.
  5. Construction or earthworks shall not be undertaken within an archaeological site, wāhi tapu area or any other cultural heritage area or sites explicitly scheduled in a district plan (unless the specific provisions of the district plan are complied with).
  6. If any archaeological site, as defined by the Historic Places Act 1993, or site of cultural significance is exposed or identified before or during earthworks activities, the following procedures shall be applied:
  • all site works are to cease immediately
  • the area is to be secured to prevent further disturbance.

Note: if any archaeological site that isn’t listed in a plan is uncovered as a result of earthworks, then it will be necessary for the person carrying out the work to notify relevant tangata whenua, NZ Historic Places Trust, the relevant district council, and, in the case of human remains, the Police. A resource consent may be required.

Restricted discretionary (38)

20. Noise and vibration associated with permitted activities
  1. Noise from all construction and maintenance work (including implosive jointing of conductors) is to comply with NZ Standard NZS 6803:1999 Acoustics – Construction Noise.
  2. Vibration from all construction and maintenance work is to meet the peak particle velocity limits in table 1 of German Standard DIN 4150-3:1999 Structural Vibration – Effects of Vibration on Structures.

Note: Noise from the normal operation of transmission lines would be managed via the district plan, probably requiring compliance with NZS 6802:1991 Assessment of Environmental Sound or NZS 6802:1999 Acoustics: Assessment of Environmental Sound.

Controlled (29 or 30)

Table A5: Proposed transmission activities NES: controlled activities

Activity

Matters over which control is reserved

Default if outside controlled description

21. Replacement of towers, or placement of fittings on towers, where the height increase is up to 15% (as for permitted), but relocated outside the existing tower base footprint by more than 60% of the width, but no more than 1.5 times the width of the existing tower base footprint (figures 6 and 7, page 75)
  • visual, landscape, archaeological (including wāhi tapu), ecological effects
  • construction works and timing.

Restricted discretionary (32)

22. Replacement of poles, or placement of fittings on poles where the height increase is up to 15% and located more than 2 m but less than 5 m in a horizontal distance from the existing pole base
  • visual, landscape, archaeological(including wāhi tapu), ecological effects
  • construction works and timing.

Restricted discretionary (32)

23. Temporary line deviation where one or more of the support structures located outside the replacement envelope (1.5 times the base width for towers, 5 m horizontally for poles (figure 7, page 75)
  • visual, landscape, archaeological (including wāhi tapu), ecological effects
  • duration of works
  • construction works and timing.

n/a

24. Temporary structures that exceed the time constraints for a permitted activity
  • visual, landscape, archaeological (including wāhi tapu), ecological effects
  • construction effects and timing of the work.

n/a

25. Trimming of scheduled areas of vegetation to reduce the risk to the transmission line

Note: this does not include individual scheduled trees.
  • effects on the form, integrity and longevity of the vegetation
  • replacement species and location.

Restricted discretionary (36)

26. New access tracks to transmission lines, including permanent deviations of existing tracks:

  • for the purpose of accessing transmission lines
  • that are not within a scheduled landscape or ecological area or area of cultural significance
  • visual, landscape, archaeological (including wāhi tapu), earthworks and ecological effects
  • earthworks matters (see (27) below).

Restricted discretionary (38)

27. Earthworks that do not meet specified permitted activity conditions, but excluding earthworks undertaken within a scheduled landscape or ecological or heritage area or area of cultural significance
  • volume and extent
  • wlope stability
  • wediment control
  • visual, landscape, ecological and archaeological (including wāhi tapu) remediation
  • construction effects and timing of the work.

Restricted discretionary (38)

28. Wet or dry abrasive blasting within 50 m of a water body or coastal marine area but work is not undertaken in the water body or coastal marine area or public road or within 100 m of a public building
  • containment methods for discharges to land, air or water
  • measures proposed for spill contingency management
  • extent and nature of effects on ecologically sensitive receiving environments.

Discretionary

29. Noise associated with maintenance and upgrading of transmission lines that fails to meet permitted activity requirements
  • timing of works and minimising effects on noise sensitive land uses
  • giving notice of work to potentially affected parties.

n/a

30. Implosive jointing of conductors that fails to meet noise limits for permitted activities
  • timing of works and minimising effects on noise sensitive land uses
  • giving notice of work to potentially affected parties.

n/a

Table A6: Proposed transmission activities NES: restricted discretionary activities

Note: there are no defaults specified for these activities, because if an activity is outside the description it will default to a discretionary activity.

Activity

Matters over which discretion applies

31. Permanent deviation of transmission line outside the tower relocation envelope for controlled activities (figure 7, page 75) or the specified timeframes for permitted activities
  • deviation route and siting of support structures in relation to visual, landscape, archaeological and ecological effects and areas of cultural sensitivity
  • height of support structure
  • siting of towers in relation to visual landscape and ecological effects
  • earthworks and vegetation clearance
  • construction effects
  • effects on any scheduled heritage item
  • electric and magnetic fields.

32. Replacement or alteration of a pole or tower that is not otherwise specified as permitted or controlled
  • height and siting of the tower or pole in relation to visual, landscape, archaeological and ecological effects and areas of cultural sensitivity
  • construction effects.

33. Underground transmission lines, including termination towers
  • siting of termination towers in relation to visual, landscape and archaeological effects and areas of cultural sensitivity
  • route of the underground cable in relation to visual, landscape, archaeological and ecological effects and areas of cultural sensitivity
  • extent and nature of earthworks and sediment control
  • construction effects
  • effects on services and infrastructure
  • electric and magnetic fields.

34. Telecommunication facilities on existing towers or poles required for transmission line management and monitoring, and not specified as permitted activities
  • antenna or dish or cable size, height and number
  • visual and landscape effects.

35. Permanent alterations to a scheduled transmission heritage item
  • degree of change to be made and effects on its heritage value
  • alternative methods.

36. Trimming of individual scheduled trees or removal of scheduled areas of vegetation for the purpose of reducing risk to the transmission lines
  • extent and nature of trimming and the effects on the health integrity and longevity of the tree
  • ecological effects.

37. Signs above the size limit specified for a permitted activity
  • orientation
  • visual effects.

38. Earthworks that are associated with works on or access to a line are:

  • undertaken within a scheduled heritage site, area or precinct; or
  • undertaken within scheduled landscape or ecological protection area; or
  • on land identified in a contaminated land register
  • extent and nature of disturbance and effects on the heritage values of the site area or precinct and areas of cultural sensitivity
  • reinstatement
  • earthworks management and methods
  • extent and nature of disturbance in relation to visual, landscape and ecological effects
  • extent and nature of disturbance in relation to health effects.

39. Addition or replacement of circuits, conductors or earth wires in excess of the number or size of conductors specified for permitted activities
  • visual effects
  • timing of works and minimising effects on sensitive land uses
  • electric and magnetic fields.

Note: there are no defaults specified for these activities, because if an activity is outside the description it will default to a discretionary activity.

Table A7: Proposed transmission activities NES: discretionary activities

Activity

40. Creating new access tracks through scheduled cultural or historic sites, or scheduled landscape / ecological protection areas

41. Work in the coastal marine area or in the beds of lakes and rivers

42. Any transmission activity not defined as permitted, controlled or restricted discretionary.

Note: line upgrades which result in a significant increase in line voltage, in the number of circuits or in the number of conductors would require additional work, such as increasing tower height or significant earthworks. Such projects would be unlikely to meet the terms and conditions specified for permitted, controlled or restricted discretionary activities and would be likely to default to discretionary activities.

    The number in brackets indicates the activity number in the following tables. For example, for adding conductors beyond duplex, the activity will default to restricted discretionary activity number 39 in Table A6.

 

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Appendix 4: Proposed NES for transmission activities

October 2007

© Ministry for the Environment