HCA Survey: Should we underground our power lines?
We have closed this survey - Final Report on Survey
Background
Aurora is planning to upgrade some of the overhead power lines in Lake Hāwea, including those on the streets Capell Avenue and Skinner Crescent. This reopens discussions about undergrounding power lines on the ‘main road’ of Lake Hāwea from Capell Ave through to the end of Lakeview Terrace (see map below). This project would use funds Aurora was otherwise going to use for upgrading the overhead lines, towards a project of undergrounding those lines instead. It should be noted that Aurora does not have current plans to upgrade the lines on Lakeview Terrace.
Costs
We already have a rough estimate of the costs of the project to underground the lines in the map as highlighted above. The rough estimated cost of the project, including costs to reinstate but not to upgrade the footpaths, is between $3 million and $3.2 million. This includes the requirement to upgrade the street lights along this stretch of street as many of the lights sit on power poles.
Safety
In relation to safety of the lines, if Aurora Energy completes its planned project and upgrades overhead lines on Capell Ave, the new lines should be assumed to be as modern and safe as current standards require overhead lines to be. However, the lines on Lakeview will remain in their current condition (40-50 years old) because Aurora does not have current plans to upgrade them.
Contributions
We understand that Aurora is happy to contribute the total amount it would cost to replace the section that overlaps with our underground footprint. Breakdown of contributions that would be required to complete the project:
Aurora: $180k per km contribution from Aurora. This is based on avoided overhead renewal costs and is an estimate of what those costs would be. Aurora would need to apply the asset relocations policy and seek input and approval from their regulatory team. Currently Aurora is only considering this contribution toward the section they are already planning to upgrade.
Households: $1 million - if the homeowners of the houses on each of the affected streets put in an average of 4-5k (at least 200 households), this would be a contribution of $1 million.
Other sources: $1.8-2 million to be raised from other sources (this could include further contributions from the affected homeowners).
Inability to accurately ascertain costs
Please note: It is impossible to give accurate estimates of the costs of the project until a plan has been drawn (similar to getting estimates for building a house, requiring plans first to be drawn). Because the cost to write up the plan is approx. $35k and this project will require a considerable amount of fundraising, we need to ensure this is a direction the community is interested in before we go any further.
Footpaths
In preparation for putting this survey out, a number of focus groups have been run with residents living in and near the directly affected streets. It has been noted there is considerable interest in upgrading the footpaths. While this cost is not included in the cost estimate above, and upgrading the footpaths is not dependent on undergrounding going ahead - the undergrounding project could present an opportunity to lobby QLDC to use some of their footpaths budget to include that work as part of the undergrounding project.
Possibility of increases in rates
The Hawea Community Association (HCA) would also like to point out that QLDC is currently looking at potential large rate increases for Lake Hāwea residents to pay for the required improvements to Lake Hāwea’s sewerage system. Generally, when QLDC funds a project to upgrade infrastructure in a particular area, the residents perceived to be in the catchment zone benefiting from those upgrades will have their rates affected.
Level of Community Support to be Measured Before Going Further
By putting out this survey, HCA is not implying it is willing to contribute funds toward or fundraise for this project. The aim of this survey is to find out if there is strong support for the project in the community and ascertain if there are interested parties who would be willing to donate significant funds toward the project. Both would be required if HCA is to consider supporting a more in-depth feasibility study into the project.
If you want to see this project go ahead and wish to donate significant funds toward the project, please email powerlines@haweacommunity.nz to let us know.
We have extended the dates for submission by one week due to COVID-19 lockdown.
Submissions close Saturday 18th September
