Transpower today released its preferred options for upgrading electricity infrastructure in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Public consultation on the options, which were developed jointly with local electricity distribution company Powerco, is open until September 10.

Transpower says it’s working with Powerco to ensure a co-ordinated approach to delivering the long-term electricity infrastructure needed to support the rapidly growing region.

“Our focus is on ensuring the people and businesses of the Western Bay of Plenty have the electricity supply they need, now and in the future,” says Transpower grid development acting executive general manager Cobus Nel.

“Last year we consulted on a wide range of options for necessary upgrades to the electricity network, and now we’re releasing a refined shortlist for feedback.

“In the area covering Tauranga city and Kaitemako and extending to the west, our preferred option will improve electricity capacity and resilience by providing a new point of supply connected to the national electricity grid.

“The second piece of the puzzle is to improve electricity capacity in the area from Mount Maunganui to Te Puke and the coastal strip towards Pāpāmoa and Wairākei, by upgrading the existing 110kV transmission line from Kaitemako through to Te Matai, Ōkere and then Tarukenga.”

A new 110kV transmission line from the Te Matai substation to Wairākei is also proposed to support planned and future growth in this eastern corridor.

Powerco electricity general manager Karen Frew welcomes the release of the preferred options and urges the local community to review the plan and provide feedback.

“Connecting communities to reliable and resilient energy is at the heart of what we do,” says Karen.

“Looking holistically at electricity infrastructure in this growing region will enable better outcomes for communities, ensuring we deliver the right projects at the right time,”

The western corridor and eastern corridor solutions together create a proposed Western Bay of Plenty Development Plan to meet the electricity needs of the region into the future, with upgrade work proposed to begin from 2027.

The next step is to understand the views of people and communities the proposed solutions. Transpower’s consultation is open from July 30 until September 9, and the consultation documents are available on the Transpower website.

Consultation information

To learn about the consultation, how to submit, and all relevant documents, go to: https://www.transpower.co.nz/projects/wbop

To receive updates about the Western Bay of Plenty Development Plan, join our e-newsletter mailing list by emailing wbop@transpower.co.nz

– SunLive