Western Network Upgrade
1 September 2010
WEL Networks New Electricity Transmission Line Construction Project is Progressing on Schedule
Construction of the new, 25km electricity transmission line that will connect the Te Uku wind farm with WEL Networks's substations is progressing on schedule. All 170 poles will be erected by the end of September and the construction project will be completed in October.
One third of the line - 8km has been undergrounded and this work is nearly complete, with some final reinstatement still being done by contractors.
Several sections of the overhead electricity transmision route are completed and approximately two thirds - around 110 - of the new poles and foundations are finished. The conductor wiring operation has continued in parallel with the pole foundation and erection work.
Helicopters are still being used to haul in concrete, for pole foundations, and poles into remote areas where construction is taking place. Once all the poles are erected, helicopters will continue to be used to install conductors onto the poles.
Electricity Line Route Update - June 2010
The map below indicates the locations where work will take place during June and July. Click on the map itself to open an enlarged view
Undergrounding Continues(location indicated with an 'a' on the map)
A length of approximately four kilometres of undergrounding work has been completed along Karakariki Road. And, throughout June and July, undergrounding will continue along State Highway 23 as indicated on the map.
These new cables will form part of the 25 kilometre electricity transmission route that will connect the Te Uku Wind Farm with WEL Networks’ substations.
The undergrounding work involves a team of people operating diggers and cabling equipment. You’ll see roadside signs, road cones and traffic management personnel along the route.
Our contractors have a comprehensive safety and management plan in place to ensure a safe environment that keeps disruption to a minimum. However, we do also ask for your patience and vigilance when driving through these work areas. This will ensure the areas remain as safe as possible for our contractors and other drivers.
Line Construction Underway (locations indicated with a ‘b’ on the map)
Construction of the overhead electricity transmission route that will connect the Te Uku Wind Farm with WEL Networks’ substations at Te Kowhai and Te Uku commenced in April and has been making steady progress, with activity occurring in three separate areas.
The first step has been the construction of foundations for new poles. This work involves firstly driving in a specially-equipped excavator to the pole sites to dig the foundation holes. Secondly, where the terrain has required it, a helicopter has been flying in the concrete and placing it into the prepared holes. Our contractors, United Group, have also been able to access some sites directly with concrete road trucks.
Each pole foundation requires several loads of concrete which is then left to cure for several weeks. Once the concrete is set our contractors lift the poles by helicopter or crane, as required, and place them on the foundations.
You may have noticed in the distance the first poles appearing on the slopes close to where the wind farm will be located and heading down the hill in the direction of State Highway 23.
The overhead line construction work is out of the line of sight of most landowners. However, it is likely some landowners will hear the helicopters flying overhead during the months of June and July while work continues. We understand this can cause some disruption; therefore we will generally limit the work to approximately 5-6 hours each day, during daylight hours.
Work is Weather Dependent
Our contractors depend on good weather to complete our projects on schedule. Therefore, rain and other poor weather conditions could delay our timetable and the indicative dates we’ve outlined above. Poor weather could also change the locations (as indicated on the attached map) where the work will take place.
In late 2010, WEL Networks will perform maintenance and upgrading on 10 kilometres of overhead lines from Cogswell Road to Whatawhata, to the west of Hamilton.
This work involves replacing the old wires on the current line with new wire and will happen following the completion of the new transmission route that is currently being built in conjunction with the Te Uku Wind Farm.
The planned maintenance and upgrade work will bring the line up to WEL's standards and improve the security of supply in the local area.
To view the transmission route and more detail about the upgrade work, please click here or on the image below.
Last updated: Wednesday, 1 September 2010
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