How consultation throughout a project can result in community support rather than opposition.
Selecting the route for the Wairakei to Whakamaru Transmission Line involved a tailored process. Transpower’s ACRE methodology (a systematic route selection process) was refined to take into account the specific circumstances of this project, successfully using multi-criteria analysis and weighting sensitivity tests informed by stakeholder and community consultation, to identify the preferred alignment from a complex set of options.
A ‘dirty-boots’ consultation process was used throughout, focused on engaging with affected landowners (including Māori Land Trusts). The unusual result was that a majority of submissions lodged on the designation were in support of the Project, and the only appeal was subsequently withdrawn.
