A planned workers village in Ranfurly will not be built, as Transpower has opted to house workers in accommodation already available in the area despite it being given the green light to fast-track by the Government. 

Transpower had floated the idea of building the village to house its workers while working on the Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project - a significant project underway in Central Otago and the Waitaki region. 

The Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project is a big part of Transpower’s support to shift New Zealand to a low carbon economy.  

The Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project will help provide more transmission capacity from the lower South Island to areas north, from around 600 MW today to around 1000 MW when completed.

A Transpower spokesperson told The Central App the company “has determined not to proceed with the development of a workers’ village” after discussions with the community. 

“This follows refinement in our plans and further assessment of the feasibility of a village compared to a local accommodation option.  

“We will not further our application for the workers’ village made under the fast-track consenting process.  

“Our current plan indicates we need accommodation for fewer people than first thought – and for a shorter time (50 people for around four months versus 80 people for around 9 months).  

“In making this decision, Transpower has talked with the community who have conveyed to us, overwhelmingly, of their support for workers being accommodated across their region.  

“This local accommodation option also has less project risk attached, and importantly this option has similar health and safety outcomes for our people.  

“We respect the community’s viewpoint, while being conscious of ensuring the supply of long-term rental accommodation to local families and individuals is not impacted.” 

Only holiday houses and some commercial properties will be used to house about 50 workers from mid-January 2022 in the region.   

“We are confident that our use of the accommodation is unlikely to impact the holiday accommodation used for tourism activities such as the Rail Trail.”

Central Otago District Council Planning Manager David Campbell says council is aware Transpower had planned to lodge a fast track application, but have since decided not to. 

“Their initial application was to see if their project would be eligible for the fast track process, which the Minister decided it was.”

Transpower expects to commission the Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project in May 2022.