Region's pylon group mulls national body

The group representing South Canterbury landowners with pylons on their land wants to establish a national body.

That plan follows an informal group committee meeting on Monday night that included a representative from a North Island group of landowners similarly affected by pylons.

Group spokesman Jeremy Talbot said it was hoped a national body would set up a central database that could inform landowners affected by pylons of their legal rights and keep them posted on the latest news regarding the fight for compensation for landowners from lines companies.

The idea of a national group evolved from previous work done by Federated Farmers, other pylon groups around New Zealand and the findings of a New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report into compensation for landowners with pylons on their land.

"Farmers have woken up to the fact that we do have rights, there are things that they can do and they need to be better informed," Mr Talbot said.

Forming a national group would make Transpower and the Government realise the issue affected more than a handful of landowners.

He said he had been inundated with messages of support and enquiries from individuals and groups throughout the country representing landowners with pylons on their property wanting to know more about the South Canterbury group.

A fortnight ago, the group barred Transpower vehicles from entering landowners' properties to carry out upgrades to the crucial Roxburgh-Islington line.

Transpower and the group were still negotiating over annual compensation for landowners with pylons on their properties. Herald Staff

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