Marlborough Lines – Growing Marlborough Together!

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In this news update, we’re highlighting three of the many organisations Marlborough Lines collaborates with or sponsors to promote regional growth, reinforcing our commitment to Growing Marlborough Together.

Marlborough Lines was thrilled to present the 2024 Marlborough Colleges Tertiary Study Awards to two students from across the region in December.

The recipients of the 2024 awards were Willem Hayton from Marlborough Boys’ College, and Rachel Sampson from Marlborough Girls’ College.

Each year, up to three students with the desire, commitment, and capability to embark on tertiary study in the fields of science or engineering are selected for the scholarship.

We recognise it’s more of a financial challenge for young adults from Blenheim to travel to the larger centres for university study. Our hope is that these scholarships can help make studying and living away from home a little easier for these promising young people as they embark on their education journeys beyond college.

Vineyard Safety

Vineyards often have overhead power lines near or running through them, so there is significant risk of you or your equipment accidentally contacting the line. You don’t even need to touch the line to be in danger – electricity can jump through the air to you and your equipment.

When mobile plant will be operating (tipping, raising or lowering) 4 metres or less from overhead lines, under section 5.2.1 of NZECP 34 you must apply to Marlborough Lines for written consent (Close Approach Authority) that allows the mobile plant to operate at a reduced distance.

If your machine does contact a power line, call Marlborough Lines and do not leave the cab until the power is off. If you must exit the cab due to fire, jump off with your feet together without touching the ground and machinery at the same time. Then, keeping your feet together, jump to safety and stay well clear.

Obeying the rules can help ensure all workers’ safety.

- Every line must be treated as live. Always.

- Don't locate dump/load sites under or near power lines.

- When moving tall machinery, choose the route where power lines are high enough for adequate clearance.

- Always have any machine capable of being raised or lowered in the lowered position prior to moving under lines.

- Ensure operators are competent in the operation of their machines, thoroughly briefed and understand the dangers of working near power lines. Stay alert even when auto-guidance systems are being used.

- Ensure a competent safety observer is able to maintain effective communication with the operator and alert them to any perceived hazard.

- Before you harvest, prune, load or move equipment, look up and familiarise yourself with the location of power lines.

- Locate a warning notice as near as practicable to the operator/driver's position stating "WARNING KEEP CLEAR OF POWER LINES". These stickers are available from Marlborough Lines.

LiDAR Aerial Scanning of Overhead Lines

Marlborough Lines is always seeking more efficient ways to gather network information to continually improve maintenance practices and keep the network safe and reliable.

LiDAR is a technology that uses laser pulses to scan the lines from above and provide an accurate 3-dimensional map of the network and anything in its vicinity such as trees and buildings.

This work will be undertaken in May using a LiDAR scanner mounted on a helicopter which will fly over our entire network collecting the information.

More details about this process will be shared on our website nearer the time, and Marlborough Lines will also publish details in local newspapers.

Upper Wairau Valley Electricity Supply

In recent years, extensive vineyards (with water storage and irrigation) have been developed in the upper Wairau Valley. This has resulted in electricity connections to the Marlborough Line’s distribution network, utilising the available network capacity.

Marlborough Lines has commenced a project to provide additional network capacity for the upper Wairau Valley. If you are wanting a new (or upgrade to an existing) network connection in the upper Wairau Valley, we encourage you to complete an application form on Marlborough Lines’ website.

Additional capacity will be limited, so capacity would be allocated to new connections on a “first come, first served” basis. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Connections team at Marlborough Lines.