Electricity upgrade to Quail Way

Northpower has completed an urgent modification to an electricity pillar to ensure the safety of Mangawhai residents.

Field staff had raised concerns over flooding around a pillar supplying electricity to one home in Quail Way.

The company completed a risk assessment, met on site with the Kaipara District Council late last week to outline safety concerns due to drainage and when storm conditions threatened the area last week, the company put a faultman on standby to monitor the situation.

The Council also engaged a contractor to monitor water levels and safely remove flood waters if required.

Following further liaison with residents over the weekend, Northpower technicians have this week raised the pillar by 50cm to keep it clear of potential flood waters. One house was without power for 1.5 hours on Tuesday while the repair was completed.

Although the company does not expect further issues with flooding, Northpower Network General Manager Josie Boyd says if residents notice flooding around the pillar in future, they need to stay clear of the water and keep others away - due to the risk of electric shock - and phone Northpower Faults immediately on 0800 10 40 40.

“It’s very important to keep our staff and community safe which is why we acted quickly to rectify this situation. But as always, if anyone has any concerns they should phone our Faults line immediately.”

Mrs Boyd says residents of Kaiwaka, Mangawhai, Waipu, Ruakaka and One Tree Point can expect to see plenty of Northpower and Northpower Fibre staff in the area over the next few years.

“We are very excited about expanding the Northpower Fibre network throughout our Kaipara and Whangarei as it will be a substantial boost for our community. Our build teams are making really strong progress already.

Construction of the Waipu fibre network is well underway and we have just started the One Tree Point build. The first stage of the Dargaville fibre network begins in August,” says Mrs Boyd.

Mangawhai Village will be underway in September 2018, Mangawhai Heads South in March 2019 and Mangawhai Heads North in August 2019.

The Kaiwaka UFB network build will begin in April 2020, Maungaturoto in June 2020, Waikaraka in September 2020 and Ruawai in November 2020. Work on the Paparoa network will start in January 2021 and be completed in May 2021.