NZRC recently selected SGS to audit the ISO 14001 Environmental
Management System (EMS). This revealed no non conformances and
concluded that the EMS is a robust means of identifying, monitoring
and complying with all environmental requirements. For more
information about the audit, click on the link to our Environmental Policy .
Our site now also includes a full survey of all District and
Regional Council Plan Changes along the pipeline route . We welcome feedback
about Easement Management carried out on our behalf by Vector Gas
Ltd who recently contracted Treescape to carry out work. If you are
a landowner or occupier with special requirements i.e. organic
farming where no spraying is allowed, please contact us. This also
applies to neighbours who would not normally be on our landowner
data base.
The EMS has been developed from the Code of Environmental
Practice - On shore pipelines, produced by the Australian Pipeline
Industry Association (APIA). It is a robust system that's been
presented and nominated for awards by the APIA. With the continued
support of Refinery staff, contractors, consultants, local
authorities and landowners we're able to maintain it to the 14001
Standard. We welcome your comments or practical ideas for
improvement and in the first instance.
Further information on the Environmental Policy and maps can be
found on the Pipeline Performance
& Compliance page.
New projects underway for the pipeline are:
- As part of our maintenance programme we're looking at four
inspections of the buried pipe later this year to check the
findings from the In Line inspection tool in 2009. Greasing of our
in line valves along the route will be carried out on a routine
basis. Every effort is made to ensure that neighbours are not
affected by noise or odours during this maintenance activity which
is carried out during normal daylight hours only.
- The secondary communication system is now completed providing
the pipeline with a reliable secondary communication system.
- The pipeline is now fully depicted on all Council District
Plans and works adjacent to the designation require a Section 176
approval from NZRC. Refer to Designation
- The Safety Management Study has been completed and
NZRC have completed all necessary actions. These include the
need to provide each landowner and occupier a map of their property
detailing the position of the easement and the designation. We
would appreciate your feedback on these actions as they are
completed maps and if they have provided you with added information
for your land management. Other actions have resulted in
clearing of unwanted pine trees that could have posed a hazard at
one of our remote valve sites. This achieved a win-win for both the
landowner and the Company.
- We monitor changes to District Plans, Resource Consent
applications and other forms of development along the pipeline to
ensure mutual agreement between parties affecting change. NZRC
welcomes discussion and will proactively assist developments.
Please feel free to contact us regarding these matters.
- Our upgraded Leak Detection Model commissioned early this year
has proved to be extremely accurate during live testing and
provides us with instantaneous knowledge of any pipeline
breach.
- A few minor upgrades have also taken place on other systems of
the pipeline to ensure our reliability to supply Auckland during
the World Cup.
- An emergency exercise was held earlier this year with multi
agency participation. These exercises are held at regular intervals
to ensure that proactive systems are put in place for all necessary
Civil Defence mechanisms to mitigate any adverse event including
natural disasters such as earthquake, tsunamis and inadvertent
third party occurrence.
- NZRC are actively communicating with the new Auckland Council
regarding the modelling of the new City under the Spatial Plan
which will when completed be called the Auckland Plan. This ensures
that future requirements for the fuel sector in New Zealands major
City will be catered for.