Waihi cable installation
We’re installing a 33kV electricity cable underground between Waikino substation, on the corner of Sub Station Lane and Pukekauri Rd, and OceanaGold’s operation at Baxter Rd, Waihi.
Our contractors, Northpower, are carrying out this work on our behalf, beginning early September 2026, along Pukekauri Road, Frankton Road, Crean Road, under State Highway 2 and along Baxter Road.
The entire 12km cable installation route (see map below) is expected to be completed by May 2027.
The cable will be installed underground, through trenching or directional drilling, within the road reserve, either under the berm or the road, and is to support OceanaGold's Waihi operations.
To carry out the work, trenching, directional drilling, traffic management and some temporary changes to access will be required at different stages in this area.
No power outages are planned as part of the work.
FAQs
OceanaGold’s Waihi operations are subject to power restrictions during peak demand periods to help manage local electricity use. At times, particularly during busy holiday periods, this requires the site’s processing plant to shut down temporarily. To address this constraint, Powerco is upgrading the power supply to OceanaGold’s Waihi site.
The power cable will be installed underground within the Hauraki District Council-owned road reserve, either under the berm or the road carriageway.
A trench will be excavated to install the cable but, in some places, to minimise disruption, directional drilling will be used. Directional drilling is a trenchless method of cable installation where a drill rig bores an underground path for the power cable.
If your property is accessed from the road where the cable is being installed, driveway access may be temporarily affected while the trench is opened and the cable is installed. Any restrictions to your property access will be minimised by:
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Excavating only half of the driveway access at a time, or
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Ensuring the driveway access is excavated and backfilled within an agreed three-to-four-hour window, or
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Directional drilling, to avoid the need for the driveway to be excavated, or
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Use of large steel plates to cover open trenches for unexpected traffic movements or emergency situations
Any damage to driveways, berms or road carriageway will be reinstated as soon as possible following installation of the cable.
There will be partial road closures. Traffic management plans will be in place to ensure that one lane of the road remains open for traffic or, should this not be possible, an alternative route (detour) will be provided.
Work will start early September 2026 and will be carried out in stages (see indicative timelines in the map above). The work is expected to be completed in May 2027.
Generally, work hours will be Monday to Saturday 7am to 5.30pm. Work will not take place over the Christmas-New Year period.
Dust will be mitigated by using water carts.
Noise will be minimised by limiting the hours of work to between 7am to 5.30pm. Where works are close to residential dwellings, the timing of the works will be planned in conjunction with the property owner/occupiers to minimise any impact.
