Connetics Stringing Orion’s New 66kV: A Symphony in Motion!
Last Thursday, after spending a significant portion of the day alongside colleagues from across The Orion Group and representatives from Selwyn District Council planting 1,400 native plants as part of the recloaking initiative at a reserve in Brookside, near the Irwell River, we made a brief stop on our return journey to Christchurch. Our purpose? To admire the orchestration of the ‘symphony’ in motion—the impressive operation led and project-managed by Connetics to string Orion NZ Ltd’s new 66kV line from our new Norwood zone substation to Brookside.
Although we couldn’t capture the full magnificence of the moment in photos (the team was deep into a particularly delicate operation, and we didn’t want to risk causing a safety incident by entering the work site), what we saw was nothing short of extraordinary. The sight of a crane meticulously attaching the 66kV conductor to the new 30-meter steel monopoles was a stark reminder that this is far from an everyday task. It’s an operation that not only demands a good head for heights but also requires careful planning and precise handling of the lines themselves. While many are aware of the dangers posed by the accidental release of electrical energy and the challenges of working at height, in operations like this one, the safe management of mechanical energy is just as critical.
Myself, along with several other members of The Orion Group—Karen Wiese, Merv McKay, Clayton Wallwork, Stephen Spence, and Josh Dickson from Connetics—spent a good 15 minutes watching this symphony in motion.
Hats off to everyone involved! Having a skilled workforce across The Orion Group and our service delivery partners capable of executing such complex projects is essential. It enables Orion to continue fulfilling our critical role in supporting growth and maintaining a safe, reliable, and resilient network for the communities we serve.
Ngā mihi nui, Nigel.
