Power cut after pole sliced near Herbert

Power was cut to about 100 properties around Herbert after a man operating a tree cutter sliced through this power pole in Ross Rd just north of the township about 12.45pm yesterday.

Volunteer fire brigades from Kakanui and Weston put out a small grass fire caused by the downed power lines.

Lines company Network Waitaki network manager David Paterson said power was out to properties for about 20 minutes, except for a handful of addresses, which he expected would have their power restored by the end of yesterday at the latest.

He said the company would pursue costs for the power pole, which he expected would be between $5000 and $10,000 and possibly more when health and safety costs for staff working on the repair were included. People cutting poles was not a common occurrence, he said.