58   Erection and placement of water industry infrastructure

(1)  This section applies to work connected with the erection, installation, extension, alteration, maintenance or removal of any water industry infrastructure.

(2)  For the purposes of this Act, a licensed network operator:

(a)  may carry out work to which this section applies, and

(b)  in particular, may carry out any such work in or under a public road or public reserve.

(3)  No such work (other than routine connections, repairs or maintenance work) may be carried out unless the network operator:

(a)  has given the local council or roads authority notice of the proposal to carry out the work, and

(b)  has given the local council or roads authority a reasonable opportunity (being at least 40 days from the date on which the notice was given) to make submissions to the network operator in relation to the proposal, and

(c)  has given consideration to any such submissions.

(4)  Subsection (3) does not apply to the carrying out of any such work to cope with emergencies.

(5)  Work to which this section applies is exempt from the requirement for an approval under the Local Government Act 1993.

(6)  Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993 does not apply to or in respect of anything done, or to be done, pursuant to this section.