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6:47AM Sunday 05 July, 2009

Valley electric with fears

17 June 2008

| By Grant Reynolds

Residents will have plenty of time to air their concerns, as consultants begin field work to determine the impact of acquiring a new easement and constructing a high-voltage transmission line through Eerwah Vale in the Noosa hinterland, the state government- owned corporation said.

Powerlink releases the final terms of reference (TOR) for the environmental impact study, last month after assessing 52 submissions in response to the draft version from landowners, stakeholders and council.

Powerlink chief operating officer, Simon Bartlett, said Powerlink would investigate concerns.

Mr Bartlett said the TOR is the “rule book” that will guide the consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff, on what potential impact areas, such as environmental and economic, should be addressed in the investigation and preparation of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS).

“There was a very small number of things which really aren’t part of an EIS ... Powerlink will respond separately on those,” he said.

“At the high level, the TOR will require the consultant to look at all of the impacts of the proposed development, whether those are technical or economic, and economic would include effects in the broader area, individual impacts through to ecological impacts to social impacts, so at the high level the TOR would cover those things.”

Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) spokesman Graham Smith said the group’s submissions had been “totally ignored” and the consultation process was simply “ticking boxes”, so Powerlink could go ahead with the project.

“If you make it (TOR) as broad as possible, they’re not bound to follow specific actions,” he said.

“It’s making a mockery of getting the community to be involved.”

Mr Smith said PAGE had presented Powerlink with a 30 page detailed submission to the draft TOR.

“They basically ignored 90% of the comments and suggestions.”

The proposed powerline requires resumption of a 60 metre-wide, eight-10 km long, easement through Eerwah Vale, west of Eumundi and a new substation near Cooroy.

Mr Bartlett said the overall project cost including purchase of land for the easement and to build the transmission line, scheduled to begin in about 2012, was in the order of $100 million.

Mr Bartlett said resumption of land is paid for by electricity consumers.

“About 8% of the average electricity bill is for the transmission of electricity on Powerlink’s grid,” he said.

“The revenue which comes to Powerlink from these charges is used to fund Powerlink’s operating and maintenance costs, and to fund its grid development program, including the capital costs of new lines and substations, and compensation payments.”

The TOR are available at www.powerlink.com.au (go to “Projects in My Area/Southern” section) or Powerlink’s Free call number 1800 635 369 and PAGE’s website is www.saveeumundi.org.

Recent Comments

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Posted by JennyT from Cooroy
on 17 June, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Powerlink are proposing to install huge cancer causing powerlines less than 150 metres from 10 homes, and not much further from another 20.
Powerlink will only resume properties directly traversed and where the house is less than 100 metres from the line.
Therefore many families will be stuck with ugly unhealthy steel structures and lines cutting their properties in half, ruining their idealic rural view, devaluing their property by 50%, and emitting EMR's which recent studies show increase cancer risks 5 fold. Compensation will not improve any of these impacts.
No amount of study or investigation by consultants will change this fact, unless Powerlink accept alternatives that are a greater distance from homes and do not cause such social, visual, financial, health and environmental destruction.

There are better alternatives Powerlink - don't dismiss them just because bulldozing through families livelihoods will be cheaper.
Posted by joebailie from Eerwah Vale
on 18 June, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The TOR was treated with total contempt by powerlink. To ignore, out of hand, over 90% of all submissions without having the decency to make comments to those who took the time and effort to study the Draft TOR, is just plain bad manners. Just like the rest of their (powerlink) treatment of the public. Can you imagine how they will look at the EIS?
Posted by Captain from Eumundi
on 18 June, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The Substation you mention is not proposed 'near cooroy'. It is deceptively named 'cooroy South', but the proposed site (which, incidentally, was recently flooded) is actually a lot closer to Eumundi. How much bollocks can they feed us?:(
Posted by Platypus from Ridgewood
on 19 June, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
''Plenty of time?'' Please have some respect Powerlink. Ever since we received with shock our first letter from Powerlink saying: ''your property is currently affected by the proposed alignment'' in August 2007, this whole imposition has been completely on Powerlink's terms. We have been given 'dead lines' to respond to their proposals. These 'dead lines' have affected our lives in more ways than one. Most of us for example were unable to be with relatives over Christmas, for example, because of the 'dead line' given by Powerlink. In the meantime, Powerlink took months to respond to our submissions. Respond is really not the right word to use here. Whilst we waited in anguish, Powerlink were spending thousands upon thousands of our tax payers dollars writing 'we care' propaganda to the newspapers. I wish Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland were caring...caring about the environment, caring about our lives, caring about our health and well being. Instead their whole attitude has been one of complacency and disrespect. If this is what the Federal and State Government is supporting, then I am totally saddened and disappointed that our Government is encouraging this senseless and fatuous behaviour when THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES.
Posted by Platypus from Ridgewood
on 19 June, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr Bartlett says that Powerlink will ''investigate concerns''. We don't just want investigation, Mr Bartlett, we want you to listen to us. The fact is, there is not any rational reason why such a project is being imposed in one of the most fertile productive valleys and unique wildlife corridors in Australia.
Posted by jackc from Eerwah Vale
on 19 June, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Along with PAGE and many other residents in the Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood areas, I submitted my own detailed submission to the draft TOR. And, as with the PAGE sbmission, Powerlink totally ignored my comments and suggestions. Powerlink's dismissive attitude towards people and their valid concerns demonstrates the current government's stance on the "bulldoze through at any cost for catchup on infrastructure". Powerlink have repeatedly shown throughout this exercise their insensitivity towards peoples' concerns, lifestyle and health issues. It is time that Powerlink take notice of the real issues involved, and have the decency to attend the residents' public meetings to openly and honestly address the issues.
Posted by garya from Cooroy
on 19 June, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If I were a resident of Eumundi, I would be extremely concerned at why 5 times more GIGAWATTS than the entire Sunshine Coast needs in the forseeable future, has arrived at a substation in my back yard! I would be asking what is going to happen next, around that substation.

The substation is the distribution point for this enormous power highway. Reticulating connections and possibly plants using this power could blanket the town of Eumundi and surrounds - but no such plans have yet been mentioned, perhaps to avoid alarming the public.

Perhaps when further plans are announced in 5 years time, when it is too late for the Eerwah Vale victims of Powerlink, the residents of Eumundi will be up in arms. No doubt part of Powerlink's divide-and-conquer strategy. I would seriously be trying to find out what is being (secretly) planned, NOW!
Posted by garya from Cooroy
on 19 June, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
One has to drive through this area to appreciate that Powerlink's plans are like rape. Going north along the Bruce highway, take a left onto TOURIST DRIVE route 22 (Kenilworth Eumundi). A little later, take a right onto Old Ceylon Road and drive along to Jorgensen. The route takes you through breathtakingly beautiful countryside, meadows, past a wine farm and through some pristine, natural forest with residents' dwellings unobtrusively nestled under the canopy. Powerlink is going to batter their way through this unique piece of heritage. I challenge anyone with the authority to stop this irresponsible, insane action, to come and take a look at the area and talk with the locals who's livelihoods are about to be impaled. There ARE alternative routes and Powerlink is ignoring them.
Posted by joebailie from Eerwah Vale
on 19 June, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Following on from "garya", 275,000 volts don't just stay in the meadows at Eumundi, they will be distributed to the new developments along the coast. That means power pylons and cables coming your way - Doonan, Verrierdale, Coolum Peregian etc.. They will get you as well even though they have not warned you yet. Be prepared for the next stage!

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