12:00a.m. 10th September 2008

Days after it passed through hands opposed to the Traveston Crossing Dam, the GetUp! Climate Change Torch Relay was in the Noosa hinterland yesterday to raise awareness of the plight of residents opposed to the construction of high voltage powerlines.

The relay began with Sunrise Beach GetUp! member and triathlete Ken Mewhacrct cycling to the top of the ridge at Eerwah Vale, the site of one the pylons for the proposed powerline, before he descended and handed the torch to 73-year-old farmer Clarry Gary.

Mr Gray moved from his farm at Traveston when he was told it would be inundated by the dam only to learn his new property was the site of an electricity substation.

Symbolising the generational challenge of climate change, Mr Gary handed the torch to his grandchildren, who then passed it to year eight students from Noosa District High School.

Tom Price, a member of the school’s environment committee, said awareness of climate change was vital.

“It is surprising how many people have no idea about climate change,” he said.

Local GetUp! organiser and Powerlines Action Group Eumundi coordinator Graham Smith said the relay was a chance to show what climate change meant to this community.

“We support the local council’s sustainability vision and we want to see Australia take strong action so that we lead in providing clean energy,” he said.

“We’ve now got the best chance we’ve ever had to come up with sensible alternatives to what the state government is proposing.

“This is a vital decision point for Australia and the children in the area who will have to live with the consequences of the actions we take now.”

The torch has been on the road since August.

Its nine-week journey will end at Parliament House on October 12.