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Below is a copy of the letter written by the women of  Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood on International Women’s Day in March 2008 which included many signatures.

This letter was sent to every women politician in the Queensland and Federal ALP.

We received less than a few responses all stating that they had referred the matter onto the Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr Geoff Wilson, who in turn directed it to Stuart Topp in Powerlink to respond to.

We wonder where the compassion has gone to in our government?

Recently the women of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale met to discuss their concerns about the high voltage transmission lines imposed upon our community by the Queensland Government and Powerlink. We are writing to you not only because you are members of our elected Australian Labor Parliament, but also because you are women who have the power to act.

Ever since Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland proposed a huge high voltage transmission line through our homes and gardens, we have been constantly reminded of our fundamental rights and we remain victims of not only violation of privacy but we are experiencing violence in the form of psychological and emotional abuse. The violation imposed upon us as a community has already affected the health of our families, relationships and fundamental lifestyles. Lifeline have been supportive in our quest for sanity where the health of our families and environment is further disastrously at risk. These factors considerably alter our quality of life and potentially fall outside our ability to control the health and safety of our families and will invariably impact on all aspects of our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

A wonderfully old fig tree in the heart of the environment affected by Powerlink's proposal

Democracy in the truest sense is lost and we are fighting for what many human rights groups speak about in third world countries. The right of every human being on this earth to live safely. ”All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of ‘sisterhood’.” – Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The proposed 275KV transmission line is of major concern to us (Woolooga to EerwahVale QLD). There will be a devastating environmental impact on our properties and surrounding areas because of ignorance of the complex workings of the natural world. We are also concerned for the health and safety of our families in every respect.

It is imperative that we leave these fragile areas alone, not only for regional and environmental significance, but for future life existence. As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently pointed out: ”This is a moral challenge….succeeding generations depend on us.”

It appears the State Government of Queensland and the Federal Government of Australia have different values relating to environmental issues. Every necessary step forward that the new Federal Government makes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the State Government of Queensland powers ahead with a potential program, spending over $5bn on networks linking to coal fired power stations and increasing carbon emissions significantly. It seems apparent that the Queensland Government has a vested interest because of tax revenue and short term cost saving in maintaining the coal mining industry and of coal fired electricity generation. Little or no thought has been given to the 2010 emissions trading scheme, the mandatory renewable energy target or managing electricity demand. The use of 20th century solutions in the form of unsightly huge metal infrastructure to run 275KV lines throughout Queensland damages the environment for the people, the flora and the fauna. Powerlink’s proposals run through not only high conservation areas, bio-dynamic and organic farmland but areas where families live and play. Climate change is obviously not a priority with the planners which seem to be ‘progressing’ with speed rather than having consideration for, not only endangered ecological areas but our future existence.

Internationally millions of dollars have been spent on climate change and the ratifying of Kyoto is a great start in saving our planet from destruction. One wonders why this proposed high voltage transmission line is even being considered when millions of dollars are being spent internationally to act immediately on the dangers of climate change on all levels.

Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan MP are both from the Sunshine Coast area and understandably they must be concerned by the State Government’s business as usual approach to Climate Change and Environmental issues when the Federal Government is doing so much in these areas. The international solar conference in Adelaide hopefully has prompted our Federal parliament to act immediately, not only in Coober Pedy, but hopefully in the area of what was the home of two people – The SUNshine Coast – who now have the power to make a necessary change in not only this area, but throughout Australia and beyond.

We, as residents of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale, ask for your support, where the State Government of Queensland and Powerlink propose to build an antiquated infrastructure of high voltage power lines with potentially dangerous electromagnetic radiation.  This proposal would not only be an environmental disaster, but would have potential detrimental health issues for all those who live here.  This is a sacred area that energetically has a stillness and vibrancy that is unique to this area. It is a wildlife corridor with rare and endangered flora and fauna. Families live, play and work in this ecologically balanced environment.

We understand that you personally have not created this potential environmental disaster and we would find it difficult to imagine even that the State Government of Queensland could be so cold and callous not to care about the fragility of the environment and the families that have chosen to live a safe and healthy lifestyle in this area. Some important factual information must have been overlooked in the State Government departments. We ask you as our future politicians, as our future mothers and grandmothers, who care about life and in particular our lives, to simply investigate alternatives. We also ask you to consider the moral implications of ignoring the recent cancer studies and findings throughout the world.

”Even scientists who have failed to find a reason for the apparent link (to cancer) refuse to say it is safe to live near a high voltage power line.”

http://www.midtod.com/9603/voltage.phtml

There are indeed other reliable and safe alternatives to the proposed high voltage transmission lines that would not only help with emissions cuts, and be environmentally harmonious with life. There are renewable energy and energy efficient options. There are alternative routes. All this community is asking for, is for these alternatives to be fully investigated and compared with the only ”unsustainable” solution being imposed upon this community by Powerlink.

Please help us.

Yours faithfully
The women of Ridgewood and EerwahVale and beyond.
International Women’s Day 8th March 2008.

Refer to:  http://www.saveeumundi.org/2009/03/women-of-eerwah-vale-and-ridgewoods-concerns-have-increased/