saveeumundi.org

PAGE Meeting 29 March 2008 at the CWA Hall in Eumundi
PAGE will hold its next meeting at 4pm on 29 March 2008 at the CWA Hall in Eumundi. We welcome all
landholders and interested parties to this meeting. We will be discussing:
• the final Terms of Reference
• any changes to the alignment
• the Jardine letter
• the alternatives
• Jim Cooney on his battle with Powerlink and the effect of the proposed powerlines on his property
• any other business plus questions and discussion.
If you’d like to know what life with Powerlink will be like if their plans go ahead, this is one meeting you
shouldn’t miss.
After the meeting there will be light refreshments and a chance to get to talk to the rest of the people in the
community and to share your thoughts and concerns.
Amongst those who have been of great assistance in the campaign, I would like to thank the following for their
contributions; Annette House, Keith Beveridge, Judi Britten, Debra & Doug Palmen, John Cronin, Fiona
Waterhouse, Mike & Jenny Tsilfidis, Kathryn Seeney, Jeff Norris, Rick & Julie Templeton, Jack & Margaret
Connolly. We also appreciate the efforts of many others who are engaged in resisting this proposed intrusion.
Powerlink’s Property Access Request
It is apparent that Powerlink are requesting access to property to commence the Environmental Impact Studies.
Powerlink are doing this through three methods that we know of:
• A property access agreement,
• S36 / 37 of the Acquisition of Land Act, 1967 and
• Informal phone calls arrangements
PAGE has distributed the initial legal advice received to members regarding the property access agreements and
would encourage all landholders approached by Powerlink (or PB) to ensure that they adequately safeguard their
rights and properties by requesting a formal property access agreement appropriate to your individual
circumstances.
If you have already signed the Permission To Enter form attached to their January 24 letter and now wish to
cancel that agreement you can do so by writing to Powerlink. PAGE can provide you with a revocation form for this
purpose if required. You may wish to consider requesting the completion of an IPA weed hygiene form for each
visit that Powerlink / PB make to your property to safeguard against the spread of noxious weeds. This is available
on the website http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xbcr/dpi/IPA-Weed-Hygiene-Dec.pdf
PAGE would encourage the community to participate in the EIS process to ensure that a comprehensive study can
be conducted and which doesn’t allow Powerlink to minimise the extent of their flora / fauna / social / heritage
investigations for the EIS.
Powerlink’s CEO Letter to the Minister
As reported in our last newsletter, Powerlink’s CEO, Gordon Jardine, wrote on 4 January 2008, to the Minister for
Mines & Energy in an attempt to discredit PAGE and to trivialise and dismiss the community’s concerns over the
company’s power line project. PAGE has responded to the Minister and other State MP’s in a nine page letter
refuting strongly, Powerlink’s unprofessional allegations. Our letter stated that “it appears that Mr. Jardine is
attempting to subvert the consultation process and the communities’ rights, by writing to you [the Minister] to
suggest that you view correspondence from PAGE with a preconceived negativity. We object to Mr Jardine’s
behaviour in the strongest possible manner. PAGE is concerned that Mr Jardine’s conduct may subvert the
legislative purpose of gathering and properly considering the views of those most effected.” As yet we have not
received a response from the Minister. This correspondence is available on the PAGE website and we will keep you
informed of the Minister’s response when received.
The New Alignment and the Final Terms of Reference (TOR)
We have heard nothing from Powerlink regarding the “refined” alignment and now expect this to be released in
conjunction with the Final TOR, due in mid March. If you have other additional information please contact us.
Powerlink and the Two-Way Information Exchange?
Despite their promise of a “two-way information exchange” and Powerlink’s CEO publicly saying “residents should
seek factual information about the proposed power line by contacting the company. “Well, we’ve tried and been
told “No! No! No!” Direct requests and Freedom of Information requests have all been refused – the information is
“not appropriate” to release, it is a “commercial activity”, it can only be dealt with in the EIS, “is not for public
release”, and the excuses go on. This reinforces the community’s perception that this is not an open, transparent
or independent process that the community can have any faith in. We live in hope that Powerlink will eventually
adopt a contemporary approach to community consultation – but we’re not holding our breath on this one.
Quoll Surveys
Well known taxonomist Scott Burnett has been setting camera traps throughout the study corridor to monitor the
many animals that live here, with a particular emphasis on the Quoll, last seen in the area many decades ago. This
story will form part of an ABC TV 7:30 report in the next few weeks on mammal extinctions. Compelling evidence
has come to light in the last few months suggesting that the Quoll is back. Dr Burnett is also conducting some
educational evenings to make landowners more aware of the local fauna and what to look out for. If you are
interested in coming along to one of these evenings please contact PAGE.
Lifeline Contact Details
At the last meeting the health of the community was discussed. If anyone would like to talk to a qualified
counsellor, Lifeline offer a free and confidential service. The contact number is 131114.
Personal Stories
Everyone affected by the corridor has a story to tell. We want to know your story. We know people in the area
have been impacted by forced acquisition by Main Roads, previous powerlines and the Traveston Dam, only to now
find themselves again subject to forced acquisition of their land by Powerlink.
Please write to us, telling us what personal impact the corridor will have on you, your family or your business, what
your concerns are, and why. Try for about a page of typing – or less if you have less to say, and perhaps slightly
longer if you’ve got more. We will then help you turn that into a Letter to the Editor for a newspaper, letter to the
Minister and/or a short article for the local press.
The more people, and especially politicians, know about how many people are being negatively impacted by
Powerlink’s power line corridor and exactly how – the more we can put a human face on the pain that Powerlink is
causing. Personal stories and community action result in more pressure to stop the project in its current form.
Contact:
Graham Smith, Coordinator
Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE)
Email: contact@saveeumundi.org