saveeumundi.org

The Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (P.A.G.E.) strategy to Powerlink’s long term threat to the Sunshine Coast is to engage with the State Government and its agencies to provide a community endorsed plan for more sustainable, environmentally and visually acceptable alternatives.

Next PAGE Meeting: 4pm, Saturday 26 July 2008 at the CWA Hall, Memorial Drive in Eumundi

We welcome all landholders and interested parties to this meeting. We will be discussing:

• PAGE’s recent meeting with Powerlink/ Parsons Brinckerhoff (PL/PB)
• Update of activities since the last meeting
• Logging activity in the area of the current easement
• The bigger picture – Sunshine Coast Regional Council
• Campaigning and people – Traveston Dam representative

If you’d like to know more about Powerlink’s approach to consultation this is one you shouldn’t miss? A large number of people are expected to attend this meeting and it is suggested that you arrive early so that the meeting can start on time. Light refreshments will be served after the meeting. Please note there are no child minding facilities at this venue.

Powerlink’s “Consultation” Process
Representatives of PAGE met with Powerlink before the Minister would agree to meet with us to discuss the communities concerns over this unsustainable project. The meeting was held on 14 July and PAGE achieved the goal of Powerlink agreeing that there are concerns that only the Minister can answer. These relate to the confused and contradictory policy messages coming from Government, Powerlink’s “consultation” approach, attitude to this community, lack of information and the Ministers disappointing response to community concerns. Minister Wilson, has finally after 5 months agreed to meet with PAGE. In addition a detailed analysis of the PL/PB submission response has been completed and is available on the website. It was also made crystal clear to PL/PB that the community does not want this infrastructure, considers it ill conceived and takes great exception to PL/PB’s attitude to the community as demonstrated by the PL CEO and their continuing refusal to provide information to the community.

The Recent Logging Activity
State Government recently moved into Cooroy West State Forest adjacent to Top Forestry Road and the existing Powerlink corridor and commenced logging, with little consultation with the local community – does that sound familiar? There are endangered species and critical koala habitat in the area designated for logging, that are important for the environmental impact study for the PL/PB project, that are in danger of being adversely impacted. Thanks to swift and dedicated action by the community, Peter Wellington was alerted to the issue and at a meeting with Premier Bligh, succeeded in obtaining a temporary halt to the logging, pending more investigation – watch this space and the media for more updates.

PL / PB on Your Property
Powerlink’s paid consultant’s Parsons Brinckerhoff have been carrying out limited environmental surveys over the past two months. PAGE recommends that landowners contact Powerlink and request information regarding the work carried out. This should include:

• Date/time of notification
• Person who contacted you. PB or PL
• Date/time of entry
• Personal entering property. Names if wish
• Entry point
• Ask about both Powerlink and PB accessing your property
• What did they do on your property?
• Did they take or leave things on property.

This will enable you to determine if Powerlink / PB have followed the notice protocols and stayed within the area of concern. If there have been any breeches of the notice requirements please contact PAGE with the details, for future use.

Write to Premier Bligh
”I always look forward to hearing from Queenslanders about how we can make our great state even better. I welcome your ideas and suggestions and encourage you to let my Government know about any concerns or questions you have and about the issues that matter to you.” Anna Bligh MP Premier of Queensland.
Email the Premier: ThePremier@premiers.qld.gov.au OR Write to the Premier: PO Box 15185 City East Queensland 4002
PAGE encourages everyone to do as the Premier has asked. Provide your name, email address (essential for a reply) and, if applicable, your organisation and your position. State the topic you’re writing about (for example, ‘climate change’, ‘environment’, ‘transmission lines & sub-stations’, or any other topic that affects you) in the subject of your email. If you’re giving general feedback, you can use this as your subject heading. If you would like a response by letter, also include your postal address. The media and your politicians want to hear from us, so now is the time to express ourselves, our feelings, our thoughts and our suggestions. If you need some help with writing letters, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Visit the PAGE website and find a comprehensive list of other contacts you can write to.

Reports on PAGE activities and successes
We are informed that the draft EIS has been likely delayed until October 2008. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has officially appointed Raul Weychardt as the officer responsible for completing Council’s EIS submission. PAGE will be liaising with Raul in the coming months to ensure that the communities concerns are clearly represented. Media has been consistently supportive, with a large number of articles, letters and editorial pieces appearing over the last two months in local media. Check out the media section of the website for full details and keep those letters going to politicians and the media.

Fundraising, donations and thanks
Thank you to all of our very generous donors, PAGE will be conducting fund raising activities in the coming months, including raffles, sausage sizzles and more. Please support these activities to ensure that we can continue to effectively represent your concerns to the State Government and PL / PB. Thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly on your behalf – please think about what you can do to assist in the campaign to save the place you live. Thanks also to Peter Wellington, who has shown great passion and continuing empathy with the community in this fight to have our concerns heard by State Government.

Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood Wildlife Corridor – fauna and flora watch
Recently Annette House sent out an invitation to all of us in this area to look closely at the fauna and flora in this area. So far she has received some impressive responses. If you see anything that is rare or unusual let us know as soon as you can. We live in a unique area where many rare and endangered species live. This is an amazing wildlife corridor and world renowned scientists are acknowledging this as more sightings are being made. Annette has been busy with the Richmond Birdwing butterfly, the vines that they need to survive and the resident population of possum gliders. For more information see the website for a full description and write-up.

Contact:
Graham Smith, Coordinator
Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE)
Web: www.saveeumundi.org
Email: contact@saveeumundi.org
Phone: 07 5447 0086 Mobile: 0415 621 060
Mail: PO Box 950, Cooroy, Q 4563