saveeumundi.org

The Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (P.A.G.E.) strategy in answer to Powerlink’s long term threat to the Ridgewood - Eerwah Vale area 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 29, November 2008, CWA Hall, Memorial Drive in Eumundi.
This is a significant meeting where Sanctuary Energy, a renewable energy generator and retailer will outline alternatives to the State Government and Powerlink’s unsustainable transmission line and sub-station project.

It is imperative that all PAGE members and interested community members attend this meeting, showing support for the alternatives and sending a message to the State Government that this is a community ready to be counted and saying loud and clear that a new approach to energy is demanded on the Sunshine Coast.

The meeting agenda

• PAGE’s recent meetings with Minister for Mines and Energy & the opposition leader Mr. L. Springborg
• PAGE sponsored energy planning meeting with Energex, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Sanctuary Energy and other energy professionals
• The personal health aspects with Ms. Sue Agnew
• Alternative proposal by Sanctuary Energy Chief Operating Officer Mr. Alex Braisier
• Official AGM business including the coordinator’s report, treasurer’s report & the election of office bearers
• Questions & Answers
• Raffle draw - Meeting close

After the meeting we will be holding a BBQ to provide some eats, with tea and coffee. Get to talk in more detail to the guests, committee members and other affected residents. 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. Please note there are no child minding facilities at this venue.
Meeting with Minister Wilson
On the 23rd of August, representatives of PAGE met with the Minister Mr Geoff Wilson, after 5 months of waiting. Mr. Wilson and five of his staff were present. Our focus was on the opportunity for sustainable energy to be given higher priority. Mr. Wilson agreed that he would seriously look at any commercially viable alternative. This is in progress, with Sanctuary Energy keen to help the community move a green energy solution forward, here on the Coast. Shortly, as the initial position paper is completed, we will be requesting another meeting with the Minister in support of the alternatives.

Also clearly pointed out was our dismay and dissatisfaction with the totally deficient and one-sided Powerlink “consultation” process.
Meeting with Lawrence Springborg, Leader of the Opposition
PAGE recently met with Lawrence Springborg, Jeff Seeney and David Gibson of the LNP to discuss and seek support from the LNP for the alternatives to the State Government’s proposal. The LNP were supportive of the proposals put forward by PAGE.

Mr. Gibson said “The LNP’s vision is to make Queensland the renewable energy Capital of Australia and we look forward to receiving further information from PAGE,” Mr Springborg said “the project being put forward by PAGE underlined the Sunshine Coast community’s interest in being part of the solution to the carbon/energy challenges facing Australia and indeed the world. Queensland is blessed with enormous opportunities for developing a world-leading renewable energy industry. What’s lacking at moment is a State government that’s prepared to do more than launch small-scale pilot projects for solar,” Mr Gibson added that “the LNP was very pleased to hear from the PAGE Group and to discuss its innovative concept for solar thermal power on the Sunshine Coast.”

PAGE raised the issue of the inadequate community consultation and suggested changes be made to the consultation processes employed. Mr. Springborg agreed that the “consultation process was a sham.”

PAGE Activities
PAGE has conducted many lobby meetings with community representatives including Mr. David Gibson, State MP for Gympie, Mr. Peter Wellington, State MP for Nicklin, Cllrs. Vivien Griffin, Keryn Jones & Lew Brennan, Federal Senator Claire Moore and others.

PAGE facilitated an energy planning meeting in September between SCRC Councillors & staff, Energex, Sanctuary Energy, PAGE, the EPA and other interested energy professionals. The purpose was to determine the energy requirements of the Sunshine Coast and acceptable “bankable” solutions, with Sanctuary Energy moving forward with a position paper for a solar thermal plant and demand reduction measures here on the Sunshine Coast. This has the potential to provide clean energy, local jobs and a secure energy supply.
PAGE organised and participated in the GET-UP! climate change torch relay with the help of the local community and Noosa District State High School students.

PAGE has created significant local media coverage, which can be viewed at the comprehensive website www.saveeumundi.org and is continuing to deliver high quality information via this medium.
PAGE is available to meet with landholders to discuss their issues and have conducted several on site meetings when landowners have been requested to meet with Powerlink. We are here to support the community and welcome feedback and information from affected community members.
We have been holding a series of fund raising and community awareness days in Cooroy, Noosa, Belli Park and other locations talking to community members, completing petitions, making presentations and gathering support from groups such as the Noosa Parks Association and the Noosa Residents and

Ratepayers Association.
PAGE has joined the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) and attended a meeting between SCEC and Parsons Brinkerhoff (Powerlink’s paid environmental consultants). We
provided SCEC with our on the ground knowledge of the EIS and the poor consultation process undertaken to date. At the meeting PB reluctantly admitted that they had located some EPBC listed species and that they would be referring the project to the Federal Government. They refused, however to reveal what they had found or where they had found it!

At the time of writing, we note that the draft EIS is still yet to be released, 6 months after the original scheduled date. It is expected that this document, like last year’s terms of reference will be released for comment over the Christmas and school holiday period. A time of year designed to make it difficult for adequate community input to a document that is expected to be in excess of 500 pages.

Show your support for PAGE and help increase public awareness of our campaign by participating in the Christmas in Cooroy street parade on 6th Dec, 4:00pm. PAGE is entering a float and we require as many people as possible to walk alongside the float to demonstrate to the community the wide public support for our cause. Let’s display a united front and community spirit at this festive Christmas celebration!

Fundraising, donations and thanks
PAGE will continue to conduct fund raising activities in the coming months, including raffles, sausage sizzles and more. Your support for these activities is needed, to ensure that we can continue to effectively represent your concerns to the State Government and PL / PB.

We would like to thank all of our willing volunteers & supporters who put in lots of time and effort at fundraising events, meetings, researching, writing and reporting from and on behalf of PAGE and the community - please think about what you can do to assist in the campaign to save the place you live.
We also greatly appreciate the support of our local representatives at state and local government level, Peter Wellington, Dave Gibson, Vivien Griffin, Keryn Jones, Paul Tatton & Lew Brennan.

A big thank you to all of the people and organisations who have donated funds, prizes and supplies in helping to make the campaign as successful as it has been to date.

What you can do
It takes enormous effort and dedication to make a campaign like this happen and PAGE needs your help. You can help by:

• If you do nothing else get to the next meeting on 29/11/08
• Volunteering at a sausage sizzle or fund raising event - contact Evelyn 5442 8990
• Read and make a submission on the draft EIS
• Join PAGE / Make a donation
• Write / email Anna Bligh and her Ministers
• Write to the local papers / call local radio to have your voice heard in this election year
• Participate by walking alongside the PAGE float at the Christmas in Cooroy Parade on 6th Dec

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