saveeumundi.org

Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) held its seventh community meeting and first AGM on 29th November 2008 in Eumundi. In front of the TV cameras of WIN and Seven, the packed crowd was given an update on campaign progress over the last few months. This included meetings with the Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr. Geoff Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Lawrence Springborg and the Energy Forum sponsored by PAGE as well as comments from Cr. Vivien Griffin and State MP Peter Wellington.

There were two guest presenters, Ms. Sue Agnew and Mr. Alex Brasier. Sue Agnew outlined her very personal account of dealing with breast cancer, the added stress of the Powerlink proposal and her concerns, shared throughout the community on the lack of definitive proof of the safety of high voltage overhead powerlines.

Mr. Alex Brasier, the Chief Operating Officer of Sanctuary Energy, a regulated energy retailer, outlined one non-network alternative to Powerlink’s proposed Woolooga to Cooroy Transmission Line and Eerwah Vale Substation Project. The Sanctuary Energy proposal includes significant “bankable” demand management initiatives and scalable renewable Sunshine Coast based solar thermal generation with storage capacity, preferably linking directly into the existing Energex network. Mr. Brasier outlined the meetings held to date with Energex, Powerlink, the Department of Mines and Energy and the Australian Energy Regulator, and the next steps to be taken to move their alternative proposal forward.

Councillor Vivien Griffin said “The Council would like to move away from coal based generation and explore renewable green energy. Council is happy to work with PAGE and Sanctuary Energy, within the bounds of probity requirements, looking at these alternatives.” Cr. Griffin added “As a result of the Energy Forum sponsored by PAGE in September, the Council and Energex are moving forward with an energy management strategy to be rolled out over this summer, aimed at managing peak summer energy usage.”

This was also the annual general meeting for PAGE where the coordinator’s and treasurer’s reports were presented for adoption. The office bearers of PAGE were elected and president, Graham Smith and treasurer Margaret Connolly were re-elected, with Cathy Fitzgerald elected to the position of secretary.

Graham Smith said after the meeting that “the amount of effort and enthusiasm for the campaign and the positive alternatives being proposed is overwhelming. A quick survey among the PAGE committee estimated that they have contributed well over 12,700 hours to the campaign since it started last year. At a very conservative rate of $30/hr this equates to nearly $400,000 community contribution– an impressive indication of community interest and concern over this issue.”

Graham Smith added “As a not-for-profit community organisation PAGE only exists due to the hard work and commitment of the volunteers and we appeal to others who appreciate the need for urgent community action to ensure any future developments are sustainable. We are also grateful for the support at the meeting from our local state MP, Peter Wellington and Councillors Vivien Griffin and Paul Tatton.”