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The following letter was sent to Stuart Topp, Powerlink 9 March regarding detail required on the environmental studies Powerlink undertook in the preparation of the draft EIS.

Dear Stuart

As you are aware, the residents in the Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood community take the preservation of the environment very seriously and are deeply concerned with the impact that the proposed transmission lines will have on the local flora and fauna. This is clearly identified by the number of Land For Wildlife signs in the area, the catchment programs currently run by Land For Wildlife, the number of trees planted by residents and local council, as well as the recent documented sighting of the Richmond Birdwing butterfly to name a few.

More residents have asked me to request that you provide a schedule in the draft EIS of environmental studies undertaken by Powerlink/Parsons Brinkerhoff that include detail on the following information:

• date, time and length of each visit by PL/PB survey party (we will be checking with local residents and verifying this)
• area surveyed (specifically which properties)
• specific findings relating to each property
• methods of fauna surveys, and different types of trapping methods used for fauna in each ecosystem and habitat type
• what season and frequency, and whether the fauna is diurnal or nocturnal
• flora surveys assessing all vegetation in the regional ecosystems, and all microhabitats that have been searched and the floristic
• assessment including seasonal variation, including aquatic plants

As we understand, your studies have been undertaken over a short period, so please outline what assumptions have you made in relation for migratory or seasonal patterns of the fauna temporarily resident in the area for any part of the year not covered by your survey period.

We will be asking independent environment consultants to review this schedule and determine if this is satisfactory. We also seek to ensure that the  environmental studies have been completed thoroughly regardless of the statutory requirements – it would be environmentally irresponsible to know a study has been inadequately completed as a result of minimal statutory guidelines being adhered to.

We also see a clear conflict of interest between Powerlink and Parsons Brinkerhoff (where PL are paying for PB’s services) and this information would go some way to allaying residents concerns that the studies and surveys have not been undertaken thoroughly.

If the detail outlined above is not provided in the draft EIS, we make this request of you now in preparation of the release. Also, if there is a delay in getting this information to us, we expect an extension to our, and other party’s submissions, as this information is key to any submission to the draft EIS.

Regards
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