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Mr WELLINGTON (Nicklin—Ind) (11.58 am): It gives me a great deal of pleasure to thank the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning for agreeing to my request for a further one-month extension so people could make their submissions to the South East Queensland Regional Plan. So the new deadline is 1 May. I thank the minister for listening to our calls for an extension.

I use this an as example to call on the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to reconsider his decision as is reported in the Sunshine Coast Daily this morning to not grant a further one-month extension to people who want to make a submission to the environmental impact study on the proposed new high-voltage powerline from Woolooga to Eerwah Vale. I table for the benefit of the minister a copy of the article that appeared in the Sunshine Coast Daily this morning.

Tabled paper: Newspaper article, dated 22 April 2009, titled ‘Minister firm on power rollout’.

I support the community’s request for a further one month’s extension on this very important issue. The environmental impact study effects everyone from Woolooga in the north to Eerwah Vale and west Eumundi in the south. At the moment, there are only two proposed community sessions—one at Gympie on 27 April and one at Federal on 28 April. I believe it is important that a further meeting be held in the south. It could be held at Belli Park community hall or in the town of Eumundi or in the town of Cooroy.

Unfortunately, when I recently met with the consultants for Powerlink they said there was no other venue in the south and no appropriate site in Eumundi or Cooroy to hold this further community information session. I put on the public record today for the benefit of the minister and the government that the Belli Park community hall is available tomorrow. The consultants could come south and hold a public information session for the benefit of the community. I also use this opportunity to seek leave to table a non-conforming petition.

Leave granted.

Tabled paper: Non-conforming petition relating to Powerlink’s proposal from Woolooga to Eerwah Vale.

I note that earlier this morning a conforming petition from people concerned about this proposed powerline was tabled. I look forward to the minister’s response in the near future. I again ask the minister to please consider our community’s request for a further one month’s extension to make a submission on the environmental impact study in relation to this powerline and please consider the suggestion that the Belli Park community hall is an appropriate venue for the holding of a community information session.
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