Invited to present at council’s General Meeting, members of the Powerlines Action Group of Eumundi (PAGE) told councillors of the devastating impacts of high voltage powerlines planned for the region on, among other things, council’s vibrant, green and sustainable ambitions.

“Meeting future demand for power on the Sunshine Coast in a sustainable way is possibly the biggest issue for our community, our council and our time,” said PAGE coordinator Graham Smith.

“A Powerlink proposal locking the coast in to 20-plus years of dirty, coal-fired energy in an effort to meet peak demand, which only occurs about three to four days each year, is outrageous and will contradict any strategy our council rolls out to achieve a sustainable, low carbon economy.

“Yesterday, we therefore called on council to pass a resolution opposing the proposal in defence of our shared visions for cleaner, greener 21st century solutions to meeting our energy needs.

“In response, council rose to the challenge and unanimously agreed to move a resolution opposing the Powerlink proposal, which is scheduled to be ratified at council’s Ordinary Meeting on Thursday.

“We were also impressed that now was the time for council to embrace new technologies and issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) to engage industry specialising in demand management, energy efficiency and local generation with a view to ‘eliminating the need for Powerlink infrastructure’.

“And again, PAGE members were pleased that council agreed and vowed to issue an EOI with the aim of developing solutions contributing to the elimination of the need for the Powerlink project.”

Attending the meeting was Mayor Bob Abbot and Councillors Vivien Griffin, Jenny McKay, Keryn Jones, Lew Brennan, Tim Dwyer, Anna Grosskreutz, Chris Thompson, Ted Hungerford and Russell Green, plus a 30-strong public gallery.

The residents group was also buoyed by a Queensland Government announcement yesterday regarding its Renewable Energy Plan requiring all state-owned energy companies to “… submit a renewable energy network benefit statement detailing where deployment of renewable energy or demand management projects could help avoid building or upgrading electricity networks”.

“We’re now looking forward to Powerlink reviewing the renewable energy network benefit statement relating to this project and the real benefits arising out of this plan,” Mr Smith said.

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a volunteer group which formed 20 months ago in reply to Powerlink’s proposed 275kV, 70km Woolooga to Cooroy South (Eerwah Vale) Transmission Line and Substation Project, estimated to cost energy consumers $130 million and involve around 440 hectares of hinterland and rural land.

The project also plans to carve a new 8.5km, 60m-wide easement through private property, including 14 dedicated Land for Wildlife properties and precious koala, Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and other vulnerable species’ habitat, from Ridgewood to Eerwah Vale.

PAGE led the development of a viable non-network alternative to the destructive project, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable, local renewable solar-thermal generation with storage capacity, plus real employment opportunities for locals through the creation of green jobs.

Mr Smith said PAGE members were grateful for the opportunity to present alternatives to council.

“We are a group committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with governments to do so,” he said.

“Council has taken a decisive step towards realising its visions for a green and sustainable Sunshine Coast, and we’re delighted to not only share these ambitions but to also to contribute to finding a solution.”

Other discussion items and outcomes included:

• Powerlink’s proposal would deliver capacity to increase energy consumption by at least 7.5 times current consumption, over-engineering the solution and likely to cause stranded assets
• Proposal would also see an estimated rise of 59% GHG emissions (400,000t CO2-e by 2020) and at least 20 hectares of vegetation cleared in Noosa Biosphere
• Council agreed to continue consulting with Powerlink on their project, especially regarding the project need, population and energy growth projections, and also ensured a strong community voice on this issue by inviting and agreeing to consult with PAGE through council’s Energy Transition Project
• Council agreed to schedule meetings with the relevant Ministers to address the shared concerns over this project
• A clean energy solar-thermal alternative
• Lower impact alternative routes
• Energex’ statements: “…spending on poles and wires is unsustainable. Energy efficiency and demand management are the key”.

For information regarding PAGE’s presentation, email contact@saveeumundi.org and for more information on PAGE and the project visit www.saveemundi.org

The resolution unanimously adopted at the general committee of council is attached for your information.

Extract from council minutes of general meeting 22 June 2009.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Moved: Councillor V Griffin
Seconded: Councillor L Brennan

That Council:

(a) endorses the Council officers’ submission (Appendix A – Submission on Woolooga to Cooroy Transmission Line and Cooroy South Substation Project
Environmental Impact Statement);

(b) continues to engage with Powerlink and Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE), through the energy transition working group as this project progresses;

(c) request a follow-up submission providing further information on population projections and Council’s Corporate plan objectives for reducing the region’s greenhouse gas emissions and advising that Council opposes Powerlink infrastructure proposal on the grounds that there are more sustainable initiatives in meeting the regions energy needs in the future;

(d) proceed with the calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from entities who may be able to contribute to eliminating the need for Powerlink infrastructure through the generation of power closer to the projected energy user locations in accordance with s489 of the Local Government Act 1993 and notes that the calling of the EOI will be in the public interest for the following reason:

• it will allow for a full review of future energy production options for Council to consider which are consistent with Council’s goal to be the most sustainable region in Australia;

(e) request the Minister for Energy to undertake a full cost benefit analysis of the Powerlink project, comparing the cost of the proposed distribution infrastructure, together with costs of power generation against the cost of sourcing renewable energy generated closer to user locations and potentially obviating the requirement for the proposed distribution infrastructure; and

(f) request the Chief Executive Officer to investigate the Federal and State demand reduction and renewable energy generation grants and incentives, and assess Council’s eligibility to apply.

Carried.

Ends.

“Brush-tailed Phascogales are rare on the Sunshine Coast,” said Wildlife Volunteers Association (WILVOS) vice-chairperson Donna Anthony.

“Our organisation has only ever had two Brush-tailed Phascogales come into our care throughout our almost 20-year history.”

West Cooroy resident Jenny Tsilfidis found the animal dead in bush alongside Ceylon Road and brought it to WILVOS, an organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and documenting the coast’s native fauna.

Eminent local scientist and WILVOS member Lyndall Pettett, one of only six microbial ecologists in Australia, undertook a detailed examination of the specimen to determine the likely cause of death and to learn more about this elusive, nocturnal creature, about which very little is known.

“As suspected, trauma from being hit by a car is the likely cause of death,” said Mrs Anthony.

“But what Lyndall was also able to determine was that it was a nine-month-old male in excellent health, with blood, liver and kidney properties being at normal levels, and that he had increased his feeding to prepare for his first mating, with a fat content of the tail at 60 per cent.

“Lyndall also identified its likely hollow, an Ironbark tree, due to the smell emitted from its coat, concluding that it was probably foraging for food nearby its roadside Ironbark home at the time of being hit.”

Mrs Anthony said the conservation status of phascogales in New South Wales and Victoria is vulnerable. However – despite the fact that no field studies are known to be done in Queensland – the species are not considered at risk in the sunshine state, even though females found in south-east Queensland have a genetic make-up unlike any other.

“What’s so frightening is that phascogales are likely to follow the same fate as the endangered Spotted-tail Quoll, which has the same environmental and social characteristics,” she said.

“They are both in the mammal group with the highest extinction rate in the world, so once the quoll is extinct then the phascogale will be next in the firing line as the highest order of carnivorous marsupial left on the mainland.”

“So the cycle continues and we lose more precious species, cementing Australia’s title as the nation with the highest mammal extinction rate.”

The main threat to the marsupial’s survival is loss of habitat, fragmentation of wildlife corridors and the associated spread of feral pests, and eco-system collapse, as it depends on particular dietary and habitat requirements.

Jenny and her husband Mike are among hundreds of landowners affected by Powerlink’s proposed 275,000 volt, 73 kilometre transmission line project, which plans to carve a new 8.5 kilometre, 60-metre-wide easement through private property – much of which is dedicated Land for Wildlife – from Ridgewood to Eerwah Vale.

“It was the first phascogale that I’d seen and now I’m spellbound by the little creatures, with their grey fur and black, brushy tail,” said Ms Tsilfidis.

“Incidentally, we’ve just responded to a draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) produced by Powerlink-paid consultants and nowhere in their 1900-page assessment did they report evidence of Brush-tailed Phascogales, nor did they assess impacts on the species.”

Graham Smith, coordinator of Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE), a volunteer residents group which formed 19 months ago in reply to Powerlink’s proposed Woolooga to Cooroy South (Eerwah Vale) Transmission Line and Substation Project, said environmental studies in the area were grossly insufficient, as detailed in the group’s 180-page response.

“Only 17 days of fauna field studies were stated in the draft EIS, including five days on the Black-breasted Button-quail, leaving 12 days to cover 73 kilometres of study area,” Mr Smith said.

“The draft EIS also acknowledges that the project will cause loss of habitat for threatened and migratory species of national significance, and that it will fragment populations of these highly vulnerable species, yet it does not adequately assess their risks of extinction.

“Studies for nocturnal species were also noted as being done during the day, which is bizarre, and there was no assessment of the cumulative impacts of multiple infrastructure projects proposed for the area and the vulnerable fauna which call it home, including koalas, Grey-headed Flying Foxes, Richmond Birdwing Butterflies and Sooty Owls, to name just a few.

“It’s a devastatingly flawed assessment, which would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.”

Ms Tsilfidis said the experience highlighted a dire need for regular, seasonal field surveying to ensure the affects of development on wildlife are monitored and the impacts of major proposals are duly assessed.

“We cannot rely on studies like the ones done for the Powerlink project, which are clearly limited and fashioned in a way to deliver a pre-determined outcome,” she said.

“If we don’t act now, the only phascogales future generations will be able to see will be stuffed ones in museums.”

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies to do so.

The group led the development of a viable non-network alternative, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable, local renewable solar-thermal generation with storage capacity, plus real employment opportunities for locals through the creation of green jobs.

Community members had up to 15 May to submit a response to the 1900-page draft EIS released for Powerlink’s proposal, prepared by paid consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia.

On 7 May, PB announced that people also had until 29 May to submit supplementary or supporting information, provided that they submitted a response noting the kind of information to be supplied later by the original closing date (15 May).

To read PAGE’s submission or to learn more about proposed alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website at www.saveeumundi.org or email contact@saveeumundi.org

The WILVOS provide a volunteer, 24-hour wildlife rescue phone service, covering an area from Gympie to Caboolture, and out to Kenilworth and beyond. All enquiries, including emergencies, can be directed to 5441 6200.

Ends.

Note to editors:
•    Photo caption (Phascogale 2.jpg) – Jenny Tsilfidis (left) and WILVOS committee member Donna Anthony with the Phascogale specimen
•    The Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is a small, nocturnal, arboreal, carnivorous marsupial. It is mostly grey, with a black, brushy tail. Phascogales are shy, occur in low densities and forage over a very large home range (female 20-70 ha, males 100 ha), which means only small populations can exist in quite large areas of habitat. They nest in tree hollows, mate in late autumn, and females give birth to up to six young, depending on environmental influences. Males die after the breeding season, in their first year. Females only live 1.5 years, usually dying before the next breeding season, further highlighting the need to support healthy populations and protect habitat.

The Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is a small, nocturnal, arboreal, carnivorous marsupial. It is mostly grey, with a black, brushy tail.

Jenny Tsilfidis (left) and WILVOS committee member Donna Anthony with the Phascogale specimen

Five specialists have spoken out against the impact assessment, including environmental scientist and director of ATP Environmental Adam Presnell, in a submission by the Powerlines Action Group of Eumundi (PAGE).

“I believe [the EIS] fails in every one of its specified tasks and should be withdrawn. The draft EIS needs to be redrafted and properly prepared so that it satisfies – at the very least – the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of those who produced it” said Mr Presnell.

“One of its absurdities is the complete omission of any information relating to the impacts – vegetation clearing, track damage, noise and visual pollution – of off-easement access needed to get to the powerlines and pylons.”

Community members had up to Friday 15 May to submit a response to the 1,900-page draft EIS released for Powerlink’s proposed 275kV Woolooga to Cooroy South (Eerwah Vale) Transmission Line and Substation Project, prepared by paid consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia.

PAGE coordinator Graham Smith said the volunteer residents group had submitted a 180-page response, which included expert commentary highlighting fundamental flaws in the assessment and the assessment process. A summary of PAGE’s submission is included for further information.

“In sum, the draft EIS can be characterised as misleading, incorrect, inadequate and lacking in critical details,” said Mr Smith, senior project manager, chartered accountant and PAGE coordinator.

“It clearly lacks any independence in its analysis, conclusions or recommendations. Unfortunately, this is consistent with the woeful consultation and poorly detailed studies undertaken by Powerlink and their paid consultants.”

Dr Don Sands – a world-renowned and well-respected expert on the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly – has also been critical of the assessment.

In response to a recommendation to relocate the vulnerable butterfly’s only food plant – the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine – away from the path of the high voltage powerlines, Dr Sands said ‘“the removal, as suggested in the draft EIS, will destroy the vines which will lead to the destruction of the colony”.

“I’m surprised that Powerlink is not more amenable to expert advice when it relates to environmental management,” he said.

Glenda Pickersgill, environmental consultant and president of the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group, has also voiced her concerns, saying “the draft EIS acknowledges the project will cause loss of habitat for threatened and migratory species, and will fragment populations of threatened species, yet it does not adequately assess the risks of their extinction.

“This is similar to our findings for the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam and Northern Pipeline Interconnector Stage Two.”

“It is to be hoped that the Queensland Coordinator-General and the Federal Government will provide a thorough, independent and realistic assessment in light of this flawed EIS, and will listen to the community’s alternatives instead of destroying more of our environment for infrastructure.”

Ethicist and strategic corporate, governance and sustainability advisor Dr John Cronin, who is also a member of PAGE, branded the document as “disgracefully misleading” and “designed to steamroll this unsustainable and destructive project through despite community and council opposition”.

“The impact assessment is full of inconsistencies, omissions, misleading and incorrect information,” Dr Cronin said.

“This project cannot be recommended with integrity, based on the inappropriate EIS process deployed, including poor community consultation and engagement practices. The process for Ministerial designation regarding this project is therefore flawed to a potentially devastating extent.”

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies to do so.

The group led the development of a viable non-network alternative, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable, local renewable solar-thermal generation with storage capacity, plus real employment opportunities for locals through the creation of green jobs.

PB announced that community members had until 29 May to submit supplementary or supporting information, provided that they submitted a response noting the kind of information to be supplied later by the original date (15 May).

To read PAGE’s submission or to learn more about proposed alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website at www.saveeumundi.org or email contact@saveeumundi.org

The detailed response can be downloaded by visiting PAGE’s website here: http://www.saveeumundi.org/2009/05/page-submission-to-draft-eis-documents/

Ends

“We’re calling it for what it is – a half-hearted attempt to quell community discontent,” said Dr John Cronin, spokesperson for the Powerline Action Group of Eumundi (PAGE).

“Powerlink are boasting that they’ve given affected residents an extra two weeks, when, in actual fact, people still need to lodge their submissions by Friday’s deadline in order to qualify for the ‘extension’.

“You don’t have a Masters in manipulation see that Powerlink are still hell bent on dissuading people from exercising their right to have a say.”

The lead statement in a Powerlink media release issued yesterday (Friday 8 May) stated: ‘Community members intending to lodge submissions on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Woolooga to Cooroy South [Eerwah Vale] transmission line project now have an additional two weeks to submit supplementary/supporting information relating to their submissions’.

It then states: ‘To qualify for the additional time, submitters must still lodge their submissions on the Draft EIS with environmental consultants PB, on or before the closing date of Friday, 15 May 2009’.

“It’s hardly a showstopper,” said Dr Cronin.

“The steamroller is still stuck in overdrive, which is why it remains as important as ever that people lodge a submission and make their voice heard; even if it’s just to make one point that they feel passionate about.”

PAGE is encouraging people to visit their website at http://www.saveeumundi.org or email contact@saveeumundi.org for assistance in submitting a response.

During the past month, PAGE has fought for local residents’ right to fair community consultation and for a more appropriate time period to respond to the project’s draft EIS – a document intended to justify the project over alternatives, in addition to comprehensively assessing its environmental, social and economic impacts.

Last Saturday (2 May), a 70-strong crowd attending a community meeting at the Eumundi CWA Hall issued a resounding call to Premier Anna Bligh to give local residents a ‘fair go’. The group had also previously written to the Energy Minister Stephen Robertson, after being refused extensions from both Powerlink and commissioned consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia, which produced the draft EIS.

“I suspect this quasi extension is just some feeble attempt to ‘do the right thing’ in the face of bad publicity,” said Dr Cronin.

“We’d like to know what information is defined as ‘supporting’ or ‘supplementary’, and what criteria, if any, might be used to reject submission components lodged on this basis?”

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies to do so.

Since forming 18 months, the volunteer residents group has worked tirelessly to investigate and deliver a viable, sustainable, renewable energy solution to powering the coast into the future – one which is in line with the Queensland Government’s Toward Q2 vision for a greener Queensland and its associated targets, and respects the coast’s environmental integrity, including the former Noosa Shire’s UNESCO Biosphere status – a Queensland first.

“We are proud of what we have been able to achieve, through community action, to bring civic and business leaders, and communities together in an effort to one day make clean, sustainable energies a reality in the power profile of the Sunshine Coast and Queensland,” said Dr Cronin.

“Part of this process has seen the development of a viable non-network alternative, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable, local renewable solar-thermal generation with storage capacity, plus real employment opportunities for locals through the creation of green jobs.

“Supported by industry and local council, this community is taking on the sustainability challenge and we invite government agencies to not only join us, but to help lead the way.”

For more information on the alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website at htttp://www.saveeumundi.org

Ends

The gathering unanimously passed a motion calling on Ms Bligh to interject in interest of fair community consultation and demand project proponent Powerlink and new Energy Minister Stephen Robertson give people more time to respond to a 1900-page draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), out now for public comment.

As reported in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 22 April, Mr Robertson has publicly backed Powerlink’s refusal to grant affected residents an extension.

“The community has no confidence in this consultation process,” said Jack Connolly, spokesperson for the Powerline Action Group of Eumundi (PAGE).

“The steam-rolling tactics being deployed are in direct contrast to the Bligh Government’s own principles for fairness in community consultation and make a mockery of the whole EIS process.”

PAGE convened Saturday’s meeting, which included much-needed help for affected residents, in the absence EIS workshops being held locally by Powerlink and PB.

Special guest speakers included: Sunshine Coast councillor Vivien Griffin, environmental scientist and Save the Mary River Co-ordinating Group President Glenda Pickersgill, and Sunshine Coast Regional Council regional strategy director Raul Weychardt.

Cr Griffin said: “I strongly support the community’s call for an extension to enable robust, fair debate aimed at developing the best possible solution to powering the coast.

“Genuine conversations with the community need to happen in order to turn the energy paradigm around and to plan smarter solutions for future needs.

“Council recently established an Energy Transition Group, which will look at ways in which we can move towards being a low carbon economy – something which we believe our community both want and need.

“Part of that process is looking at smarter ways of doing things, such as bringing sources of energy closer to need, using sustainable, renewable energy technologies and creating green jobs.”

Glenda Pickersgill, whose group recently entered the fourth year in their battle against the proposed dam at Traveston Crossing, also delivered these words of advice for people regarding submissions: “Let your responses come from the heart – the words will follow”.

Member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, who could not attend Saturday’s meeting due to prior commitments, stood up in Parliament last week and called on the Minister to reconsider his position, and also queried the choice of venues for workshops.

“I support the community’s request for a further one month’s extension on this very important issue,” Mr Wellington said.

“The environmental impact study affects everyone from Woolooga in the north to Eerwah Vale and west Eumundi in the south.”

Mr Connolly said PAGE members were disappointed in the position taken by the Minister and wrote to him immediately to introduce the group and what it stands for, including sustainable energy solutions, and to ensure the Minister was able to hear their concerns without inflection.

“Mr Robertson’s office replied last Tuesday [28 April], saying the matter had been referred to his department for ‘appropriate consideration’,” he said.

“But, with 10 days now left to respond, we are now forced to call on the Premier to intervene immediately. We want the lip service paid to ‘fair community consultation’ to stop and for affected residents to be given a fair go.”

The draft EIS for the 275 kV Woolooga to Cooroy South Transmission Line and Cooroy South Substation Project was released 31 March and closes 5pm Friday, 15 May 2009.

In their letter to Minister Robertson, PAGE members highlighted a raft of key issues and flaws relating to the project’s consultation process, including:

• poor timing of the draft EIS’ release, clashing with holidays
• time period unreasonable given complexity of the 1900-page document, inconsistent with EIS processes conducted by other government agencies
• delays in receiving information requested by landholders
• time needed to seek independent, expert advice
• the community group is again forced to refine non-network alternative put forward, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable renewable Sunshine Coast-based solar-thermal generation with storage capacity
• PB/Powerlink-run community draft EIS help sessions held in Federal and Gympie, not within proximity to residents affected in the areas of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale
• Powerlink have consistently failed to meet their own deadlines regarding the release of the draft EIS for public consultation
• no concern exhibited for people who are genuinely unable to meet the 15 May deadline, including one person who is currently overseas tending to the care needs of a relative
• inadequate community engagement activities are in direct contrast to the government’s own principles for fairness in consultation.

The process also conflicts with a commitment to community input in planning outlined in the South East Queensland Regional Plan, also recently out for consultation. Extended by one month, submissions closed yesterday (1 May).

At the same time, Powerlink and PB also referring the Project to the Commonwealth, hoping to have it ticked off as not having any great impact on matters of natural significance and therefore not requiring them to meet standards for environmental impact assessment outlined in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. People had until the end of last week to write to the Commonwealth to support a ‘controlled action’ status.

Mr Connolly said: “We are a community of working families who cannot drop absolutely everything to respond to such complex documents – which, in the case of the draft EIS, took an army of specialists over 10 months to create.

“The fact that they’ve set it up so that the both the draft EIS and EBPC processes run concurrently is questionable.”

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies.

For more information on the alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website http://www.saveeumundi.org

Ends

Note to editors:

• Photo caption (PAGE meeting.jpg) left-right: Councillor Vivien Griffin with PAGE members Jack Connolly and Keith Beveridge
• Link to copy of PB’s first letter of refusal regarding an extension
• What they said: Residents will have plenty of time to air their concerns – Powerlink Chief Operating Officer Simon Bartlett (Sunshine Coast Daily, 17 June 2008).

Organisation: Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE)
Date: Tuesday 5 May 2009
Media Contact: PAGE spokesperson Jack Connolly
Phone: 0413 420 616
Email: contact@saveeumundi.org

Dr Don Sands, President of the Richmond Birdwing Recovery Network, said he was shocked to hear that one of three options outlined to protect the butterflies was the ‘translocation’ of vegetation habitat – something which would in reality put entire colonies of the vulnerable butterfly species at risk.

“The relocation of local Richmond Butterfly Vines – the butterfly’s only food plant – spells death for local butterfly colonies,” Dr Sands said.

“I have been studying the species for almost 30 years and we have had no success to date in transplanting naturally growing vines more than five years old from one location to another.

“In this situation, Powerlink will almost certainly compromise any dependant and vulnerable Richmond Birdwing Butterfly colonies.”

Dr Sands said there was also the very serious issue of destroying butterfly pupae located in the canopy which is most vulnerable to land clearing and tree-lopping practices. In cases like this, the destruction of habitat can cause extinction.

“I’m surprised that Powerlink is not more amenable to expert advice when it relates to environmental management,” Dr Sands said.

The existence of the vine was noted in the Draft EIS out now for the 275 kV Woolooga to Cooroy South Transmission Line and Cooroy South Substation Project, prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia for Powerlink, the project proponent.

Owners of the property on which the vine was found, James and Janet Luttrell, were initially refused GPS coordinates of vine by PB.

The GPS coordinates were only provided to the Luttrells, who are also members of the Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE), following intervention by the Sunshine Coast Daily earlier this month.

“We are members of the butterfly network and have recorded many sightings of the butterflies ourselves,” Janet said.

“We’re understandably excited that our property has been declared as having the northern most colony of the species, which were once found as far north as Maryborough.

“We’re hardly going to sabotage the vine and kill off butterflies – and we’re still absolutely insulted by PB’s direct inference that we will.”

The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is one of Australia’s most impressive and beautiful native butterflies, but unfortunately it’s under threat of extinction due to land clearing and is classified as vulnerable under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act.

The wingspan of the female is about 14 cm across, while the male is smaller but much more colourful with dominant iridescent green wings splashed with velvet black and a yellow body. Its very survival depends on the existence of the Richmond Birdwing Vine – Pararistolochia praevenosa.

PAGE is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies.

Due to Powerlink hosting their upcoming public EIS workshops in Gympie and Federal, ignoring residents affected by the southern part of the proposed easement, PAGE is proposing to host a community meeting, including an EIS workshop, in Eumundi.

The proposed meeting is intended offer assistance to affected landholders in responding to the Draft EIS, regardless of where they live. To register your interest in attending, email contact@saveeumundi.org or phone PAGE on 0428 355 638.

Details of the free workshop will be made available in the near future, depending on the level of interest received.

For more information on the alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website http://www.saveeumundi.org

The Draft EIS, including mention of the Birdwing Butterfly Vine find, was released of public comment on 31 March. Submissions close 5pm Friday, 15 May 2009.

Ends.

Note to editors:
Imagery and photo opportunities available via contact@saveeumundi.org
Photo caption: Butterfly.jpg – Image of a male and female Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, taken by Musavale Road property owner Jack Connolly
Draft EIS references: 19.3.11; 9.2.7; 9.3; Table 9-10; Appendix N Section 4.1.2

——
Organisation: Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE)
Date: Monday 20 April 2009
Media Contacts:
Dr Don Sands on 3374 1608
Janet Luttrell on 0419 650 003
PAGE environmental spokesperson Annette House on 0407 636 199
Email: contact@saveeumundi.org

Residents tasked with responding to a 1900-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding high voltage powerlines are outraged by the ludicrous deadline imposed by Powerlink, the project proponent.

Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) spokesperson Dr John Cronin said the group was angry at being refused an extension last week, despite the obvious issues involved in responding to a document of such immense proportions.

“To download the document, it would take a very patient person an estimated 17 hours to save the entire document, complete with appendices, via a standard dial-up connection,” Dr Cronin said.

“Of course, you could request a USB or CD version, but you have to allow time to receive it, therefore exhausting a sizeable portion of the six-week timeframe enforced.

“And, if you have no computer, Powerlink’s attitude is ‘bad luck, pay $250 and we’ll send you a hardcopy or go to a public library’.

“In rejecting several landholders’ requests for a hard copy, commissioned consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia themselves validated the fee charged due to ‘… the detail contained in the Draft EIS and the resulting size of the document’.

“It just goes to show that this whole process is totally absurd and the steam-rolling tactics deployed are in direct contrast to the Bligh Government’s own principles for fairness in community consultation.”

Dr Cronin said the enormity of responding to the Draft EIS for the 275 kV Woolooga to Cooroy South Transmission Line and Cooroy South Substation Project was made all the more difficult due to a direct clash with the Easter break.

“We are a community of working families who cannot drop everything to respond to such a complex document – a document which has taken an army of specialists over 10 months to create,” he said.

“Libraries are closed, families are on holidays planned many months in advance – Powerlink couldn’t have planned it any more inappropriately.”

Powerlink has ignored residents affected by a new easement proposed for Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood by hosting public EIS workshops in Gympie and Federal, and not in Eumundi.

Members of PAGE met last night (13 April) and resolved to propose its own community workshop to offer assistance to affected landholders in responding to the Draft EIS, regardless of where they live.

To register your interest in attending the proposed workshop, email contact@saveeumundi.org or phone Jack on 5442 8777.

Details of the free workshop will be made available in the near future, depending on the level of interest received.

PAGE is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet Queensland’s future energy needs.

For more information on the alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website http://www.saveeumundi.org for more information.

Ends

Media contact: Dr John Cronin on 0414 468 852

Note to editors:
Link to copy of PB’s letter of refusal regarding an extension

Organisation: Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE)
Date: 15 April 2009
Media Contact: Dr John Cronin
Email: contact@saveeumundi.org

PAGE has asked the Bligh Government for “a clear statement that the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs be delivered via renewable energy and demand management providing the Bligh Government with a clear opportunity to show it is serious in tackling energy provision in an environmentally responsible manner – the last week of this election gives the Government the perfect opportunity to do this.”

Ever since the CEO of Powerlink wrote to Mr. Geoff Wilson, Minister for Mines and Energy suggesting that PAGE were “deceitful and dishonest”, PAGE have had disappointment after disappointment in their dealings with the Minister. No answers to the questions raised in our letter (dated 20 February 2008) to Mr. Wilson have been received. After 6 months of waiting the Minister finally afforded PAGE a meeting, at which PAGE were told to come up with an alternative within only 4 weeks. The other concerns of the community, raised in our meeting with the Minister regarding the consultation and environmental impact assessment have also been ignored.

With all the resources at the DME and Powerlink’s disposal, it was left for the small community group to come up with a proposal. This proposal was submitted but the reply from the Minister does little to inspire confidence that the Minister and his department are interested in delivering any solution other than Powerlink’s pre-determined power line proposal.

It is also disappointing to see ALP campaign rhetoric once again referring to Queensland as aspiring to be “the solar state” of Australia, yet we continue to see little willingness to progress towards achieving this goal, when there is a solar option on the table that could be further developed to meet their needs.
PAGE has been asking the government to look at alternatives to Powerlink business as usual proposal since August 2007 – 18 months later they are still dragging their heels when they have an active and engaged community wishing to help find solutions to the energy requirements of the Sunshine Coast, and where the Sunshine Coast Regional Council have a mandate for cleaner greener alternatives.

Queensland, despite the rhetoric, lags well behind other countries and is a long way behind New South Wales in implementing clean energy alternatives, demand management and feed-in tariffs.

For more information on the alternatives and the campaign to date visit PAGE’s website www.saveeumundi.org

The candidates were asked 5 questions relating to the Powerlink 275,000V power line project. Before the meeting the candidates were provided with the 5 questions, background briefing notes and clearly told that “The questions are asked of you as candidates and as representatives of the parties that you are standing for (if applicable) and your answers will be taken as being the policy that you or your party will implement in the next Parliament either in Government or if holding the balance of power, should this eventuate.”  The questions asked were:

Will you:

• Adopt a policy which mandates sustainable energy development before new network infrastructure?
• Adopt a policy which changes the ALA ’67 to compensate indirectly affected landowners and give landowners the right to sell their properties at fair value?
• Adopt the alternatives proposed to meet the N. Sunshine Coast’s energy needs – renewable energy & demand management?
• Adopt a policy which prevents the conflict of interest between developers and their paid environmental consultants?
• Oppose the construction of the proposed Woolooga to Cooroy transmission line and sub-station?

The audience scored by a show of hands whether the candidates answered positively, answered negatively or did not answer the question directly by waffling. The candidate’s scorecard is shown below.

Graham Smith, PAGE Coordinator said after the forum that “it was useful for the community to see where the candidates stand on this key issue for the Sunshine Coast and any sustainable future that it has. It was important to have candidates from both Noosa and Nicklin as this State Government proposal does not stop at Eumundi, but also impacts Noosa and the Biosphere.

The second half of the forum was open for the community to ask any questions of the candidates at the meeting. Complementing the panel for this half of the forum were Gary Claridge (Grn, Nicklin), Glen Elmes (LNP, Noosa) and Kent Hutton (Grn, Gympie). Questions ranged from Traveston Dam, renewable energy feed-in tariffs, unsustainable population growth as well as many more questions on the powerline proposal and the alternatives. Other community groups represented at the forum were the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Noosa Parks Association, Save the Mary River and OSCAR.

PAGE Coordinator, Graham Smith said “This is a key election for Queensland and especially the Sunshine Coast. Last May’s council elections clearly demonstrated that the community wants a new sustainable approach to energy, water and transport. It is only for four weeks in every three years that the Government actually listens to voters and everyone should use this election as an opportunity to make your voice get heard.”

What: PAGE – Queensland Election Candidates Forum.
Where: CWA Hall, Eumundi
Date / Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm on Saturday 14 March 2009

PAGE's state election candidate forum results

The second half of the forum will be open for the community to ask any questions of the candidates at the meeting. There will be candidates from the electorates of Nicklin, Noosa and Gympie and the major parties and independents will be represented.

PAGE Coordinator, Graham Smith said “This is a key election for Queensland and especially the Sunshine Coast. Last May’s council elections clearly demonstrated that the community wants a new sustainable approach to energy, water and transport. It is vital that the community come along and find out where your candidates stand on these issues. It is only for four weeks in every three years that the Government actually listens to voters and everyone should use this forum as an opportunity to make your voice get heard.”

PAGE was disappointed to hear in our discussions with the candidates in preparation for this forum that the Labor candidate for Nicklin refused to attend the forum and debate the issues with the other candidates or with the community. Labor, however will be represented by Mr. Brian Stockwell, candidate for the Noosa electorate.

Other candidates that have agreed to participate in the forum are Mr. Steve Haines (Grn), Ms. Cate Molloy (Ind), Mr. Steve Morrison (LNP), and Mr. Peter Wellington (Ind). Also attending the forum will be Mr. Garry Claridge (Grn), Mr. Glen Elmes (LNP) and Mr. Kent Hutton (Grn)

As usual PAGE is expecting an excellent turnout to reflect the significant interest and passion generated by this State Government proposal.

What: PAGE – Queensland Election Candidates Forum.
Where: CWA Hall, Eumundi
Date / Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm on Saturday 14 March 2009
Cost: Free

Visit www.saveeumundi.org for more information.

Contact: Graham Smith
Email:  contact@saveeumundi.org

Media Release Date:             6 March 2009