Project axed: Jack Connolly with Peter Wellington and concerned locals at the site of the proposed powerlines at Eerwah Vale.

STATE-OWNED agency Powerlink this week refuted claims it has wasted millions of dollars on ‘‘another Traveston Dam’’.

The company has pulled out of Eerwah Vale after plans to run high voltage powerlines through the valley were first ‘‘deferred’’ and then ‘‘terminated’’.

While residents have welcomed the decision many believe the exercise has been a waste of money.

Just two months earlier Powerlink spent around $2 million buying two properties.

Powerlink Chief Operating Officer Simon Bartlett described the purchase as ‘‘unremarkable’’.

But local Jim Cooney said it was a case of Traveston Dam all over again.

Comparing Powerlink’s actions to ‘‘the Traveston tactics and later finance fiasco’’, Mr Cooney was scathing in his criticism.

‘‘The only point missing from media stories is an approximate total of the State’s – including its fully-owned agency Powerlink – related wasted costs and expenses for the abandoned project,’’ he said.

‘‘We know at least $2.4 million was paid in two land purchases but there must have been wasted millions paid in fees to various employed consultants and assistants, in addition to allocating Powerlink salaries for times spent on this project, surveys, printing and presentation costs, costs of rentals for equipment and buildings.’’

At the time of the land purchase Independent MP Peter Wellington told The Journal it was ‘‘ like Traveston Dam all over again, buying up properties before a decision is even made’’.

‘‘I recently met with Energy Minister Stephen Robertson and senior staff from Powerlink over this matter,’’ he said this week.

‘‘Powerlink is now looking at building a substation in Caboolture instead,’’ he said.

‘‘Their expectation for the future is there will be a need for more electricity as the population rises on the Coast and the research one in Eerwah Vale will be used.’’

Powerlink Queensland’s manager network development Terry Miller confirmed the two purchased properties would now be sold.

‘‘In terms of the cost involved with a route acquisition project such as this, 70 per cent of the total cost is attributable to the easement compensation stage of the project. As the project has been terminated, there will be no expenditure associated with easement compensation, which is by far the highest cost component of such a project.’’

Source: questnews.com.au

The expected upgrade of the high voltage transmission network supplying the Sunshine Coast and Gympie has been delayed for at least five years a Powerlink spokeswoman said.

She said a temporary change in power flows across the Queensland electricity network had caused the delays and scrapping of major programs.

“Following feedback received about the recent announcement, Powerlink has written to landowners and stakeholders this week to further clarify that the need for the network upgrade has been deferred and that the project known as Woolooga to Eerwah Vale has been terminated,” she said.

Powerlink intends initiating a new corridor and substation site selection process that will require another environmental impact statement.

“That future process will include the assessment of a broad range of route options, considering the prevailing conditions in the area and the current legislative framework,” the spokeswoman said.

“Powerlink would like to advise the extensive information gathered as part of the terminated Woolooga to Eerwah Vale project, including information provided in submissions to the notice of proposed Ministerial Designation, issued in May 2010, will be kept on file as background information to help inform any future Powerlink activities in the region.

“This includes the process of redoing the corridor and substation site selection process, and the maintenance of existing transmission line easements.”

She said Powerlink would continue to work directly with landowners to answer any questions about the termination.

In the letter sent out to residents, Powerlink’s network development manager Terry Miller said: “It means Powerlink no longer has an interest in, or specific plans for, the properties in this section affected by the proposed alignment”.

Source: http://www.noosanews.com.au/story/2011/08/09/changes-in-power-flow-high-voltage-transmission/

EERWAH Vale’s Jack Connolly and his Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) team reckon they know how David felt after bringing Goliath crashing back down to earth.

From where the residents of this Noosa hinterland Land For Wildlife stronghold have been bunkered down for the past four years almost to the day, they have taken on a $100 million Powerlink juggernaut and sent the energy company engineers and their 275,000 volt powerlines packing.

Last month the PAGE activists – local residents in Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood, not prepared to sit back and lose their wildlife to massive powerline pylons – welcomed the five-year deferment of the Woolooga to Eerwah Vale transmission line and Eerwah Vale substation project.

But they were adamant the State Government-inspired rethink did not go far enough. They demanded a meeting with Powerlink executives and a pledge to kill the project stone dead.

Now the battle-weary valley and ridge dwellers are preparing to celebrate what has proved mission impossible for other communities faced with similar powerline intrusions in their lives.

Mr Connolly said the residents of Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood received this week a ‘clarifying’ letter from Powerlink which “finally and totally terminates this threat”.

“We are taking Powerlink on trust and hope that their current letter is not a political stunt,” Mr Connolly said.

“This is the first time in 18 years that anyone has ever been able to get Powerlink to walk away in this manner and we certainly are going to be celebrating.

“Now the residents can get on with their lives without having to worry about the massive impact on their lives and the huge loss to their property’s valuation,” Mr Connolly said.

Mr Connolly said in the recent meeting with Powerlink, the state company was “strongly urged” to distinguish the difference between the ‘deferred need’ for a network upgrade, and the ‘termination’ of their current project.

Mr Connolly described this as a common sense win for the community and “a great environmental win for the Sunshine Coast”.

But he said PAGE was not about to let Powerlink just walk away from what they had put the local community through over the years and would seek not only answers for their past actions, but funding to help with koala habitat rehabilitation.

Recent comments:

By rural from Cooroy on 9/8/2011 at 8:17AM

The article is incomplete without revealing how much more in State wasted costs, which must be in the tens of millions! You would think the “ladies-in-waiting” opposition party would have been quick to identify this added loss as they have direct access and rights to the financial records. Credit must also be given to the many “puppet” engineers and consultants who put their financial gains ahead of any objective, technical, professional or fair analysis, but will all be paid again for future studies. Odd how coal seam gas reserves were recognized since this project began, but four years later it is the supposed sudden public reason to completely dismiss the project after irreversible damages done. Traveston deja vu, as more of the rural population distrusts its government!

By savetherange from Maroochydore on 9/8/2011 at 10:22AM

Problem is we the people can do nothing about this kind of waste of money. The only good thing is the engineers have been kept in work here on the Coast. Rural, I think ‘puppets’ is a bit strong, they have to do the job they get paid to do. We are all the same in that way. You can only do and say what you like if no-one is paying you – that’s the price of being politically active or the pleasure of being retired. Democracy is easily undermined by capitalism.

Source: http://www.noosanews.com.au/story/2011/08/09/power-giant-walks-away-action-group/

THE final nail has been driven into the planned Woolooga to Eerwah Vale high transmission line, with residents receiving confirmation from Powerlink that the project had been terminated.

The advice came in the form of a clarifying letter, and follows notification last month that the project had been deferred for about five years.

While that decision had marked a major victory for protesters it did nothing to allay fears that the project would re-surface.

Powerlink Action Group Eumundi president Jack Connolly said at a meeting on July 19, senior Powerlink management agreed to send residents a follow-up letter clarifying the company’s intention.

“We are taking Powerlink on trust and hope that their current letter is not a political stunt,” Mr Connolly said.

“In our recent meeting, we strongly urged Powerlink to distinguish the difference between the ‘deferred need’ for a network upgrade, and the ‘termination’ of their current project.

“To this end, P.A.G.E. drafted a follow-up letter for Powerlink to be sent to residents to clearly enunciate that differentiation. This clarifying letter was sent out by Powerlink on August 1.

“Now the residents can get on with their lives without having to worry about the massive impact on their lives and the huge loss to their property’s valuation.

“This is not only a commonsense win for the community, but it is a great environmental win for the Sunshine Coast, protecting a healthy koala habitat and population and other fauna and flora.

“Powerlink have been saying for four years that their project was needed by 2014 or the lights would go out. Now, they suggest 2019 before it is needed. Powerlink could do well to adopt other P.A.G.E. research and accept the timelines based on efficiently using the existing network.”

The protest group has thanked the community, Mayor Bob Abbot and Councillor Vivien Griffin, state politicians Peter Wellington and Glen Elmes and federal member Alex Somlyay as well as Noosa Biosphere chair Michael Donovan and Sunshine Coast Environment Council for their support.

Recent Comments:

By Zorro from Noosa Heads on 6/8/2011 at 5:54PM

Fantastic news!!!
For now…
Almost too good to be true…
“…not only a commonsense win for the community, but it is a great environmental win for the Sunshine Coast, protecting a healthy koala habitat and population and other fauna and flora.”
But tell me why this is not just a stunt or some other stalling tactic.
Tell me why “defered” is any reason to think in terms of “permanent”.
There are no guarantees and no reason whatsoever to trust Powerlink here.
A five year stay of execution will pass very quickly.
Nevertheless, congratulations, kudos and mountains of good karma to all concerned.
Stay vigilant.
Still taking it in…
Protect the koala!
…and those old growth Birdwing vines will live on, too.

By GarryClaridge from Maleny on 6/8/2011 at 9:50PM

Well done, great community effort. Now, for the proposed, archaic and misplaced, power lines for the bushland around Eudlo and Mooloolah Valley.

How about we generate significant amounts of electrical power locally!

By rural from Cooroy on 7/8/2011 at 9:00AM

Various corrections and clarifications are needed beginning with the confusing ‘for now” headline. Best to quote directly from Powerlink’s letter. The “need for the network upgrade has been deferred”, the “project” has been “terminated”. At the time the need arises for a transmission network upgrade, Powerlink will initiate a new project. The future new project will require a new corridor…We would also like to make clear that we have removed the Study Area and corridor flags from Powerlink’s property enquiries database. It means that Powerlink no longer has a current interest in, or specific plans for, the properties in this section previously affected by the proposed alignment.” In other words, all has reverted to pre-2007 and all properties are free from any related burden, as any future power line or its corridor is completely unknown and uncertain.

 Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/08/06/powers-off-for-now/

Community outrage: Jack Connolly, president of the residents' action group, wants the controversial Powerlink project terminated. Picture: Andrew Seymour.

A Simple change of wording could end years of hinterland heartache over Powerlink’s controversial powerline project in Eerwah Vale.

Residents’ relief at the project’s deferral for five years was short-lived when they realised it would spark a further five years of uncertainty.

But a meeting between Jack Connolly, president of residents’ action group PAGE (Powerline Action Group Eumundi), and the company on Monday could see the original project shelved.

Mr Connolly said the deferral was “belligerent in the extreme”.

“Powerlink has already had people’s lives on hold for four years and then they said they could come back in about five years, meaning people’s lives will be on hold for a minimum of nine years.” 

He said that was “totally unacceptable”  and the only option was to stop the project “so the community can get on with their lives without the threat of a powerline coming through or near their property”.

“It came down to semantics,” he said. “The difference between the words `defer’ and `terminate’ is huge. Terminate means when they do come back, they would have to start from scratch.”

Independent Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington said he would now be calling on Energy Minister Stephen Robertson for support.

“When parliament resumes I will be asking him to support my request that Powerlink’s original approval be removed and, if they still choose to proceed with this, they must make a fresh application,” he said.

“Powerlink is relying on that original approval to drag this out.

“Powerlink has advised me that the two properties already purchased will go back on the market. That shows they have no intention of proceeding in the immediate future.

“People need certainty  they can’t sell their properties at a fair market price until this is resolved.”

Powerlink chief executive Gordon Jardine said Powerlink had recently written to landowners and stakeholders affected by the project to advise them of the change in timing and what it means for them.

“We appreciate this news is unexpected and although it is due to factors outside of Powerlink’s control, we apologise for any concern, frustration or inconvenience that results from this change in timing,” he said.

“Our decision to defer the project will enable any environmental, social, economic or legislative factors which change in the interim period to be fully considered.

“We have also removed Powerlink’s property inquiries database. This means that anyone making a property inquiry will be advised that Powerlink does not have any current interest in those properties.

“Following the meeting (with PAGE), Powerlink has undertaken to consider a change to the words used to describe the project status in the short term.”

Source: Quest Newspapers.

PAGE members celebrating after Powerlink deferred the powerlines project that was proposed to come through the Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale communities.

PAGE and the communities of Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood are in celebratory mood following a reprieve in their four-year battle with Powerlink Queensland.

 Acting Energy Minister Phil Reeves announced that a proposed upgrade of the electricity transmission network supplying the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions is being deferred after Powerlink identified a temporary change to power flows into the region.

“This means the need for the proposed Woolooga to Eerwah Vale transmission line and the Eerwah Vale substation project are being deferred by around five years,” he said earlier this month.

Powerlink chief executive Gordon Jardine said the temporary change in power flows was a direct result of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the Surat Basin area of South West Queensland.

“During the start-up phase the initial ‘ramp up’ gas produced by these projects is being sold to, and used by, power stations in South West Queensland,” he said, adding that this significantly increases power flows from the Surat Basin into the major demand centre of South East Queensland.

Mr Jardine said this change to power flows would delay the overloads originally forecast for the network supplying the Sunshine Coast and the need for the upgrade until 2019.

 However, despite the celebrations, the reprieve is a hollow victory for residents, PAGE president/coordinator Jack Connolly said.

“The residents do not want a reprieve, they want Powerlink once and for all to acknowledge its original mistake made in 2007 and to adopt the much cheaper and lower social and environmental impact alternative proposed by PAGE,” he said.

Mr Connolly said while Powerlink cited a temporary change to power flows into the region being a direct result of the recently announced LNG projects in the Surat Basin as among the reasons for the deferral, he added that as early as 2008 the government forecast some of the Surat Basin’s coal and gas would be used for domestic energy production.

“Powerlink seems to need or want a face-saving exit from this doomed project,” Mr Connolly said.

“It appears Powerlink conjured up a seemingly believable story, but in so doing, have left hinterland residents with the same daunting boom hanging over their heads.”

 Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington said he will continue to push to have the proposal withdrawn from the government agenda.

 “I’m very pleased that Powerlink is not proceeding with the proposed Woolooga to Eerwah Vale transmission line and substation at this time,” he said.

“However, this proposal needs to be completely scrapped.”

Mr Wellington has written to the Australian Energy Regulator to request that it withdraws its initial approval, and require Powerlink to submit a fresh application if and when it decides it needs to proceed with the upgrade of the network.

“The initial approval for this project should not simply be left open-ended,” he said. “Our community does not want to see this same project resurface in the future. I will also speak to the Energy Minister Stephen Robertson and ask if he will support my request to the energy regulator.”

Mr Wellington added he had been advised that as a result of the decision to defer the investigation of the corridor for five years, Powerlink will not be preparing a response to the State Government regarding PAGE’s proposed alternate corridor.

Mr Connolly said PAGE has won an important battle but is undeterred in its determination to have a win-win for the community, the environment and the government.

 “PAGE will continue to negotiate with Powerlink in an effort to completely remove the threat to the Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood communities,” he said. “We will ensure outstanding issues from the Powerlink actions are resolved and keep residents informed of developments.”

PAGE met with Powerlink representatives on Monday and will give an update once Powerlink responds to the bulk of the questions asked of them.

 Source: www.eumundigreen.com.au

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNWAaZdR_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etOgrcljP3U&feature=youtube_gdata

The discussion is in regards to the Powerlink deferral of the Woolooga to Eerwah Vale Project.

EERWAH Vale residents were in shock this week after Government agency Powerlink deferred its proposed powerline project for five years.

Jack Connolly, president of Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE), said it looked like a victory for locals but it wasn’t what they wanted. ‘‘It’s a victory as far as winning the battle, but not the war,’’ he told The Journal on Wednesday.

Acting Energy Minister Phil Reeves said the proposed upgrade of the electricity transmission network supplying the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions would be deferred until 2019. ‘‘This means the need for the proposed Woolooga to Eerwah Vale Transmission Line and Eerwah Vale Substation Project is being deferred by around five years,’’ he said.

Powerlink Chief Executive, Gordon Jardine said the temporary change in power flows was a direct result of the recently-announced liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the Surat Basin area of South West Queensland. Mr Jardine said deferring the project would require the corridor and substation site selection process to be ‘‘redone’’ in about five years.

‘‘The reprieve is a hollow victory for residents,’’ Mr Connolly said. ‘‘We did not want a reprieve, we wanted Powerlink once and for all to acknowledge their original mistake made in 2007 and to adopt the much cheaper and much lower social and environmental impact alternative proposed by PAGE.

‘‘Powerlink has left hinterland residents with the same daunting boom hanging over their heads. In other words, they can come back in five years’ time and start this dreaded process over again.

‘‘But PAGE is undeterred in the determination to have a win-win for the community, the environment and the government.’’

RATHER than celebrate the five-year shelving of the $100 million Powerlink high voltage transmission line from Woolooga to Eerwah Vale, a residents’ protest group believes their lives have just been put in limbo for another half a decade.

Powerlines Action Group Eumundi spokesman Jack Connolly on Wednesday described the announcement of the powerline delay as an “empty and shallow victory” for Noosa hinterland residents whose futures are just as uncertain as ever.

Mr Connolly urged Powerlink and the State Government to scrap the project and use the deferment period to fully investigate the action group’s alternative powerline proposal, which he said would save taxpayers $70 million.

Acting Energy Minister Phil Reeves said the need for the 275,000 volt transmission line and substation was being deferred for “around five years” as a result of the recently announced liquefied natural gas projects in the Surat Basin in south-west Queensland.

Mr Reeves said that during the start-up phase of the LNP projects, the initial gas flows would be sold to power stations in the south-west of the state.

“This has the effect of significantly increasing the power flows in the major demand centre of south-east Queensland from the Surat Basin,” Mr Reeves said.

“As a result, during this ramp-up period less power than usual will be needed to flow down from Central Queensland through the Sunshine Coast region.”

Powerlink’s website said the proposed project had reached the stage of preparing for a ministerial designation request to be made.

“However, as Powerlink has at least 12 other corridor projects which require designation much earlier than the revised time-frame for this project, continuing with the designation process would experience a very considerable delay.”

Powerlink chief executive Gordon Jardine said the temporary change to power flow would delay the overloads originally forecast for the Coast, and said that deferring the scheduled 2014 project would require the Woolooga to Eerwah Vale corridor and substation selection site process to be redone in 2019.

Mr Jardine said this would involve the assessment of a “broad range of route options” and take into account the environmental, social and economic conditions and legislative framework at “that point in time”.

“Although this latest development is due to factors outside of Powerlink’s control, we apologise for any impact that results from this change in timing,” Mr Jardine said.

Mr Connolly said while the concerted PAGE anti-powerline campaign had won a deferral, only an outright dismissal of the project would satisfy them.

“What this means is that you can’t plan anything with your life,” Mr Connolly said.

“We have had our lives put on hold for the past five years and this means we will be left hanging on not knowing what will be happening for another five years.”

Mr Connolly said he believed that the flags and powerline route markers had been removed from the Powerlink data base and he was concerned that anyone buying into the areas designated in the previously identified route may not be aware that up until this week it was the preferred upgrade link. He said that could have ramifications on land buyers and sellers down the track should this route be chosen again for the upgrade.

Mr Connolly said he had been invited by senior Powerlink officers to discuss the latest development with them on July 18, but he had no idea what they wanted to say.

Mr Reeves said this week that Powerlink would be consulting with landowners and key stakeholders directly about what the deferral means.