Group urges minister to get facts

Eerwah Vale residents awaiting Powerlink decision on transmission lines are James and Janet Luttrell and Jack and Margaret Connolly.

Geoff Potter

A NOOSA hinterland lobby group fighting high voltage transmissions lines through their area have helped engineer a power play that could go all the way to Premier Anna Bligh.

The Powerlines Action Group Eumundi has brought alleged contradictory advice about the suitability of the Bruce Highway along the Cooroy to Curra route to carry the electricity pylons to the notice the Member for Neckline Peter Wellington.

He is now demanding that Energy Minister Stephen Robertson implement an independent assessment of PAGE’s Cooroy to Curra route by today or he will take his concerns to Ms Bligh.

Mr Wellington told ABC Coast FM on Wednesday morning that Mr Robertson had been told last year by the Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace that the highway corridor was not suitable for the pylons.

“Since then there was a meeting held with the (PAGE) action committee and one of the senior department officers working on that (highway) project,” Mr Wellington said.

“The senior department officer confirmed in email to me, through his secretary, that effectively those minutes said there was sufficient capacity in the national highway corridor for the location of the transmission towers.”

Mr Wellington wants an independent review carried out before Mr Robertson makes a final decision on Powerlink’s proposed $100 million project that would cut a swathe through Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale.

He said that was expected by the middle of the year.

“I do not have confidence in the advice that the consultants are providing to Powerlink and I do not have confidence in the advice that Powerlink is providing to the minister.”

Mr Wellington said national highways were the appropriate and best location for powerlines

“I’d like the minister to find a way a way where his department is able to start an authorised assessment – if he is not able to do that well then I’ve made it clear I will take it to the Premier.”

PAGE spokesman Mike Tsilfidis told the ABC that such a review was “exactly the outcome that we’re looking for”.

“That’s great news.

“We were never against the security of supply in the area.”

PAGE believes the shorter highway route could save the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

A spokesman for Mr Robertson told the ABC that Powerlink was continuing to assess submissions and further comment wouldn’t be appropriate until he received a relevant report.