by Kerry Ladbrook
Photo: Wandoan South sub station
How
do Powerlink Qld and many of the Coal Seam Gas Companies recognise landholder’s
time impacted by their projects in order for these corporations to meet
deadlines? They don’t, but under
legislation landholders must engage with them.
How
do Government Corporations such as Powerlink Qld recognise their employees
meeting deadlines? By paying Staff Performance Pay Bonuses and allowing them to
share in a Gainsharing Pool of money if their projects come in under
budget.
In the North West Surat Basin, there has
been more “give” than “take” by landholders impacted by a web of high voltage
transmission powerlines for the sole benefit of the coal seam gas companies. Powerlink Qld is undertaking these contracts
ignoring landholder input into the proposed study corridors in planning for
this infrastructure. Due to inappropriate locations, time wasted by Powerlink
employees has been enormous and costly to the Qld Government, CSG and Rural
industries.
While Powerlink employees continue to be
paid for their mistakes, landholders have to endure even greater impacts upon
their time. Farmers are running a business and should not be placed in the
position of de facto charities for the benefit of multinational companies.
Time impacts on our business equates to two
days per week since first engagement with Powerlink 16 months ago with
agreement yet to be reached. How many
family businesses can afford to carry this type of impact without recompense?
The
Community Designation Process that Powerlink Qld is allowed to follow is highly
pressurised and with less rights than CSG legislation as it comes under the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
It’s
more than time that landholder’s time is recognised. The Queensland government
needs to look to positive legislative change for landholders. Recognition of
landholder time as separate to other compensation needs to occur.
Allowing
for full cost recovery will result in a greater willingness to address issues
from the outset.
First published as a Letter to the Editor in various rural newspapers.
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ReplyDeleteJust another instance of injustice for landowners, Dale. One problem for people on the land is isolation and the fact they don't have the advantage of big unions squealing in their defence.
ReplyDelete