Power price rise link to Powerlink
by Kerry Ladbrook
First published in a condensed version on the Village Green page of The Courier Mail 23rd March 2013
No wonder Qld has just experienced a 21% RISE IN ELECTRICITY
when High Voltage Projects in rural locations that solely benefit privately
owned Coal Seam Gas Companies and their shareholders are able to follow a
process and have their costs of construction subsidised by the Tax Payer. The antiquated Acquisition of Land Act(ALA)
1967 needs a major overhaul.
POWERLINK QUEENSLAND intends applying for designation as
community infrastructure the Wandoan South to Eurombah and Network extension in North West Surat
transmission projects located in the heartland of a newly proposed coal seam
gas development between Roma & Wandoan.
Designation will be decided by Minister for Energy &
Water Supply Mark McArdle under the ALA.
Mc Ardle details in a letter dated 25th October “I note the planned expansion of the network
will not only meet the electricity requirements of the CSG-LNG projects and
mines in the region, but will also reinforce and improve supply to nearby
townships”.
The only problem with this Mark, is that these projects are
in the middle of nowhere where there are no towns and no community
infrastructure. Powerlink Queensland has
advised no landholder can connect into these high voltage lines.
If it was true that the proposed transmission lines between Wandoan & Injune were for community infrastructure as Powerlink has asked the Minister to designate them; then there would exist a situation as ridiculous as depicted in this John Spooner cartoon.
The transmission lines are for providing electricity to coal seam gas projects, not the community.
If it was true that the proposed transmission lines between Wandoan & Injune were for community infrastructure as Powerlink has asked the Minister to designate them; then there would exist a situation as ridiculous as depicted in this John Spooner cartoon.
The transmission lines are for providing electricity to coal seam gas projects, not the community.
This will be the start of many such infrastructure projects across the state all for the benefit of private coal seam gas or mining companies.
Rural Queenslanders are Angry.
Landholders are not given any input into the proposed study
corridors for these projects before they are designed. These are massive projects to provide
electricity to each and every gas well that ORIGIN and SANTOS will have operational and we believe it should
come under Coal Seam Gas Rules and not the very ineffective and out of date
land act that has ANGERED landholders threatened by readily available Power of Entry Notices to
gain access, private land accessed without permission by Powerlink and Environmental
staff, inadequate consultation in regard to transmission lines &
substations, poor weed washdown procedures and no compensation detailed.
Powerlink staff can waste time with personal leave but will rush
the consultation process in order to
have an equally rushed environmental investigation which does not respect
landholders businesses, location of protected flora & fauna , fire impacts,
overgrazing, devaluation, helicopter
mustering, no payment for our time, legal consultation and accountancy.
If these Projects are privatised,
then essential services can be retained. This will help ALL QUEENSLANDERS save money and retain the services they need. Please support our e-petition (can be under
18)and sign on the attached link, so this is addressed by Minister Mark McArdle.
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