At a public meeting held on Sunday 15th March 2009 at Salk Oval, Palm Beach, local residents cheered as representatives from political parties re-affirmed committed funding to underground part of the Mudgeeraba to Tugun ENERGEX powerline. The S.T.O.P. group, auspiced by Gecko – Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council (Gecko) has been waging a battle for over a year to have the lines put underground. The description of the section of the route for putting the powerlines underground is from Elanora Treatment works to Currumbin Substation, a distance of 4.4 kilometres plus an 800m section along Asperia Street in Reedy Creek.

Gecko President Rose Adams said, “The community has at last received the policy decision that they have been waiting for. This 110,000v line was proposed to be constructed overhead and would have imposed entirely unacceptable impacts upon our suburbs. Concerns were raised about health impacts, reduction of property values, safety and the visual pollution of 20-25m concrete poles with 6 lines of cabling in residential suburbs and across Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks. As originally proposed, the project would necessitate the clearing of many hectares of vegetation, including over 4,000 trees and shrubs, habitat for native birds and animals and valued by
residents for their beauty, shade and buffering qualities.”

S.T.O.P. spokesperson John Cooper said, “It’s a pity it took an election to stir policy makers into action. We were told at the rally that the LNP has committed $27 million dollars to undergrounding the section from the Elanora Treatment Plant to the Currumbin sub-station, including an 800m section at Asperia Street in Reedy Creek. The ALP has committed $28 million for the same route. This is a great outcome but we are waiting to see the details of the final plan and to see the next government carry out their promise.”

Ms Adams said, “As this new route will only deliver a partial undergrounding, Gecko continues to be concerned about possible impacts on the remnant Endangered Regional Ecosystem at Reedy Creek and the possibility of homes being affected in the Old Burleigh Town and Tugun sections of the route. We will be seeking further information on this. After the elections we will be seeking assurances from the Minister for Mines and Energy that the remaining overhead sections will be planned as sensitively as possible in order to keep vegetation clearing to a minimum. We will also be seeking a commitment that, when ENERGEX decides to supply power into New South
Wales, they will be required to underground any lines passing near residents along that section and that no residents will have an overhead option imposed on them.”

“This has been a wonderful example of people power in action. The community was not prepared to accept high voltage powerlines running through residential streets and pulled out all the stops to make sure this did not happen. We hope that, whichever Party wins government, they will be more responsive to community concerns and major campaigns like S.T.O.P are not necessary.”

Contact: Rose Adams, Gecko-Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council – 0402-805-083