Kilkivan Action Group to protest reckless renewables outside Parliament House

Emotional Kilkivan residents will travel to Canberra and deliver a powerful message outside Parliament House about renewable energy projects in their region.

Kilkivan residents are heading to Canberra to make their voices heard in a fight against renewable energy projects and associated transmission line infrastructure.

Communities affected by renewable energy projects and powerlines have called for a national day of action against “reckless renewables” and will converge on Parliament House on Tuesday, February 6 for the first day of sittings.

Kilkivan Action Group representative Katy McCallum will add the region’s voice to a chorus of communities in Victoria and New South Wales which are calling for a senate inquiry into renewable energy.

Katy McCallum speaking at Kilkivan Town Hall where more than 100 people gathered after news of Powerlink's selected corridor of a transmission line from Borumba Dam to Woolooga Substation in late April. Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Picture: Christine Schindler

Many residents were sent into shock in late 2022 when Powerlink, the state company managing the electricity grid, held consultations across the region to decide on two proposed high-voltage transmission line corridors to connect the proposed $14.2 billion Borumba hydro dam to the grid at Halys in the west and Woolooga in the north. 

The process drew critique from communities and councillors after a gruelling 18 months of community consultation over the 500kV transmission lines set to cross through the region. 

In Kilkivan they reacted in opposition, planning community action, putting up signs, locking their gates, and calling for a senate inquiry into renewable infrastructure with the news that some properties might even fall within 50m of the powerlines. 

More than 100 people turned up to Kilkivan Town Hall in response to Powerlink's selected corridor of a transmission line from Borumba Dam to Woolooga Substation in late April. South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto, Katy McCallum and Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig address residents on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Picture: Christine Schindler

Ms McCallum said the action group is “demanding a federal senate inquiry into the rollout of renewable energy”.

“There has been no social, economic or environmental licence obtained by Powerlink for the proposed transmission lines throughout Kilkivan district and so our message to Powerlink has been simple – our gates are locked!”

The rally outside parliament will include political speakers including Senator Matthew Canavan, Malcolm Roberts, Pauline Hanson, Jacinta Price and federal MPs Llew O’Brien, Barnaby Joyce, and Bob Katter.