Landholders affected by transmission lines meet with National Party MPs
Landholders along proposed powerline routes to connect the Borumba Dam pumped hydro project are bracing for a fight and questioning the community’s approval of the project.
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A group of angry, emotional and frustrated landholders aired their frustrations about the Borumba Dam pumped hydro project to National Party politicians on Monday.
Issues they raised included what they believed was a lack of notice over the proposed transmission pathways, concerns over drop in property values, questions on the feasibility and technology of the project, and a general frustration over the feeling of being overlooked.
“It’s not a level playing field, we are just the little guy,” said Gillian Stephens, whose Blacksnake property with a 360 degree view would be severely impaired by the transmission lines.
She said the resale value of her property has dropped 50 per cent, producing a lot of anxiety as neither her nor her husband are in their prime earning years.
Wide Bay National MP Llew O’Brien said how similar the project was to the Traveston Crossing Dam, which was shot down during environmental approval in 2009 after failing to gain community approval.
“This is devastating their life and livelihood and future plans,” Mr O’Brien said.
He repeated his commitment to a senate inquiry into renewable energy, something the Kilkivan Action Group has been pushing for in recent months. National senators have already put forward four attempts towards an inquiry.
“We do not agree with this and we will be fighting it all the way. I've made numerous speeches in parliament and David dropped everything to get here to Kilkivan to speak with these people today,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said we need to have a roader conversation over what Australia’s future energy systems could look like.
“Nuclear technology today is safe and we've been doing it safely for 70 years,” he said.
National Party leader David Littleproud said there needed a “pause” in order to get it “right without the human toll, without the environmental toll”.
This year’s state budget gave the pumped hydro project a financial green light, slating $6bn for the estimated $14.2bn in total, subject to environmental approvals.
The project has met hurdles in the way of connecting the pumped hydro to the state grid.
Property owners were in shock when they discovered 88km of transmission lines will run from Borumba Dam to Woolooga, affecting 129 properties, the pylons falling within sight of a number of houses near Kilkivan.
The other line runs 105km from the dam west to Halys substation through 165 South Burnett properties.
While Powerlink’s engagement process started in December 2021 with key stakeholders, it was 11 months later when individual landholders were informed of the potential transmission lines crossing their properties.
Community feedback on draft recommendations for Powerlink’s final alignment closed on Monday. The company is due to release the final corridor in September in preparation for environmental approvals.
Powerlink is offering groundbreaking compensation policies which allows more flexible payment options to landholders and includes neighbouring properties to some entitlements.
Despite this, both state-owned companies of Powerlink and Qld Hydro are grasping to obtain the approval of both the Gympie and South Burnett communities at large.
The meeting at Kilkivan coincides with the beginning of a number of Qld Hydro community and industry briefings across Gympie and South Burnett. The first one is in Gympie on Friday, July 7, 2023.
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