Member for Currumbin Jann Stuckey MP says a final decision on the proposed powerline route through the southern Gold Coast will be made by the State Government early next year.
The latest details on the time-frame for the controversial powerline were released recently to a meeting of a Community Reference Group set up by Energex which includes local residents protesting about the overhead powerline proposal. The residents want the lines to be placed underground because of environmental, health, aesthetic and property value issues.
In the meantime, Ms Stuckey has urged residents to make submissions to Energex on the proposal.
“I strongly encourage residents to make every effort to submit a written submission. The residents have rightly been very vocal on this issue and I would hate them to sit back at this vital stage thinking they cannot do anymore,” she said.
“They can make the Minister take notice of their objections through the sheer volume of written submissions. The objection does not have to be a long report, but can be a simple letter.”
Ms Stuckey said residents had from September 15 to October 10 to make their intentions known to Energex following the September 15 release of a draft initial assessment report.
“I know many residents are eagerly looking forward to the release of this report and while my office will have a limited number of reports, it will be available on the internet,” she said.
All submissions must be in writing. Guidelines are available from Ms Stuckey’s office at 1045 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach.
The report will describe the proposed powerline corridor in detail, the assessment and management of environmental effects, identify matters of concern and assessment requirements. The initial assessment report will be finalised from mid-October to early November and will include a summary of submissions and a description of any further environmental effects and management.
Residents and other interested parties will then be given a second and final chance to make further comment once the initial assessment report is released in November.
This report will be forwarded to the Minister for Mines and Energy, the Hon Geoff Wilson, next February and he will then make a final decision.