Residents hold awareness concert

Residents opposing an electricity substation at Empire Bay recently hosted a benefit concert to raise awareness of the issue affecting local residents and businesses.

The event was held at the Empire Bay Tavern on August 22.

Several members of the Empire Bay community have also joined together to form Empire Bay Press Inc to further highlight and keep its opposition of the issue alive and well.

"The fact is there has been little or no consultation between Energy Australia and the local community is completely unacceptable," Ms Carolyn Packer of Empire Bay Press Inc said.

"Nobody knows about it.

"I live in Poole Cl and have not received one letter or pamphlet from Energy Australia.

"I only found out about this substation through a neighbour.

"Whereas those who attended Energy Australia's focus group meetings complained to me that their suggestions were often ignored, what was spoken about was at times omitted in the minutes of meetings and they were spoken to in a condescending manner.

"This blatant disregard for the impact on local residents is completely unacceptable."

Ms Packer said the fact that Energy Australia were telling the public that they were installing 25 kilometres of underground cabling was "misleading" since the hidden cabling stopped at Empire Bay with overhead power lines of 66KV from Empire Bay to Kincumber and over to Avoca substation.

"This is completely unacceptable as Empire Bay Dr, Bundaleer Cres and over to Avoca is all bushland that will not only pose a serious fire risk to the residents in the area but will end up costing Energy Australia a huge amount in the upkeep of tree pruning to prevent branches from contacting the lines.

"Over a period of 50 years, it will be financially more beneficial to place all power lines underground."

Ms Packer claimed that plans from Land and Environmental Court drawn up by the commissioner in 2003 had been ignored.

"The very place that is stated as grassland to be, 'mown at regular intervals to be retained' and "'future development' crossed out by the commissioner, is where this structure is being built.

"This plainly defies the court orders.

"The subdivision documents are missing the vital court orders that were to be attached, as S88E and changed to S88B.

"This paved the way for EA to develop on the preservation zone, that the commissioner intended to be left untouched.

"The reason the commissioner wanted this grassland to be left untouched was to protect residents from fire."

Ms Packer is urging people to write to the NSW Minister for Energy Mr Paul Lynch and to Energy Australia asking that the proposed substation be relocated to the Kincumber Sewerage Treatment Works and that all power lines be placed underground.

Press release, 27 Aug 2010 Carolyn Packer, Empire Bay Press