Around 160 landholders with property along or near the proposed Transgrid powerline route between Bonshaw and Tenterfield met at the Tenterfield Golf Club on Tuesday night to take the first step in fighting the construction of the line.
Around 25 people from Tenterfield and its surrounds nominated themselves to be part of a core group of residents who will challenge the construction of the high voltage powerlines.
The people in the group, as at the meeting, were comprised almost exclusively of property owners with land lying directly within the one to two kilometre study area tagged by Transgrid as a possible route for the proposed line.
Although Tuesday’s meeting was not closed, organisers only invited landholders directly affected by the proposed route with the intention of sharing what information they had collected with the larger assembly as well as to establish the central core to organise the wider group.
As one of the night’s planners and presenters, Bill Eastgate said he and the other organisers were happy with the turnout and the night’s achievements.
“We were overwhelmed with the public response to the night. It was obvious that there is a concern with the powerlines running through the area. The interest is there, and the concern is there so I’m sure the public meeting will receive an even bigger response,” Mr Eastgate said.
A number of speakers addressed the crowd on various topics related to the construction of the 330 kV powerline. These included information on the towers that would be used, access requirements for maintenance work, health issues related to high voltage lines, concerns about a less reliable electricity supply and the perceived impact of the powerlines on the town’s tourism, property values and heritage value. The speakers also covered what they considered to be viable alternatives to the above-ground powerlines and alternative routes for the lines.
Real estate agent Steve Alford of Alford and Duff Real Estate told the crowd that the prosposed line was already having a negative impact on the property market in the directly affected areas.
Mr Alford said that he was experiencing a lot of resistance from buyers regarding properties in the proposed routes and had already lost at least two sales because of the proposed line. He said some properties might lose value of up to 60 per cent.
Beryl Dean of Tenterfield Station described the possible impact on the station’s heritage value if the lines were constructed through the property.
She said it was a dream of hers to see the station restorated and the full heritage value of the buildings and sites on the property as the birthplace of Tenterfield fully realised.
Dennis Parsons, vice president of the Tenterfield Golf Club, said the club was anxious about the negative impact on local tourism if the line ever crossed through or near the golf course. He said that the club catered for around 7,500 ‘visitor nights’ per year and estimated the club brought around 4,500 ‘visitor nights’ to other lodgings in the town annually.
He said these visitors would inject between $1.5million and $2million into the local economy per year and believed that the “tourist business would go down hill very fast” if the lines were introduced.
Mr Eastgate said that the core group would meet in the coming days to lat out a plan of action and arrange for a public meeting in forthcoming weeks.
B People interested in joining the fighting group can contact Tammurah Lamson at Winter and Garnetta with 67 365053.
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