Tenterfield’s high voltage powerline plight attracted the attention of the Sydney media last week with concerns that the line would cut one of the last gaps in a ‘green corridor’ that is meant to link Queensland with the Snowy Mountains.

The proposed Transgrid Bonshaw to Lismore powerline will pass through sections of a wildlife corridor central to the NSW Government’s Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, which aims to link an almost unbroken stretch of bushland along the Great Dividing Range to allow animal migration as a result of climate change.

Greens MP John Kaye said the Rees Government was standing by and allowing its own transmission operator destroy the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative with a powerline that is unnecessary, expensive and would destroy jobs.

“Cutting a 60 meter swathe which is permanently kept clear of native vegetation will end plans to have continuos vegetation connecting the eco-systems of Eastern Australia,” Dr Kaye said.

“The ability of species to maintain genetic diversity and adapt to climate change will be undermined.

“Local jobs in the green energy future are being destroyed by Transgrid’s fixation on building this line.

“It is time for Energy Minister John Robertson to step up and stop this unnecessary and damaging project,” Dr Kaye said.

When it announced the 330kV powerline’s preferred route in late September Trangsrid said the corridor had been selected to avoid endangered ecological communities, threatened species and habitats.

Transgrid's consultation process also investigated areas of community interest, including proximity to buildings, land use, avoiding smaller properties, landing strips, visual impact and terrain considerations.

Transgrid will be in contact with landowners in the preferred corridor area over the coming days to discuss the preferred route selection process and associated environmental assessment, which is expected in early 2010.

B What’s your thoughts? Write to the Tenterfield Star at: editor.tentstar@ruralpress.com