AFTER years of toing and froing the situation surrounding the failed TransGrid transmission line appears to have reached a conclusion.
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Following the cancellation of the project in October of last year, the company had been working through the easement process – causing a number of vocal landowners to express their displeasure throughout the affair.
Last week that process moved closer to a resolution with TransGrid announcing they had “now closed off the easement acquisition process”.
“Since the announcement, TransGrid has been working with affected landowners regarding the easements required for the project,” TransGrid Community Liaison Officer Clare Dowthwaite said.
“Landowners were given a number of options as to how they preferred to conclude easement negotiations.
“The energy need for the Far North region will continue to be part of the annual planning review process.”
It’s those expressions which have unsettled a number of effected landowners who say they will continue to remain “on edge” knowing the company could re-evaluate their stance at a later date.
“We need to know publicly what the future holds,” Julia Harpham from the Mingoola Progress Association said.
“It seems they (TransGrid) really want to keep the easements for the future which is a bit sneaky.”
Ms Harpham did however concede that negotiations had “progressed” since a meeting was held at the Tenterfield Memorial Hall in November last year.
TransGrid Media and Government Manager Frank Coletta said the company had remained in “direct liaison” with landowners throughout the entire process.
“Community engagement included direct liaison with landowners and action groups, a public meeting, and a phone survey with landowners along the proposed alignment, regional media and advertising,” Mr Coletta said.
“As a result of the feedback received and consideration of all factors, property owners were given until March 28 to notify TransGrid of their preferred option.
“These options included finalising easement negotiations and to accept the current compensation offer, to withdraw from all negotiations and have notations removed from their property titles and to buy back the easement rights from TransGrid by paying back the compensation they have already received,” he said.
Ms Dowthwaite said forecasts suggested network improvements in the Far North region would not be required until the 2020s or possibly later.