Meetings as draft report clears way Line plan to power ahead

PUBLIC meetings will be held this month to discuss the route of the proposed 195km powerline linking Kidston with the national electricity grid at Mt Fox, west of Ingham.

The Draft Environmental Assessment Report into the 275kV transmission line linking Genex’s Renewable Energy Hub at Kidston, 270km northwest of Townsville, to the national grid was released last Friday by Powerlink.

Powerlink chief executive Merryn York said the report was finalised following talks with landholders and other stakeholders.

The Townsville Bulletin understands the issue of financial compensation for landholders whose properties will be impacted by the proposed line has yet to be addressed.

Ms York said the report assessed the potential social, environmental and economic impacts of the transmission line and substations, and outlined how these impacts could be managed or mitigated.

“( The report) concludes that based on the studies undertaken so far, and provided Powerlink implements the recommendations outlined in the draft assessment, there are no social, environmental or economic factors that would prevent the connection project from proceeding,” she said.

Ms York said Powerlink encouraged landholders and other interested parties to make submissions.

“All submissions will receive an individual response and matters raised will be addressed in the final Environmental Assessment Report,” she said.

A Powerlink spokesperson said construction of the transmission line would take 18 months.

The company could not provide details on desired start and finish dates.

Instead, the spokesperson would only say “no final decisions have been made regarding future stages of the Genex project”.

The proposed line will traverse a variety of terrain, including mountain ranges and rivers.

The spokesperson said “extensive consultation” had been undertaken with landholders in order to provide “an overview of the project”.

The spokesperson said “activities” such as easement acquisition, compensation negotiations and payments would occur in consultation with landholders if the project went ahead.

The planned public meetings will be attended by Powerlink staff and environmental consultants who prepared the draft assessment.

The meetings will be held at Mt Fox on October 16, Greenvale on October 17 and The Lynd Oasis Roadhouse on October 18.