Our power woes continue

WITH the Mulgowie Road power station project now abandoned and the proposed gas-fired station near Gatton on hold, Lockyer residents could be forgiven for thinking their struggles with power companies were over for the present.

Not so. Another conflict is underway in the village of Lockrose where locals are opposing the installation of towers for Powerlink's Springdale to Blackwall transmission line project.

At a public meeting conducted on August 25, Lockrose resident Steve Evans was appointed as chairman of a group calling themselves Lockrose and District Against Power Line.

Mr Evans said Powerlink is planning to plough a 150-metre corridor through the Lockyer Valley, creating a risk to people in its path. The easement will narrow to 92 metres as it passes through Lockrose.

“Powerlink and Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson argue that property owners were compensated when easements were acquired more than 15 years ago,” he said.

“However, Powerlink's maps indicate these new ones will be much wider than the original easements and will not follow their original paths.

“In a letter to us dated August 23, Minister Robertson also said the existence of any easements would have been shown in the title deeds of affected properties.

“That is not true, as many new residents have told me they were never informed of such a thing.”

A statement obtained from Powerlink's website indicates a draft environmental impact statement was released for public comment earlier this month. The public comment period is due to close on Thursday, September 23.

Mr Evans said anyone wishing to contact him can ring on 0422 255 828.