From left, Douglas Fox, Sharron Barker, Tony Maw (resigned 24 Nov12), Andrea Todd, Narelle Eather (resigned 14 Nov 12), Gordon Miller, Sherry Leach (resigned 26 Nov 12), Greg Payne (Resigned 23 Aug 12), Max Holder, Carol-Anne Millar (absent- Barbara Marsden).
By JONATHON HOWARD
MEMBERS of the Power Community Reference Group will name their preferred powerline corridor from Warwick to Stanthorpe on Thursday, 30 May.
The highly anticipated announcement will take place at the Country Women’s Association hall, 76 Grafton St, from 3.45pm.
The remaining seven CRG members set the deadline during their 20th meeting on Wednesday, 15 May – exactly 12 months since the group formed.
Line route five, Warwick west, has been touted as the line route which best met the CRG’s selection criteria.
The criteria included minimising impact on landholders and residents; addressing concerns raised by community stake holders such as health impacts and property values; addressing Ergon’s requirements; and sensitivity towards landowners and residents personal and property rights.
Line route five was also found to be one of the most expensive options for Ergon, although it was the line which had the least impact on residents.
An interim report and the recommendation will be presented to Member for Southern Downs, Lawrence Springborg, Ergon Energy’s general manager, Justin Fitzgerald, as well as members of the public during the final meeting.
Several CRG members spoke to the Free Times to reflect on their experiences with the group including the many challenges faced in reaching their decision.
“It’s been challenging and we have tried to be as fair as possible,” CRG member Max Holder said.
Mr Holder said the group faced a range of problems during the past 12 months, including physical threats, legal threats, conflicting ideas and constant scrutiny.
Mr Holder has also challenged rumours about CRG members disregarding renewable energy options – such as those put forward by Tim Lucas of Rabbit Ridge Wind Farm – which Mr Holder said was unjustified.
“I personally am all in favour of using renewable options and I know several other members were of a similar opinion,” he said.
“But it was also about reaching the required criteria to ensure power security to Stanthorpe and balancing those needs with the requirements of residents and Ergon.”
Gordon Miller, also a CRG member, said he was pleased the group stuck it out despite six members quitting the group during its early stages.
“It has been a balancing act – from the needs of Ergon to the needs of the community,” he said.
“I’m just glad we stuck it out and were able to reach a recommendation.”
Mr Miller said at least 30 per cent of the CRG’s total time was taken up with concerns from members, dealing with threats and addressing questions from the AWARE group.
“Despite what a lot of people might think, the CRG process was not corrupted or attempting to manipulate the outcome – it was about finding the best line route to give Stanthorpe power security,” he said.
Mr Dengate, who facilitated all 20 meetings under contract with Ergon, said he would be calling for a review of the CRG’s 12-month process to determine where improvements could have been made, highlight benefits and report the findings.
“I’ll be advocating for an evaluation process of the Power CRG, so that we learn from it and how to best use the format in future,” he said.
“I think it would be good to have a review process that captures the group dynamic.”
Mr Dengate also fended off suggestions that Ergon representatives worked too closely with the CRG and influenced their decisions – a claim made by members of the AWARE group.
“Ergon’s role was as nothing more than a resource,” Mr Dengate said.
“The group was asked whether they wanted to have Ergon as a resource and they invited Ergon to provide an expertise reference role – as a resource.”
Meanwhile, former CRG member and current AWARE group member Tony Maw has labelled the CRG and process as nothing more than a public relations exercise.
“In the absence of a formal declaration of the line route recommendation by CRG members, anyone attending the last three CRG meetings can only conclude that, to quote the facilitator, ‘line route five is emerging as the route that best meets the criteria’.
“If this is the case and if the CRG is open and transparent as claimed, I would like to raise some questions during the 30 May final meeting,” Mr Maw said.
Mr Springborg requested the meeting be open to the general public and CRG facilitator, John Dengate, has requested that residents RSVP with the CRG prior to attending the meeting.
