THE COMMUNITY TALKS ...
POWERLINES WILL DOMINATE THE LANDSCAPE
The National Parks Association (NPA) states ‘500 kV lines are the tallest, bulkiest, and most imposing of all transmission lines in Australia, completely dominating the landscape”.
This will impact
MENTAL HEALTH
Studies show (such as Tempesta et al., 2014, The landscape benefits of the burial of high voltage power lines: A study in rural areas of Italy, Landscape and Urban Planning) that damage caused to landscapes by powerlines and the link between the wellbeing of the human population. They state that the reduction of the perceived aesthetic quality of the landscape may have numerous negative interactions with the well-being of the population and the economy of areas that rely on tourism.
INTERRUPTIONS TO FARMING
The HumeLink project will also interrupt agriculture, including modern farming practices that are increasingly relying on technologies like drones and GPS to improve production efficiency. These technologies can’t be utilised and many other activities, like aerial operations and irrigation, can’t be performed near overhead transmission lines.
Why is Transgrid's HumeLink so obsessed with imposing towers on our communities when undergrounding a used in other parts of NSW and Australia, particularly in urban areas?
A TALE OF TWO IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
Two regional examples include the 63km long DirectLink Interconnector between Mullumbimby and Terranora in northern NSW, and MurrayLink, between Red Cliffs in Victoria and Berri in South Australia, which is 180km long and costs $177 million
ALREADY ADMITTED THEY WERE WRONG
Following the release of its new undergrounding report, Transgrid has already admitted being wrong by as much as 50% in its initial underground costing, but we believe the real cost would be substantially lower again, with new work done in Europe and the United States indicating it can be done a lot more efficiently.
Costs & Outages
Old Tower Technology
When this is coupled with the ongoing maintenance costs and outages associated with old towers technology, undergrounding could well be the cheaper long-term option, even before you factor in the cost of environmental and community devastation associated with these huge towers and the clear-felling of forests and habitat.
Ongoing Costs
Underground Is Cheaper
In short, Transgrid completely disregards the environmental, bushfires, social and economic concerns that have been voiced by the affected communities and ignore all but the short-term, upfront economic costs. As such Transgrid has failed to attain a social licence for this project.
Not Equal
Compensation Fine Print
On the issue of compensation, this will only be paid to those landowners with transmission lines on their properties and are subject to compulsory acquisition. Unlike in the case of wind farms, no compensation is paid to neighbouring landholders or affected communities.
This is why we need to Stop! Rethink HumeLink now!
And why we as a community are increasing pressure to ensure power transmission lines are placed underground with a highly organised new structure that follows world best-practice.
STOP HUMELINK TOWERS; UNDERGROUND NOT OVERHEAD
ADD YOUR VOICE
We must tell the NSW and Federal Government to stop and rethink HumeLink now!
DONATE
STOP! Rethink HumeLink Now! Is a grassroots community-based campaign, developed by HumeLink Alliance and HumeLink Action Group and self-funded by the public. Transgrid is a foreign-owned, multi-billion dollar company. We need your support to have our voices heard.
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PETITION
Add your signature to demand that HumeLink places these powerlines underground.