By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
A local primary school has seen their Grade 5 and 6 students write a strongly worded letter to powerline planners AusNet, calling for the controversial Western Renewables Link to go underground.<\/p>\n
The passionate plea to put the powerlines underground was written as a joint effort by all Grade 5 and 6 pupils at Coimadai Primary School, as part of the school\u2019s ongoing efforts to have students\u2019 voices heard.<\/p>\n
The letter was originally intended to be presented by the school captain at the community information dinner in Bacchus Marsh on Monday 30 August, but was presented by Principal Moira Ross instead, as the school captain was unwell.<\/p>\n
In the letter, which is just over 500 words, Coimadai Primary students ask why AusNet \u201cwasted thousands of dollars\u201d on advertising the series of community discussion dinners, and accused AusNet of having \u201cno intention to listen to and respect the community\u2019s voice seriously, because if you did more people would be allowed to attend your meetings\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the money you have wasted on printing cards, advertising in the newspapers and holding what we believe is \u2018waste of time dinner for 20 people\u2019, could have been put to better use. This money could have been used to help pay for the transmission lines underground as this is what the community desires,\u201d the Coimadai Primary students wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cAusNet can try very hard but you will not be successful in trying to get local community people on your side and agreeing to the construction of the appalling high voltage transmission towers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are sick and tired of having our views and opinions swept under the rug. We may be young in age, but we are the future generations fighting for what we believe in. We will not go away. Our school has been here for 160 years and as a school community group we know what is best for our local community. We will not stop trying to have our voice heard,\u201d the letter read.<\/p>\n
Principal Moira Ross said the school community were proud of the students for speaking up about an issue that mattered to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been writing to numerous people, Premier Dan Andrews, Minister Lily D\u2019Ambrosio, everyone that\u2019s involved, so this is the latest letter of many. Previously, two letters have been read out to State Parliament by Bev McArthur MP. The students are really good at writing letters,\u201d Ms Ross told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like to have a student voice and student agency, so that students can see that they can make a difference. And parents are very supportive, they\u2019ve been supportive of the students speaking out against all kinds of issues that affect the community, including the toxic soil as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school sits just a few kilometres north of the current proposed powerline route, which AusNet recently moved further north at Coimadai \u201cto avoid the high-quality native vegetation and threatened species south of Diggers Rest\u2013Coimadai Road and impacts to Long Forest and its significant ecological values\u201d.<\/p>\n