By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
Under the current plans for the Western Renewables Link, 70 kilometres of overhead high voltage transmission lines would go through Moorabool Shire, but the local community isn\u2019t the only one concerned.<\/p>\n
Moorabool\u2019s neighbours in the Melton area have also organised to protest and question the plans, with their most recent meeting at MacPherson Park in September.<\/p>\n
Grant Harrison is a Coimadai resident and also a member of Melton\u2019s Stop AusNet\u2019s Towers, and said AusNet\u2019s plans put the safety and amenity of the park, and the area as a whole, at risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacPherson Park is a brand-new complex that Melton City Council funded along with AFL Victoria and Melton Football & Netball Club, and costings were in vicinity of $12 million. Now the Labor Government wants to put overhead transmission lines up adjacent to the boundary and entrance of the magnificent sporting and family complex, and in fact, the tower lines will be going right over the entrance,\u201d Mr Harrison said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club met with AusNet weeks ago, and they only then told the club for the first time any firsthand news that it was [along] the preferred route, and that it wouldn\u2019t affect the club as it was not on their boundary, that the towers would blend in the background, and they would only make them 45 metres high not 85 metres high.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey forgot to say that the power tower would then be side by side towers, so now twice as wide and twice as many.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chairperson of Melton\u2019s Stop AusNet\u2019s Towers, Barbara Ford, said AusNet had \u201cplayed down\u201d the community\u2019s concerns over the powerlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to come right over the top of the main entrance of the sports ground\u2026AusNet said the council were going to move the main entrance anyway, but the council had no plans to move the main entrance,\u201d Ms Ford told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone that\u2019s aware of the plans around here just can\u2019t believe that in this day and age, they\u2019re proposing these overhead, ugly, monstrous high voltage towers, when other countries are developing greener technology \u2013 high voltage direct current underground.\u201d<\/p>\n
An AusNet Services spokesperson denied the claims that sporting grounds at MacPherson Park would be directly impacted by the powerline route.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to update the proposed route at Melton was made after intensive investigations into the visual, environmental and cultural heritage impacts of the project, along with consultation with landholders, businesses and local council. Residents and local sporting groups were also invited to give their input,\u201d AusNet\u2019s spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe updated route along the northern boundary of MacPherson Park is designed to minimise impacts to Melton Aerodrome and landholders – by following residential property boundaries. The route will also minimise impacts to patches of threatened grasslands and plants.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt MacPherson Park, sporting grounds are not directly impacted, and tree planting will partially screen views of the transmission line,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis Under the current plans for the Western Renewables Link, 70 kilometres of overhead high voltage transmission lines would go through Moorabool Shire, but the local community isn\u2019t the only one concerned. Moorabool\u2019s neighbours in the Melton area have also organised to protest and question the plans, with their most recent meeting at […]<\/p>\n