WHEN more than 500 members of the community packed the Wingham Town Hall on Wednesday evening, the message was clear. TransGrid’s Lansdowne to Stroud high voltage power line project is not welcome in the Manning Valley.
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The Manning Alliance hosted a two hour public meeting in Wingham to spread information and unite the community against the plan to construct high voltage powerlines in areas around Wingham.
Manning Alliance chairperson Peter Epov and deputy chairman of the TransGrid community working group, Bruce Robinson chaired the meeting which presented the main impacts and concerns of residents.
It also heard from a multitude of residents who raised questions and concerns about the project.
Mr Epov suggested a number of consequences from the TransGrid high voltage transmission line project which would affect the entire Greater Taree City Council community.
He outlined major concerns held by residents including the devaluation of land and subsequent council rate losses – leading to possible rate rises – health impacts, affect on tourism and the rural amenity of the area.
There was a push from the community to lay the powerlines underground. It is believed this would avoid many of the negative impacts facing residents with the construction of the large 330,000 volt power lines.
A strong message echoed at the meeting urged the community to remain united in the fight against TransGrid’s proposal.
The Manning Alliance encouraged people to not elect a preferred corridor option when completing TransGrid’s community consultation feedback form. Instead, they advised to state “we oppose all existing options as they stand” on the form.
A TransGrid representative was invited to the public meeting but declined the invitation. The Manning Alliance also invited State member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead but he also declined.
The Manning Alliance is calling on TransGrid for a full economic impact study on consequences to the Manning Valley community resulting from the proposed imposition of high voltage transmission lines through the heart of the Manning Valley.
Greater Taree City councillor Mave Richardson addressed the crowd commenting she had never seen so many people in the town hall. She said she would be taking back the reactions, feelings and results of the meeting to the city council.
A visual representation of the high voltage lines was also constructed in the hall to give people an idea on the scale of the structures used in the project.
The Wingham Town Hall community meeting follows another held at Mondrook Hall on Monday, March 12 attended by more than 200 people.
