Newsletter #6- As Flash as a rat with a gold tooth!
Hi All,
It’s been a busy and (sort of) productive couple of weeks since my last newsletter to you.
The main news is that we have met with EnergyCo to discuss our alternative route options. This meeting was long overdue. As you know VA has been banging our heads against the EnergyCo wall to try and get them to consider the other HVTL route options that we have proposed.
For those that need a recap, the route we are suggesting runs along the Aberbaldie traveling stock route from Walcha , south to the Niangala Rd , down Forest Way into the State Forest and out the Southern side of the forest to Glenrock where it meets up with an existing HVTL that runs down to Bayswater in the Hunter Valley.
The meeting finally came about as a result of a meeting with Kevin Anderson and EnergyCo. Kevin pushed the need for further investigation into our alternatives. EnergyCo having no other alternative themselves, agreed.
The first thing I would say is that my impression of Government offices was as about as wrong as anyone could be. If you think our public servants are doing it tough in tight, cramped and cold grey offices in hard to find rat holes in Sydney ….think again. EnergyCo offices are in 20 Bond St, Sydney CBD. Right next to Australia square in a new building that used to house the Australian Stock Exchange. The 19th floor looks out over Circular Quay at the Overseas terminal.. It’s all very flash. You would be forgiven for thinking that you had arrived at BHP or CBA’s headquarters. The rats do have gold teeth!
The meeting went well without getting to overly excited. EnergyCo have done some work into the route and will continue to do more. Mark Eather (VA treasurer) and myself went through EnergyCo’s perceived issues. Most of which proved to be based on incorrect data. For those that are interested. The broad categories that route selection is based on is as follows:
Constructability & access
Asset resilience
Community & Visual impact
Environment & land use (HVAL, BSAL)
Bush fire risk
Public land use
Expected cost & time
Tourist impact
Biodiversity impacts
The TSR plan is superior in a lot of areas and needs more work in others. We will continue to investigate in parallel with EnergyCo (keep em honest) and keep you updated.
Next Steps: The Scoping report will be submitted as planned by EnergyCo by the end of June. They have ignored our requests for an extension.
VA will meet with EnergyCo again to disguss route selection progress in 4-6 Weeks.
Other News
Koala Cam : The LLS drone has been hard at it and found 12 Koalas so far, we expect to find more over the next weeks. We have a team of ecologists on the ground looking for further evidence. The report that follows will hopefully document a large, happy & healthy Koala population. This is positive for ALL of US . We expect that it would result in an alignment move from above Limbri onto a new route to avoid the colony and high bushfire risk country
Letter/Emails: We are starting to receive a few responses to peoples emails to the minister. Please forward any responses you receive to us for follow up. So far responses haven’t actually come from the minister but from EnergyCo using what appears to be a ministerial email address. The emails themselves have been wishy washy garbage that use a lot of words to say nothing. We will follow up on this complete lack of respect for voters concerns. Please forward any responses you receive
Opinions: We have seen plenty of really good opinion pieces in the Northern Daily Leader. Please keep them going. They do have an impact. We would also encourage you to start writing them in the national papers (Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald , AFR, The Australian & The Land. All will help our cause . If you could let us know once you have submitted a piece that would be great so that we can keep an eye out once it gets printed.
Opinion Websites : Click on the name below. The top 3 are submitted via a website. the SMH & AFR are via email.
Northern Daily Leader
Daily Telegraph
The Land
Sydney Morning Herald - Email
Australian Financial Review (AFR)- Email
Please keep your feedback or questions coming. If you have any ideas or connections that might be helpful to our cause don’t be shy!
thanks to everyone for getting involved and fighting for what you believe in
Cheers
Tim