The Manning Alliance's Bruce Robertson and Peter Epov.
THE fact an independent umpire has slammed TransGrid’s Stroud high voltage power line is what the Manning Alliance’s chairman Peter Epov calls “total validation” of what the Alliance has argued for months about the controversial project.
The Manning Alliance has responded to the 36 page interim report of Mid North Coast Energy Review produced by engineer Robert Rollinson, with its own detailed and comprehensive 38 page submission.
In its submission the Alliance highlighted that while the review had the title of ‘Mid North Coast Energy Review’, the actual study was carried out over the three local government areas of Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester.
“In actual fact the review was really all about Transgrid’s now abandoned Stroud to Lansdowne 330,000 volt transmission line and Transgrid’s foreshadowed next alternative of a dual 132,000 volt line from Stroud to Taree,” Mr Epov said.
“We have attempted to give the Review Panel and the NSW Government an honest, and factually accurate submission, which clearly and concisely outlines all the key issues in a historical context.
“At times we have been critical and in places even scathing as we feel that we have an obligation to reveal Transgrid’s endemic failures to properly assess, review and to justify the need for a 330,000 high voltage Transmission line or even the smaller a 132,000 volt transmission line.”
“The entire community was disrupted for 12 months by the project that was not necessary, a project that was going to significantly contribute to our electricity bills. Even the independent reviewer appointed by the NSW Government, Robert Rollinson has acknowledged that: ‘the Review has found it difficult to gain a complete understanding of the reasons for the promotion of a 330kV solution that was originally proposed by Transgrid.’
“That a man of Mr Rollinson’s engineering and business background could not gain a complete understanding of the reasons for Transgrid’s 330,000volt proposal confirms all our initial assertions that the project was just not necessary and it was purely gold plating of the state network.”
The submission contains a number of recommendations and suggestions to the Review and the NSW Government.