Powerlink under landholder fire

Trevor and Jenny York believe the tactics used by the State-owned Powerlink to negotiate the route of the power line have turned neighbours against neighbours as landholders strive to avoid the worst impacts of the high voltage line.

“Instead of consulting on a community basis Powerlink are seeking to negotiate independently with landholders and, we hear, asking landholders to sign confidentiality agreements,” Mrs York said.

“It’s turning people in the district against each other. People that were once quite good friends no longer talk to each other and it’s all because Powerlink won’t come out and be open and honest about their plans.

“It severely tests their social licence to operate.”

Mrs York has also slammed an investigation carried out by McCullough Robertson Lawyers into the practices of Powerlink staff in dealing with landholders.

In a statement to Queensland Country Life this week, Powerlink chief executive Merryn York confirmed that in February the Powerlink Board engaged the law firm to conduct an investigation of Powerlink’s engagement with members of the Woodduck Landholder Group.

“The investigation report outlined 11 recommendations to strengthen Powerlink’s landholder engagement processes and practices,” Ms York said.

“Powerlink Queensland has accepted the findings of the McCullough Robertson investigation and will implement all recommendations. The investigation outcomes, including the recommendations and Powerlink’s acceptance of them have been provided to the Woodduck Landholder Group.”

But Wallumbilla’s Jenny York said the report was useless and a waste of time and effort.

“The legal firm found that the process was intimidating and threatening to landholders but the people undertaking the process on PQ’s behalf were not to blame,” she said.

“This simply could not be a reasonable assessment of the facts as presented to McCullough Robertson Lawyers.”

“The report can only be classed as a whitewash of the practices utilised by PQ with all claims classed as “unsubstantiated” due to “insufficient evidence”.”

Mrs York said another more independent investigation into the practices of Powerlink was essential.

“These sort of projects are causing a great deal of anxiety among landholders – there are some in our community that I am really quite worried about,” she said.

“People have so much to deal with, with drought, coal seam gas projects, and some have really stressful health issues that they don’t need this extra anxiety.

“This has just dragged on for so long – a couple of years – that it’s time the people were considered.”

Powerlink’s Group Manager Landholder Relations will meet with members of the Woodduck Landowner Group later this week to discuss the recommendations of the McCullough Robertson report.