Bury Central Coast Power Lines

— filed under: central coast power lines

Energy Australia has recently begun initial stages of construction of a new 132kV power line on the Central Coast that runs directly alongside houses, schools and childcare centres.

Energy Australia and the NSW Government are gambling with residents’ health and the environment. Only a small portion of the 132 kV power line from Ourimbah to Terrigal will be underground. This is bad news:

Residents exposed to risks from magnetic fields from overhead power lines close to homes, schools and chid care centres.
Bird life threatened by placing the line on the edge of Terrigal Lagoon and Wamberal Lagoon.
Central Coast residents given second class treatment: in Sydney and Newcastle a large proportion of high voltage distribution lines are now underground.

Central Coast Minister John Della Bosca and Energy Minister Ian Macdonald have deserted residents.

Energy Minister Macdonald can direct Energy Australia to install the power line underground, and select a route that does not impact on environmentally sensitive areas.

Background:

The planned route, for the above-ground 132kV transmission lines will directly affect homes, schools, childcare centres, places of worship and public open spaces.

Community opposition centres on the health risks, environmental impacts and destruction of urban amenity.

Recent international studies have shown an increased incidence in childhood leukaemia in children who are born or live near high voltage overhead power lines. While epidemiological studies are yet to identify incontestable causal links, the World Health Organisation recommends precautionary measures aimed at reducing exposure to even low frequency magnetic fields.

The benefits of undergrounding include: much lower exposure to magnetic fields, safer roads, improved supply reliability, lower maintenance costs, greatly reduced vulnerability to storms and bushfires and lower cost electricity in the medium to long term.

The 1998 report of the Australian Government's Putting Cables Underground Working found that, while underground lines were more expensive to install, the annual economic benefits are up to $5736 per km of line.

The current route poses a significant threat to wildlife, as it runs through urban bushland and past Terrigal lagoon and Wamberal lagoon, which are protected under the Japan-Australia migratory Bird Agreement, the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and State Planning Policy 71 Coastal Protection.