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Tuesday 13 July, 2021
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Vol 15 No 27
Kelly Conroy is set to run four marathons (160km) in 24-hours in her quest to raise money in the legal battle to stop AusNet placing 85-metre transmission pylons overhead. (INSET) (L-R) Gerald Conroy and Peter Muir show a clear message. Photo - Helen Tatchell
Marathon legal run
By Bianca Roberts and Lachlan Ellis Kelly Conroy will be running day and night, non-stop, to help in the fight against AusNet’s placement of overhead transmission lines. The Bunding resident will be tackling an incredible feat of running 160 km through the You Yangs Regional Park at Lara, on Saturday 17 July. The 25-year old's aim is to raise as much money as possible to support the community’s legal battle against AusNet’s Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP). “I don’t have any legal power but I do love running in the outdoors and around the community which will be affected by the towers,” Ms Conroy said. The ultra-marathon will involve an unthinkable 32-hour
continuous run, with zero sleep and minimal stops for food and water. Kelly hopes to do it in 24-hours, beginning at 8am on the Saturday. The super-human feat is her unique way of contributing to a cause that is close to her heart. “Our whole lives, we’ve been working on the farm with Mum and Dad, planting over 20,000 trees, we’ve revegetated water ways, made wildlife corridors so platypus, wombats, koalas, kangaroos and wallabies can now move freely along the Werribee River and its numerous creeks,” she said. Ms Conroy said wedge tail eagles’ nest in the trees, swans, and ducks on the dams. “All this now will be destroyed by putting in the proposed 85-metre transmission line pylons overhead and also destroy not just our home but everyone else’s, it would be absolutely
devastating,” she said. There are 85-metre pylons destined for the Conroy farm, at least one will be only 30-metres from their house fence. Ms Conroy said she is just doing her bit, acknowledging it will be hard. “It is also hard for all the people living along the 190km proposed route too, hopefully this helps to give them a voice.” She hopes her physical feat will keep community morale high and encourage further contributions to the cause. “At the end of the day all you have is people, and people power is amazing,” she said. To date the fundraiser has raised over $2000. To donate, visit mycause.com.au and search "160kms to Stop AusNet's Towers ".