“THE STAR”, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - PAGE 1
Published at Leongatha for South Gippsland
36 McCartin Street, Leongatha 3953 PHONE: (03) 5662 2294, FAX: (03) 5662 4350 ACN 006 507 580 ABN 61 318 952 541 PRINT POST 336735 10006 Email - news@thestar.com.au advertising@thestar.com.au
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SINCE 1890
The Great Southern
Star
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009
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PUBLISHED TUESDAY 56 PAGES WHEN Caitlin Hibberson was born 14 weeks’ premature, she weighed only 818 grams and was barely the size of an adult hand. But this little scrap of humanity was all courage and came back from the brink. Read her remarkable story on page 9.
INSIDE
Murray Goulburn meeting ...Page 5
Foster fun ...Page 47
People power Residents vow to fight power line route from Bald Hills The master blaster ...Page 56
INDEX Column 7...........10 Opinions............12 Kids’ Page.........22 Property Guide..25 Classifieds........42 Sport..........48-56
By Jane Ross
THE controversial Bald Hills wind farm is a major step closer to reality after plans were revealed for a power line route across prime farming land. Property owners in Leongatha South, Middle Tarwin and Buffalo are outraged that the wind farm connection to the Leongatha sub-station is coming through their land. They say they knew nothing until representatives of power management company Jemena came calling, wanting access to create easements. The move by Jemena has seemingly confirmed that the Bald Hills development will proceed, despite furious objections
from the local community. It is believed the wind farm power will be used to partly fulfill the State Government’s promise to use renewable energy for the electricity hungry Wonthaggi desalination plant. Tim McRae said the power line route is right at the front door of his home Tullaree. He and his wife Janet have just renovated the house, arguably South Gippsland’s most historic property. “When they showed up, I said you’ve got to be absolutely joking, it’s right at my front door!” said Tim. “That’s a major power line in your face.” The line will have 10 wires on three cross arms, with poles 100m apart or less. John Macdonald of Leongatha South, said the easement would traverse a 40 acre
paddock which is “some of the best cropping land on this property”. A power line would prevent use of irrigation sprinklers and aerial spraying. “This (land) has been used to grow peas, potatoes, onions. I remember 7000 big bags of onions being taken from it, that’s how good the soil is. They’re just going to bastardise it.” Mr Macdonald and his wife Judy, refused to sign Jemena’s access consent forms. They’re appalled at the possibility that the rights to an easement on their land, which they do not want, could later be sold by Jemena to other interests. Their daughter Rowina Kelly of Leongatha, is upset that her parents are having to deal with the stress. Land owners have been given maps of
sections of the route and say they cannot find out the full picture. Vic McRae thinks the section maps are a deliberate divide and conquer tactic. And the maps are outdated. At a meeting held at the Macdonald’s, property owners said they can’t understand how the route of the power line can be changed without proper process. A letter to property owners from Jemena Asset Management Ltd’s senior projects manager Debbie Jackson, advises their land has fallen “within the proposed route for the power line”, adding, “The final route …. will be selected in close co-operation with all landowners and occupiers of the properties through which it may pass.” Continued on page 13.