A group of Tasmanian landowners are refusing to sign agreements with TasNetworks to install new transmission infrastructure required for the Marinus Link inter-connector on their property.
Independent Bass MP Craig Garland joined affected landowners and community supporters outside TasNetworks offices in Burnie on Friday, delivering a blunt message to the state-owned electricity network operator: “Bugger off.”
Garland says approximately 46 landowners, representing 17% of the 271 private properties along the proposed route, have yet to sign strategic benefits payment agreements ahead of a December 1 deadline.
“There’s a lot of staunch people in the northwest. They don’t like being dictated to and I commend these landowners for making their voice heard,” Garland said.
The transmission development forms part of the $5 billion Marinus Link project, which will provide a second power inter-connector between Tasmania and Victoria across Bass Strait.
Garland claims TasNetworks CEO Seán Mc Goldrick has refused to meet with concerned landowners despite setting the December deadline for agreements.
“Dr Mc Goldrick must be dreaming if he predicts that TasNetworks will get the remaining 46 private landowners on side,” he said.
Landowner concerns include property devaluation, environmental impacts and the project’s economic viability.
“Marinus Link will add billions of dollars of debt to Tasmania’s already unsustainable budget deficit,” Garland said.
Energy Minister Nick Duigan told a parliamentary committee last week that strategic benefit payments to landowners would amount to $200,000 per kilometre.
He said TasNetworks has “no interest in acquiring anyone’s land” and that compulsory processes to access easements will be consistent with existing legislation.
“We understand that there is a greater impact on those people that do have transmission towers and lines across their property… for the lights to come on in this place requires transmission across people’s properties,” Duigan said.
“This has been the way for a long time now. Linear infrastructure, be it transmission, roads, whatever, needs to be built to serve the greater good.”
