By Natalie Gallenti
ARDEER and Sunshine West residents continued their fight against controversial power lines last week.
Angry residents tied black ribbons to high voltage power poles in Rigdeway Parade in Ardeer to symbolise the illness and death associated with the exposure to high levels of radiation they believe will come from Powercor’s proposed powerlines.
Residents once again called on the company to put the powerlines underground.
“We want to tell Powercor to use some of their billions of dollars profit to put the powerlines underground,” Geraldine Brooks said.
Although the company has proposed several alternatives to the original plan to run 66,000 volt lines close to homes and kindergartens, residents have refused to compromise.
The Greens candidate, who has assisted in the campaign, said Powercor wanted to provide a cheap alternative in the safe Labor seat.
“Powercor have made anoffer to put the lines underground, but it has a $900,000 shortfall which means the offer is essentially useless.
“Our community is determined that these powerlines will be put underground, or they won’t be built at all. Powercor’s decision is whether this is easy and quick or whether it is slow and messy.”
Powercor spokesman Neil Gascoigne has urged residents to consider the three alternative options proposed by the company.
Members from the Ardeer West Sunshine Powerlines Action (AWSPA) group will protest outside Powercor’s Albion depot tomorrow.
