Angry … Residents of Ardeer and Sunshine West joined Greens MLC Colleen Hartland in a protest outside Powercor’s depot last week. 55185 Picture: ELIZABETH INGHAM
By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK residents protested outside the Powercor Depot last week in a bid to convince the company to pay to place Ardeer’s controversial powerlines underground.
Residents from the Ardeer West Sunshine Powerlines Action Group rallied outside the power company’s offices in Albion on Wednesday.
The group was joined by Greens MLC Colleen Hartland, who is also pushing for the powerlines to be placed underground.
Residents have been campaigning against the controversial above-ground powerlines since work commenced earlier this year. Although Powercor has agreed to the undergrounding, part of the cost would have to be borne by the council or State Government.
But residents want the power company to fork out the entire cost of the project, amid fears overhead lines could have negative health impacts.
Ms Hartland said Powercor was a wealthy company that could afford to pay for the undergrounding.
“This is yet another community in the West who have a big proposal lumped on them that will have big impacts and with inadequate consultation,” Ms Hartland said.
“If they can underground powerlines from Brunswick to the CBD, why can’t it happen here?
“The West deserves the same protection from amenity and potential health impacts as do other areas.”
