Press Release
An
action group opposed to Western Power’s proposed Eastern Terminal is outraged
at Western Power’s latest attempt at community consultation. Western Power is currently inviting community
members to join a ‘focus group’, which would recommend a site for a ‘tie-in’ to
link with a new 330 kV transmission line from Collie to the Perth Hills.
Previously
called a ‘gantry” by Western Power, the ‘tie-in’ would constitute a key part of
Western Power’s proposals to construct an Eastern Terminal in state forest east
of Kalamunda.
The
Stop the Eastern Terminal Action Group (SETS Group) is urging community members
and organisations NOT to participate in this exercise.
“This latest step totally contradicts assurances given to Kalamunda Shire Council on
11 August by Mark de Laeter, Western Power’s General Manager, Customer Services” said Alan Lonsdale, a spokesperson for the SETS Group. Mr de Laeter acknowledged that Western Power’s previous community consultation attempts had failed and promised a
‘fresh start’. As reported in the Hills Gazette on 16 August, the ‘fresh start’ would involve working with the community in ‘open book’ style, and agreement with the community on an ‘engagement model’ for consultation. Mr
de Laeter also stated that “an examination of Western Power’s choice of Eastern
Terminal over other alternatives would occur as part of this community consultation process”. “This latest move by Western Power breaks all these promises”, said Dr Lonsdale.
The SETS group has written to Mr de Laeter protesting “in the strongest possible terms” that this latest announcement has occurred without any agreement on an engagement model.
“This is not a genuine focus group, but a contrived process that would compromise
participants”, said Dr Lonsdale.
“Participants would have to sign a declaration that they would abide by conditions set by Western Power, which include assisting Western Power to identify a preferred ‘tie-in’ option.
Members of the ‘focus group’ would be hand picked by Western Power”. The application form requires applicants to provide extensive personal information including age, education level, interests, membership of social and professional organisations, community involvement, and media usage.
Western Power documents state that successful applicants would receive a paper outlining the options ‘that have been identified to achieve the tie-in, in terms of technical solutions and locations.’
“This clearly contradicts the undertaking Mr de Laeter gave Kalamunda Council and the community for an ‘open book’ review of the choice for all options, including the Eastern Terminal.
Western Power’s previous attempts failed because the community did not trust the integrity of information presented by Western Power about planning assumptions, options and environmental impacts.
The community will again be distrustful if information is shared after options are reviewed. The
community must be involved in the review of options from the outset.”
Western Power’s previous attempts at community consultation have been the subject of
formal complaints to the WA Ombudsman.
The SETS Group has developed a proposal for community engagement based on international best practice principles and will present this to Western Power representatives on 28 October.
“The Group believes that an essential first step is the establishment of a reference group comprising community and Western Power representatives, which would develop a model for community engagement and then manage the process in an open way”, said Dr Lonsdale.
“The SETS Group is disappointed that Western Power has learnt nothing from the
debacle of the first two rounds of community consultation. This new process merely repeats the gross failings of previous processes. The community can no longer trust information released by Western Power”.
“While Western Power has chosen the title ‘Powering Perth’s Communities’ for this rebadged process, which is really old wine in new bottles, the reality is that
the Corporation is further disempowering the community”, said Dr Lonsdale.