Dr WOODRUFF - TasNetworks' north-west transmission route through the Loongana Valley was chosen as the least contentious route many years ago, even though there were targeted surveys by the community and independent ecologists that showed that that valley has a particularly extensive and stunning biodiversity, including threatened and endangered species that live there. Did TasNetworks complete its own environmental surveys and studies prior to the selection of that route, or was the route simply the path of least resistance chosen to avoid certain outspoken landowners elsewhere?
Mr GILL - Thank you, Dr Woodruff. The path to developing linear infrastructure both in Tasmania and elsewhere in Australia is one that businesses like ours put a lot of effort into. We are very concerned about sustainable transmission development, so we look at our routes very carefully. Environmental studies are a major part of landholder issues, as is visibility. I'll pass to Sean who can expand on the sorts of things that we do and have done in relation to the North West TD route.
Mr McGOLDRICK - With respect to Loongana Valley, that is the one area of greenfield development in the entire north-west and the substantial area of greenfield development. We have over 72 per cent of the entire North West TDs on existing alignments. If I could keep everything on existing alignments I would certainly to so, but the link between Staverton and Hampshire Hills in a network sense, for a certain level of import and export capability we simply need that link technically. In terms of routing we go through a very careful process of engagement with landowners. It will start at a very high level technically about what's required, but then we need to get into very detailed work with all affected landowners in order to minimise the impact from a land access and easement acquisition point of view but also to understand the landowners' specific requirements because many landowners around the state -
Dr WOODRUFF - Mr McGoldrick, thank you very much. I understand the general process but I wanted the specifics of the Loongana Valley situation. I asked whether you had undertaken environmental surveys and studies prior to the selection of that route.
Mr McGOLDRICK - We have a range of different environmental studies that we're compelled to carry out through our approvals journey. We continue to study in detail the environment along that part of the route and indeed it's our intention, even though we're not sure of when stage 2 may arrive or be triggered yet, that we will continue the approvals process for that part of the route so we can make sure we have sufficient information to accurately route it and minimise the impact. I am seeking to go forward with the development approval for that portion of the route and we'll hopefully acquire it, lodge it and keep it for a number of years, but it's through that process that we get deeply engaged with the landowners and the community.
Dr WOODRUFF - The community would like to hear about the surveys and studies that have been done. They don't understand how it could be, with the threatened and endangered species that exist in that valley, that TasNetworks could have chosen that as a possible route at all. There are also fire risks involved with the particular proposed route. Can you meet with the community and explain the research that has been done and how it could possibly be on the table even to have the conversation in the first place?
Mr McGOLDRICK - We regularly meet with the community and the landowners. I'm very comfortable in doing so. It's also important to realise we will put all this information on public exhibition through the approvals process that we're going through right now.
Dr WOODRUFF - What is the time frame for Loongana Valley for that part of the route?
Mr McGOLDRICK - Subject to check, I believe at the end of quarter 1, start of quarter 2 next year we're going to put some information up, but I do need somebody to check that.
Dr WOODRUFF - Would that be up on the website and will you be letting all the landowners know about the process directly?
Mr McGOLDRICK - It would be on public exhibition.
Dr WOODRUFF - Will they be directly identified, could you just tell me that? You know, will they be directly reached out? These are people who have been engaging with TasNetworks in good faith for years now - I can give you the name of them if you want to know - they would look to have information about the timing. They do not want to be sort of avalanched with something over the Easter period and they do not have time to address it they really care deeply about this.
Mr McGOLDRICK - We understand that and we have over 350 landowners on the entire north west TD we do know each one of them individually and that section is very sensitive and we will engage heavily with those individuals.
Dr WOODRUFF - Will you reach out to them directly? When you put that up as part of that process will they receive notice so they do not have to be watching a website -
Mr McGOLDRICK - Agreed. We write to them individually; it is a commitment I am happy to make because that is exactly our process.
