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The Noosa Biosphere board has joined in the call for best practice from Powerlink regarding their proposed Woolooga to Cooroy/Eerwah Vale powerline.  

Chair of the UNESCO designated Noosa Biosphere region Michael Donovan met with senior Powerlink representatives last week to stress the importance of environmental leadership in the region.

“There is a real opportunity for government, utilities and the broader community to take the higher ground and implement best practice in the biosphere, instead of just ticking the boxes” said Mr Donovan.

Following on from ongoing correspondence and meetings between the Biosphere and Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) Mr Donovan researched the situation thoroughly in order to present a persuasive proposition to Powerlink.

“Powerlink were willing to listen and learn about biosphere values and principles and in addition to asking for environmental leadership I also emphasised the substantial savings from alternate technical solutions already put forward by PAGE’s experts.

“Often these types of arguments have to be put in economic terms in addition to environmental terms and I emphasised how the Noosa Biosphere reserve translates into economic benefit through tourism and socio-cultural community cohesion.  

“This economic approach sits alongside and supplements the imperative that government and utilities must meet community expectations of protecting the environment within the biosphere.

“Biosphere status however confers no legislative power so a will-of-the-people approach, a reasoned argument, research around economic effect and doing the right thing come into play.

The recently released report by South East Queensland Catchments titled The Cost of Environmental Decline in SEQ supports both the environmental and economic arguments of the Noosa Biosphere.

“This report plainly states that ‘a do nothing’ approach to protecting the environment and not changing practices that result in little-by-little degradation such as powerlines, is no longer acceptable practice.  

“Further, the report forecasts that by 2030, unless government and business change their habits that primary production will lose $1.2b of its value to the economy in South East Queensland; tourism will lose $8b through loss of what visitors come to see and the social negative impact will cost $5.2b – all within a short 20 year time horizon.

“During the Powerlink meeting it was suggested that the communities at large need to be engaged in debate about what level of utility services – water, waste and power, are considered necessary to maintain an acceptable Sunshine Coast lifestyle; to service tourism and all the while balancing the needs of a sustainable biosphere environment.  

“This debate needs to be recognised as both complex and confronting but an appropriate role for the Noosa Biosphere using its network of community boards.

“While I found the Powerlink team open to learn more about the biosphere, open to suggestions of a different approach but also aware of having to balance their mandated obligations, I am looking for a response that proposes a move to a better win-win approach for affected residents, the broad community, sensitive biodiversity and our conservation values. 

“This is a chance for Powerlink to step forward and make a difference.

“This is also an ongoing journey for many in the biosphere and by working together we can affect change.”

Further information: www.saveeumundi.org


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