Report Highlights Hardship Of 'battered' Landowners On Pipe Route

The Age

Monday March 24, 2008

Peter Ker, Water and Environment Reporter

ANGRY landowners affected by the north-south pipeline have a reduced "psychological capacity" for hardship, according to a report.

It says the landowners may be offered sweeteners to try to win support for the project. New power connections and fences are among the possible sweeteners for towns and farmers most affected by the building of the 70-kilometre pipeline from the Goulburn River to Melbourne.

Environment Victoria yesterday raised the prospect of Melbourne Water having to buy the water sent down the pipe on the open market.

The potential "benefits" for landowners north of the Great Dividing Range are pointed out in Project Impact Assessment, which deals with the environmental and social impacts of the project.

The report gives a frank assessment of life in the towns along the pipe route - including Yea, Yarra Glen and Glenburn - which have been battered in recent years by drought, bushfires, poor snow seasons and downturns in tourism.

"Due to these hardships, the psychological capacity of the Yea community to cope with further hardships is reduced," it says. "Communities are already under significant social and economic strain."

It says the reasons for choosing the route have to be clear to minimise "ill-will between local communities".

The report says authorities should spell out benefits for the "sensitive" local communities of having the pipeline built through their neighbourhoods and properties.

"They could include the development of new fire access tracks, new power supplies in conjunction with the pumping stations, new fences and farm tracks and/or the sponsoring of new community facilities," it says.

The report's advice comes after months of protests by locals, including an incident this month in which vandals attacked a drilling station.

One anti-pipeline protester, Jan Beer, said landowners felt the prospect of new fences and power connections were bribes.

"That absolutely infuriates us," she said. "Take the water away, take our futures, take our livelihoods and offer us a few million dollars, if we are lucky. Ninety-five per cent of people are totally opposed to the bribe factor."

Victoria's Water Minister Tim Holding said it was good that the Government was looking for ways to help locals.

"It is commonplace with major projects like this for the Government to work with landowners to identify on-site infrastructure improvements within their land and for the wider community," he said.

© 2008 The Age

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