Police playing role in North West Transmission Development saga

Disgruntled landowners and opponents of the North West Transmission Development (NWTD) are holding a rally against the project after police visited properties that have been earmarked to host power lines.

The rally will take place at South Burnie Beach from midday on March 1 and will feature guest speakers, including former Greens Senator Christine Milne, Independent MHA Craig Garland, and Greens MHA Tabatha Badger.

The NWTD is considered a vital component of the undersea Marinus Link electricity interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria.

Powerlines for the project, which are set to run from Burnie to Palmerston via Sheffield, will need to be built on private land.

TasNetworks has been negotiating with the affected landowners for five years over compensation payments.

The current Strategic Benefit Payment (SBP) offer sees landowners given $200,000 per kilometre over 20 years.

TasNetworks says more than 95 per cent of landowners had agreed to the SBP.

Those who missed the December 1 cutoff for the SBP will remain eligible for independently assessed compensation.

Tasmania Police confirmed that it recently attended several properties affected by the NWTD to advise them that TasNetworks would be attending their property lawfully under the Land Acquisition Act 1993.

“This was in a ‘keep the peace’ role between the parties, a role which Tasmania Police generally performs as required,” Tasmania Police said.

“Police won’t be attending while work is carried out unless any offences or crimes are reported.”

Malcolm Ryan has been advocating on behalf of affected landowners who do not want to host power lines and said he was livid that police had visited their properties.

“I think it’s bloody criminal,” Mr Ryan said.

“If you were at your house and the police said ‘don’t you dare object to anyone coming through your property’, what would you say?”

NWTD project director Richie Sheather said the development was crucial for Tasmania’s future and would lower power prices, be more environmentally beneficial and create jobs.

“We have huge respect for landholders,” Mr Sheather said.

“We’ve worked closely for five years – providing every opportunity for them to be heard and supported, and preferences accommodated as far as possible.

“We’ve wanted to see landholders generously rewarded through the SBP.

“The vast majority have embraced that.”

Mr Sheather said landowners had known for some time that the NWTD would go ahead.

“They’ve known we hold routine infrastructure easement rights, as a last resort.

“They’ve known their best option was to receive the maximum financial benefit available through the SBP, or valuations.

“So, there are no shocks or surprises here.

“We continue in good faith with all remaining landholders to reach voluntary agreements on their valuations.”