Sparks fly over powerline cash

A GROUP of landowners set to be affected by the North-West transmission developments have rejected a payment offer made by the State Government through TasNetworks.

Property owners along stage one of the development corridor have been offered a Strategic Payment Benefit (SPB) of $200,000 per kilometre of transmission line.

Around 275 landholders are eligible for the payment, which will be paid in annual instalments over 20 years.

The transmission development is expected to be completed in 2032 and is considered a key part of the Marinus Link project.

Sheffield is one of the towns where the transmission corridor will run through and TasFarmers organised a meeting there with affected landowners.

Beef farmer Wade Rockliff  who was at the meeting is set to have two towers and around 700m of overhead lines across his property.

He said he had been disappointed with how negotiations with TasNetworks had gone.

“The Government did tell us that they were going to negotiate fairly with landowners and TasFarmers about compensation for the powerlines crossing our properties, yet there has been no negotiation,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We basically got made an offer of an ultimatum and that was it. They walked away from the table about six months ago.”

Mr Rockliff said the offer TasNetworks made was inadequate.

“We also want compensation for people who are actually not on the transmission line, too,” he said.

“We know these towers are a bit of an eyesore and are going to affect people’s real estate prices.

“People might think that we are a bunch of greedy farmers who are just trying to cash in, but we’re trying to help communities as well.”

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the SPB offer, delivered to landowners through TasNetworks, broke pre-election commitments to negotiate in good faith.

“We’ve had concerns for months that the Government hasn’t been acting in good faith,” Mr Calman said.

“Now, just before an election, they’ve left landholders feeling forced to accept an offer unilaterally imposed, without proper consultation or process.”

Mr Calman said the landowners at the meeting at Sheffield were united in their anger. “Farmers are describing this as a breach of trust,” he said.

“Commitments made before the last election have not been honoured.

“People feel shut out of the process, ignored and the social licence for this project is now at serious risk.”

TasNetworks CEO Sean McGoldrick said the State Government set the SPB after more than two years of negotiations with his organisation, TasFarmers and landowners affected by the North West Transmission Development.

“Some landholders have already accepted the SBP and we’re engaging well with others,” Mr McGoldrick said.

“TasNetworks advocated for a fair SBP that matches what other states offer and we’re pleased to have achieved that.

“We value the relationship built with TasFarmers and we recognise their critical role in representing landholders, including farmers who host our electricity infrastructure.”