By JONATHON HOWARD
OBSERVERS were ejected from the Power Community Reference Group’s 18th meeting in Warwick on Wednesday, 17 April, after emotions boiled over and allegations of racial discrimination were made.
The meeting took place at the Coachman’s Inn function room on Wood St and included remaining CRG members Douglas Fox, Barbara Marsden, Carol-Anne Millar, Gordon Miller, Sharron Barker and Max Holder.
Ergon Energy regional asset manager Dave Shephard was also present during the meeting along with CRG facilitator John Dengate.
Among those community members (known as observers) present was concerned residents Brett Benz, Graeme Benz, Roger Hardy, Angela Benz, Janette White, Tim Lucas, Tony Maw, Daribor Maroevic and Phil Barker.
The meeting started with a letter from observer Mr (Daro) Maroevic raising the issue of “inappropriate conduct” by CRG members.
The letter from Mr Maroevic said he felt “racially discriminated” against at the 14 March CRG meeting in Stanthorpe – and he demanded an apology from two CRG members.
However, both CRG members (whose names have been withheld) refused to apologise and said they felt that “no racial discrimination was intended”, and that instead Mr Maroevic had been in breach of observer protocol.
Mr Maroevic, who lives in Thulimbah, had been using his camera to capture PowerPoint slides during the 14 March meeting.
Mr Maroevic told Free Times he felt the photos were an important way to compare figures and ensure honesty and transparency from the CRG.
Mr Maw said Phil Barker had also unleashed a tirade against the independent AWARE group, with the main theme being an insistence that something be done to stop AWARE’s attempts to sabotage the CRG.
An argument quickly escalated and CRG member Max Holder moved a motion to remove all observers from the meeting.
CRG member Gordon Miller said he would leave if the meeting continued.
Facilitator Mr Dengate then asked all observers and media to temporarily vacate the room in order to determine whether the meeting should continue.
Resident and former CRG member Tony Maw said during the observer expulsion he spoke with Tim Lucas who informed him that the Rabbit Ridge Wind Farm could be built in as little as two years.
“I asked him would it have a capacity of 10MVA (required for Stanthorpe) and was told that it would,” Mr Maw said.
“Tim and I both spoke with Ergon’s Dave Shephard and I suggested that if Tim built his wind farm that produced 10MVA (or more) which together with the 33kV line’s 8MVA totals 18MVA, then the needs of Stanthorpe’s 15MVA would be exceeded.
“Ergon could then do what it liked for as long as it liked to the existing 110kV line with no disruption to Stanthorpe’s power requirements.
“As Ergon intends to keep both existing lines they will have to be maintained so the argument about old lines failing has no validity.”
Mr Shephard agreed that it would be the way to go except he flagged several findings in the independent report carried out by Aurecon (see Aurecon’s report).
The Aurecon report reveals that “inadequate wind turbulence” would not make wind farms a viable option.
Arguments against the wind farm proposal included that it was also too late, as the existing lines were in such disrepair.
After about 20 minutes, observers and Ergon reconvened in the CRG meeting.
When the meeting resumed, Mr Maroevic photographed a chart displayed on the projection screen.
He was told by Mr Dengate that observers could stay only if “no photographs” were taken and observers “remained silent”.
Mr Dengate then asked each observer if they agreed to the conditions.
But Mr Maroevic disagreed, which resulted in a move to once again expel Mr Maroevic and the remaining observers.
However, Mr Maw interjected and suggested a compromise that while Mr Maroevic did not agree with the ruling he would cease photography.
The meeting continued with the grading of several lines route options namely line route 5, 5a and 5b.
Each line was awarded a figure up to a maximum of 10 under the categories of technical, financial, environmental and construction.
After going round all six members, Mr Dengate made the statement that “line route 5 was emerging as the best route to meet the criteria”.
Mr Dengate also said that line route 3 had not yet been examined, but due to data presented at earlier CRG meetings it was unlikely to be considered.
Mr Dengate announced the next CRG meeting to be on Thursday, 2 May, in Stanthorpe at the Vines motel.
