Hearing turns off

By Melissa Meehan
AN ANTI-pipeline convoy from Echuca to Yarra Glen marked the scene for the final days of the Sugarloaf pipeline public hearings.
More than 100 members of the public filled the gallery of the opulent Oak Room at Chateau Yering to show their support for submitters including Plug the Pipe, and the Steels Creek Landcare Group.
Many held banners to show their dismay at what they said was a lack of Government consultation.
Spokesman for Plug the Pipe Mike Dalmau said the turnout showed the strong feeling of the community.
He said farmers and residents close to the proposed route believed the State Government had not adequately completed an in-depth analysis of the effects of the north-south pipeline.
Jan Beer and Bob Richardson spoke at the hearing on behalf of Plug the Pipe highlighting the group’s concern on the way the government had carried out the project.
“The government water saving predictions are optimistic but, even if correct, there will not be sufficient water for the environment,” Ms Beer said.
“And threatened flora and fauna have been studied for too brief a time to provide recommendations which will protect them.”
Mr Richardson spoke of the government’s lack of consultation with land owners and said that the “so-called success” of the pipeline laid solely on the proposed water savings.
The final day of the hearings was set aside for individual submitters and closing comments from the Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance, headed by Melbourne Water.
Barrister Michelle Quigley spoke on behalf of the Alliance.
Ms Quigley said the Alliance was not responsible for the policy decision of the construction of the pipeline.
Matters of community consultation were a point of conflict throughout the hearings, the majority of submitters highlighting their disappointment with the process.
Ms Quigley argued that if landowners refused to meet or engage with representatives of the Alliance, by refusing access to their land, it was a personal choice.
“They cannot now complain that they have not been consulted in the relevant sense, given the task the Alliance has to take,” Ms Quigley said.
She said that once landowners had spoken with representatives they were generally more positive about the project.
“When given the opportunity, individual landholders generally accept what the project entails,” Ms Quigley said.
“It is acknowledged that they are not necessarily happy about the disruption but they accept they will be compensated.”
On Wednesday, Melbourne Water announced a $5 million regional benefits grants program for the Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline Project.
The regional benefits package will deliver a one-off financial contribution to communities affected by the project.
Next week the Mail will further investigate how the benefits will affect the community and how local residents have responded to the announcement.