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Wellington questions viability of Basslink projectWellington Shire Council will be voicing serious economic and environmental concerns about the Basslink project when it meets with representatives from Basslink Pty Ltd and key contractors tomorrow (15 July). By Wellington Shire Council - 14th July 2003 - Back to News The Council’s Chief Executive Officer, senior officers and Councillors are due to receive a progress briefing on the initiative from Basslink, and main contractors Pirelli and Siemens.
However, they will also be taking the opportunity to press for answers to specific concerns raised by the Basslink Task Force - recently established by the Council to advise and lobby for the Wellington community over the issue and comprising key, informed local people. This Force has expressed worries about the environmental impact of the scheme (including how underwater cabling will affect the behaviour of sea creatures such as sharks), the affect on tourism along the Wellington coast and the economics of the initiative.
The briefing is particularly timely as the Council only recently passed a resolution calling on the Federal, Victorian and Tasmanian Governments to halt the Basslink project until a full and independent inquiry is carried out into its economic viability. The mayor has written to the PM, the two premiers and neighbouring Latrobe Shire Council expressing Wellington’s concerns. These actions follow claims that costs for the project have ballooned from an initial estimate of around $500 million to some $780 million – a blowout of $280 million or 50%.
In addition Wellington is calling on the Tasmanian Government to reveal at the earliest opportunity who it proposes will pay the extra costs and how.
The Basslink issue is also set for discussion at Wellington Shire’s Council meeting tomorrow evening, which is being broadcast live on its website www.wellington.vic.gov.au from 6pm onwards.
Said Wellington’s Mayor John Jago: "It’s a matter of record that the Council has had environmental concerns about Basslink for some time. The worrying financial dimension has only added further to our disquiet and we will be pressing very hard for some answers, not just from the politicians, but tomorrow from Basslink Pty Ltd, Pirelli and Siemens. We believe the Victorian Government has a duty to halt Basslink until these issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of this Council and the local community we and the Basslink Task Force represent."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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