MEMBERS of the Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc anti-wind farm lobby have raised concerns about the adequacy of the RES Southern Cross Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in addressing transport issues during the project's construction phase.
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Their concerns specifically relate to the large trucks transporting the 69 turbines and 96-tonne transformer along the proposed route, from Port Kembla to Goulburn via the Hume Highway, along Union St, Goulburn and then the Taralga Road to the sites.
In regard to Union St, the Taralga EIS states: "some minor street furniture may require removal temporarily for longer loads and some overhead electrical and communication wires may require temporary lifting."
This recommendation comes from Kingston Heavy Haulage, who conducted a Transport Study for the project.
Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc member, Paul Miskelly, questioned how long the electricity poles would been to be "lifted" and wondered whether North Goulburn residents were aware of the possible disruptions to power and traffic that could be involved.
"We're not talking about one trip here, but the delivery of 69 turbine towers and blades over a 17-month period," he said.
He also questioned the viability of trucks travelling along the Taralga Road.
"The transformer itself weighs 96 tonnes, and it says in the Taralga EIS that the Taralga Road currently has an RTA gross weight limit of 42.5 tonnes," Mr Miskelly said.
The EIS states: "It is highly unlikely there would be any severe limitations on weights up to 100 tonnes (on the Taralga Road)."
Mr Miskelly thought the term "highly unlikely" was too vague for an EIS.
"How are these huge trucks going to use the Taralga Road, no other vehicles will be able to use it at the same time and they are travelling through the day," he said.
He said the Taralga Guardians were in the process of putting out a flyer on the pitfalls of the transport issues and would also be making submissions to DIPNR on them.
But RES Southern Cross Engineering manager, Matt Rebbeck, was confident transport matters had been adequately addressed in the EIS.
"We're happy with the transport survey that was conducted for us by Kingston Heavy Haulage," Mr Rebbeck said.
Regarding the perceived lack of detail (4 pages) in the EIS, Mr Rebbeck said: "There are a lot of detailed calculations that go on in the background behind these reports. We try to keep them readable in the EIS."
The transport survey itself is not included in the references of the EIS, but Mr Rebbeck said it did address the Union St issue.
"It is definitely manageable," he said. "We have spoken to Wal Smart (RTA Goulburn Mulwaree Council traffic committee representative) and Ian Aldridge from the Goulburn Mulwaree traffic committee about these issues.
"They have read the transport survey and they did not raise any concerns about it to us and were happy for us to proceed to the point of lodging a DA."
In regard to Union St, he said RES Southern Cross would minimise the impact, but until they knew exactly the size of the infrastructure they were bringing in he would not commit on what the company proposed to do in terms of mitigation.
He said this level of detail would be known at the design stage.
By DAVID COLE
MEMBERS of the Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc anti-wind farm lobby have raised concerns about the adequacy of the RES Southern Cross Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in addressing transport issues during the project's construction phase.
Their concerns specifically relate to the large trucks transporting the 69 turbines and 96-tonne transformer along the proposed route, from Port Kembla to Goulburn via the Hume Highway, along Union St, Goulburn and then the Taralga Road to the sites.
In regard to Union St, the Taralga EIS states: "some minor street furniture may require removal temporarily for longer loads and some overhead electrical and communication wires may require temporary lifting."
This recommendation comes from Kingston Heavy Haulage, who conducted a Transport Study for the project.
Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc member, Paul Miskelly, questioned how long the electricity poles would been to be "lifted" and wondered whether North Goulburn residents were aware of the possible disruptions to power and traffic that could be involved.
"We're not talking about one trip here, but the delivery of 69 turbine towers and blades over a 17-month period," he said.
He also questioned the viability of trucks travelling along the Taralga Road.
"The transformer itself weighs 96 tonnes, and it says in the Taralga EIS that the Taralga Road currently has an RTA gross weight limit of 42.5 tonnes," Mr Miskelly said.
The EIS states: "It is highly unlikely there would be any severe limitations on weights up to 100 tonnes (on the Taralga Road)."
Mr Miskelly thought the term "highly unlikely" was too vague for an EIS.
"How are these huge trucks going to use the Taralga Road, no other vehicles will be able to use it at the same time and they are travelling through the day," he said.
He said the Taralga Guardians were in the process of putting out a flyer on the pitfalls of the transport issues and would also be making submissions to DIPNR on them.
But RES Southern Cross Engineering manager, Matt Rebbeck, was confident transport matters had been adequately addressed in the EIS.
"We're happy with the transport survey that was conducted for us by Kingston Heavy Haulage," Mr Rebbeck said.
Regarding the perceived lack of detail (4 pages) in the EIS, Mr Rebbeck said: "There are a lot of detailed calculations that go on in the background behind these reports. We try to keep them readable in the EIS."
The transport survey itself is not included in the references of the EIS, but Mr Rebbeck said it did address the Union St issue.
"It is definitely manageable," he said. "We have spoken to Wal Smart (RTA Goulburn Mulwaree Council traffic committee representative) and Ian Aldridge from the Goulburn Mulwaree traffic committee about these issues.
"They have read the transport survey and they did not raise any concerns about it to us and were happy for us to proceed to the point of lodging a DA."
In regard to Union St, he said RES Southern Cross would minimise the impact, but until they knew exactly the size of the infrastructure they were bringing in he would not commit on what the company proposed to do in terms of mitigation.
He said this level of detail would be known at the design stage.
By DAVID COLE
MEMBERS of the Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc anti-wind farm lobby have raised concerns about the adequacy of the RES Southern Cross Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in addressing transport issues during the project's construction phase.
Their concerns specifically relate to the large trucks transporting the 69 turbines and 96-tonne transformer along the proposed route, from Port Kembla to Goulburn via the Hume Highway, along Union St, Goulburn and then the Taralga Road to the sites.
In regard to Union St, the Taralga EIS states: "some minor street furniture may require removal temporarily for longer loads and some overhead electrical and communication wires may require temporary lifting."
This recommendation comes from Kingston Heavy Haulage, who conducted a Transport Study for the project.
Taralga Landscape Guardians Inc member, Paul Miskelly, questioned how long the electricity poles would been to be "lifted" and wondered whether North Goulburn residents were aware of the possible disruptions to power and traffic that could be involved.
"We're not talking about one trip here, but the delivery of 69 turbine towers and blades over a 17-month period," he said.
He also questioned the viability of trucks travelling along the Taralga Road.
"The transformer itself weighs 96 tonnes, and it says in the Taralga EIS that the Taralga Road currently has an RTA gross weight limit of 42.5 tonnes," Mr Miskelly said.
The EIS states: "It is highly unlikely there would be any severe limitations on weights up to 100 tonnes (on the Taralga Road)."
Mr Miskelly thought the term "highly unlikely" was too vague for an EIS.
"How are these huge trucks going to use the Taralga Road, no other vehicles will be able to use it at the same time and they are travelling through the day," he said.
He said the Taralga Guardians were in the process of putting out a flyer on the pitfalls of the transport issues and would also be making submissions to DIPNR on them.
But RES Southern Cross Engineering manager, Matt Rebbeck, was confident transport matters had been adequately addressed in the EIS.
"We're happy with the transport survey that was conducted for us by Kingston Heavy Haulage," Mr Rebbeck said.
Regarding the perceived lack of detail (4 pages) in the EIS, Mr Rebbeck said: "There are a lot of detailed calculations that go on in the background behind these reports. We try to keep them readable in the EIS."
The transport survey itself is not included in the references of the EIS, but Mr Rebbeck said it did address the Union St issue.
"It is definitely manageable," he said. "We have spoken to Wal Smart (RTA Goulburn Mulwaree Council traffic committee representative) and Ian Aldridge from the Goulburn Mulwaree traffic committee about these issues.
"They have read the transport survey and they did not raise any concerns about it to us and were happy for us to proceed to the point of lodging a DA."
In regard to Union St, he said RES Southern Cross would minimise the impact, but until they knew exactly the size of the infrastructure they were bringing in he would not commit on what the company proposed to do in terms of mitigation.
He said this level of detail would be known at the design stage.
