Jane Garrett raises BTS in Parliament again

Here is an extract from the Victorian Parliament Hansard 23 March 2011(proof copy only) where Member for Brunswick Jane Garrett raises some of the concerns about the proposed BTS development. Great to have our local member of Parliament onside!

Health: Brunswick terminal station

Ms GARRETT (Brunswick) -- I wish to raise a matter tonight for the attention of the Minister for Health, and the action I seek is his investigation and assistance regarding community concerns about long-term exposure to electromagnetic fields -- or EMF, as they are sometimes called -- in relation to the proposed expansion of the Brunswick terminal station. I have previously raised an adjournment matter in relation to the significant -- fourfold -- expansion of this terminal station for the attention of the Minister for Energy and Resources, and I thank the minister for his response both in this place and in writing shortly after. It is a shame that some of his colleagues were not so timely. However, I am concerned that in the response of the Minister for Energy and Resources, in which he refused to engage with stakeholders as requested, he demonstrated that he has not fully appreciated the level of community concern about this proposed development. The record shows that he has been quite dismissive of the community and its considerable anxiety about such a large-scale substation being proposed in a residential area. Further, the Minister for Energy and Resources did not respond to, or in any way address, the health and safety concerns that were raised by the community. This is despite the fact that there is a lack of precedent for a facility of this magnitude being located in a highly residential area anywhere in the world. The community remains deeply concerned, particularly after the response of the Minister for Energy and Resources that other non-residential sites have not been fully considered. SP AusNet is currently going through the process of a regulatory investment test for the proposed development, but the community remains very anxious that this process does not take into account long-term exposure to EMF. The local residents group has written to me on several occasions regarding the community's concerns about the regulatory process, and I quote from the group's most recent correspondence: The power companies have stated that they will comply with the ARPANSA and NHMRC guidelines. The NHMRC guidelines were produced in 1989 and are now rescinded. There are no current NHMRC guidelines.

Honourable members interjecting.

Ms GARRETT -- I am sorry if those on the other side of the house do not think this is an important issue, but the people in my community are deeply concerned. I would ask that members listen to the concerns of my community regarding health and safety issues associated with an extraordinary substation being built in their street.

Mr Southwick interjected.
The SPEAKER -- Order! The member for Caulfield!

Ms GARRETT -- Indeed! The community believes that if the regulatory test is determining a location based on economic and short-term considerations, then the terms of reference are too narrow for a location such as the Brunswick site. I ask the Minister for Health to intervene to address the community's concerns about health and safety.