Agnes and Ecstasy

March 2008

The Invasion of the Poles

Do you remember the excruciatingly protracted, not to mention murderous , time it took to satisfactorily prove smoking cigarettes was EVIL? And why it took so long - Answer: the vested interests of tobacco companies.

Another similar, though different, tale is that of global warming. There are still (Dear John - how's life after the Lodge?) many folk unwilling or too lazy to do their own research so that they may remain comfortably with bum in air and head in sand.

And then there is the long running, apparently still indecisive battle as to safe human levels of Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) exposure to high–voltage electrical power transmission lines, being from 66kV to 132kV, and onwards. These lines are required to transfer bulk electricity from one place to the next, such as to the new soon-to-open (well at least we hope so - it was to open early 2007 and now about May 2008...but what's the rush folks!) sub-station at Agnes Water.

Over the past 20 years, some scientists have linked exposure to everyday levels of EMFs with various health problems, ranging from headaches to Alzheimer's disease. The most persistent of these suggestions relates to childhood leukemia.

But the evidence is not straightforward.

• A number of epidemiological studies, particularly in the US and in Scandinavia, have suggested an association between the incidence of childhood leukemia and EMFs or the proximity of homes to power lines.
• Not every study has found the same association, but taken as a whole, the epidemiological studies certainly show a statistical association
• Because of problems inherent in epidemiology, finding an association does not mean there is a risk.
• No causal link has been established between cancer (or any other disease) and EMFs and there is no established mechanism by which these fields could cause or promote disease.

Some of that just sounds so familiar. Anyway - why am I tapping on about EMF's? Well the Invasion of the Poles (alternative title is War of the Worlds) is well underway in sleepy lil Agnes Water 1770 and I suspect the locals are not winning. As your embedded reporter, I have taken a photographic record of the invasion so far and its not a pretty sight. Compare in the photo on left the invading Poles in comparison to the almost invisible existing power poles.

Giant gray concrete spun Poles stamping relentlessly across our tropical paradise, carving their corridor down once pretty semi-rural suburban streets, sneaking through the watercourse behind innocent dwellings leaving that oh so generous corridor of 30 meters, I hear.

This new substation and its infrastructure is essential for our community of less than 2,000 persons (according to the Census taken last year) as although the area has been on mains power since 1987, we suffer numerous outages each year.

Could the Poles have been Moles and buried themselves for the few short kilometers of the final link to the substation on the Cove Estate in Agnes Water 1770? Apparently not - as they say in the classics on this matter ' the overhead poles are the most obvious and commonly used especially in vast areas in developing countries' - hmmmmm. I do not yet know the effect their invasion will have on adjacent property prices. Last month, one of the many Springfields in USA had a town meeting on this very matter. Were there town meetings here on this Pole issue and I just didn't go? Admittedly from our home we will only see the top hats of the marching Poles across the lowlands.

But for the folk closer, according to most Journals of Real Estate, values drop about 10% within 200 meters of one of these Poles. Your intrepid reporter managed at the risk of life and limb, to capture this photo of a fallen Pole but I cannot report that our side is winning.

Late Note: Due to the amount of mail requesting information on streets involved, I will add here the photo locations: Poles so far erected are leaving the sub-station on the corner of Bicentennial Road and Anderson Way marching down Anderson Way to the flood channel and marching up the channel between Streeter Street and Allingham Street then bursting forth into Watkins Road and on through to the end of Streeter Street before taking refuge behind security gates. The Cowards - come out and fight!

Is environmental degradation a crime in Australia? Are utility companies allowed to do pretty much what they want? Ergon (the power company) has set aside pristine land to balance the land taken by their Poles. However, that is not equitable cos the land trampled on by these giant high voltage foot soldiers is in an area of substantial habitation with nearly all the small acrage blocks containing occupied dwellings.

On another note - the rain has still not stopped though it is less frequent. Seems like no summer this year and nothing but rain since Christmas. However, here's a picture of the shop window at our local fashion house, Buddies. Doing a great trade in this new style!