On 2 April 2008 John was able to get enough votes to move and have debated The Greens motion calling on Energy Minister Ian Macdonald to direct Energy Australia to reroute and place on the construction of the Ourimbah to Terrigal power line underground.

While the Nationals and the Liberals voted with the four Greens members, the rest of the parliament - Christian Democrats Fred Nile and the two Shooters Party members - sided with the government and defeated the motion.

This is an appalling outcome for the Central Coast and for the rest of NSW. The rights of residents to have a say in infrastructure that potentially affects health and safety of residents.

The Greens will continue to raise the matter in the NSW Upper House to hold the govt to account on this issue.

The Greens Motion to bury the Central Coast power lines

• read the transcript of the debate for urgency

• read the transcript of the debate and voting record on the motion

1. That this House notes:

(a) the proposal by EnergyAustralia to install approximately 19.6 kilometres of 132kV transmission lines above ground through residential areas from Ourimbah to a new substation under construction in Terrigal, with only a small section at Wamberal being laid underground,

(b) the absence of resolution of on-going uncertainty relating to serious health impacts of long-term exposure to magnetic fields on residents living near high voltage transmission lines,

(c) recent Australian and international studies suggesting a link between serious disease, particularly in children, and exposure to magnetic fields at levels lower than those to which residents living along the proposed route will be subjected,

(d) the strong community concern about the proposed installation of above-ground 132kV transmission lines, particularly past homes, schools, childcare centres, places of worship and public open space,

(e) the potential threat to wildlife and the environment from the proposed above-ground route running through urban bushland and past Terrigal lagoon and Wamberal lagoon, which is protected under the Japan-Australia migratory Bird Agreement and the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and State Environmental Planning Policy 71 Coastal Protection,

(f) the potential to reduce bushfire risk, power supply interruption and motor vehicle accidents that undergrounding of transmission lines provides,

(g) the adverse amenity impacts of towering overhead transmission and distribution structures and lines,

(h) the absence of a detailed and comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement concerning the proposed route and overhead lines and structures, and

(i) that new high voltage transmission lines in residential areas of Sydney have been installed underground.

2. That this House calls on the Minister for Energy to exercise his powers as portfolio minister under s. 20P of the State Owned Corporations Act 1989 to direct EnergyAustralia to:

(a) install the entire length of the Ourimbah to Terrigal 132kV transmission lines underground,

(b) select a route for laying the 132kV transmission lines that does not impact on residents or the sensitive environmental areas of Wamberal and Terrigal lagoons, and

(c) ensure that all future transmission lines linked to the substation in Terrigal are placed underground.

(Notice given 28 February 2008)