Powerful results at forum

Manjimup Bridgetown Times
Wednesday 11/7/2007 Page: 6

WALPOLE'S power to the people forum has been declared a success with many positive outcomes reached at the meeting. More than 30 people attended the forum organised by the Walpole and Nornalup Districts Community Development Group. Attendees included members of Western Power, Manjmup shire councillor David Tapley and Stirling MLA Terry Redman.

Donna Selby from the development group said the meeting was an excellent starting point for discussing the town's options following several power outages, including one over the Easter long weekend, Walpole's busiest tourism period. "It definitely showed there is a high level of concern over the topic of power and it was great to see what's going to happen to hopefully improve the situation," Ms Selby said.

"Western Power is coordinating a working group on the matter and we were able to form a sub-committee that will feed into the Western Power group process." Ms Selby said the meeting reiterated the unique situation of Walpole in which it is landlocked by forest and water. "We are in a good place to seek alternative sources and we will definitely be looking at these options as a high priority," Ms Selby said.

"Wind power was discussed in detail, as was diesel - these are the first options that will be looked at." Representatives from the Denmark Community Wind Farm spoke at the meeting while options such as biomass, hydro and solar were also looked at. "The other option we looked at was people reducing the amounts of power being used," Ms Selby said.

"This will also have an impact in terms of how much power is available from the grid." Ms Selby said this meeting was just a starting point and a lot of work still needed to be done. "It's a burgeoning campaign, it is just commencing, but the feeling is the sooner this happens the better," Ms Selby said. "The people of Walpole are quite sick of living in the dark. "Just because we are a small isolated community we shouldn't have to live in the dark ages."