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RUSH TRACK PROJECT
POWER LINES
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RUSH TRACK PROJECT POWER LINES
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POWERLINE CONSTRUCTION AND THE RUSH TRACK In 1985, portion of the zigzag section of the Rush Track totalling about 150m was destroyed by construction of an access track to service the towers supporting a high voltage transmission line. The Chalumbin to Springmount 275kV transmission line, currently under construction, runs adjacent to the existing line and this caused concern about the risk of further damage to this special section of the track.
In response to this concern engineers from Powerlink Queensland, the authority responsible for the construction, inspected the zigzag section during January 2000. The photo shows Max Enfield, consultant to the Rush track project and Mike Tomlinson, an engineer with Powerlink Qld using GPS equipment to precisely locate the track. The diagram (left) is a computer generated plot of GPS readings of the Powerlink access track and the Rush track over the upper (ie southern) two thirds of the zigzag section. The scale at the left margin shows horizontal distance in metres.
It is clear from the diagram how the tracks intertwine over this section and that care would be needed to prevent further damage. Unfortunately, however, a further 140m of track was damaged by contractors in September 2000 whilst clearing vegetation from underneath the path of the proposed line. In response Powerlink with assistance of members of the Bar-Barrum People, initiated and financed restoration of the freshly damaged section and as a result little permanent damage was sustained.
Powerlink Queensland operates a Community Offsets Program. This is a program where grants are made available for community projects to offset the impact on communities of nearby high voltage power transmission lines. In February 2001 the Rush Track Project received a Community Offsets Grant of $7,700.00.