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Hi & Welcome, This will be the first of many newsletters to keep you in the loop about what the Valley Alliance has been up to on our members behalf. Association formation & Inaugural meeting On 2 April 2024, Valley Alliance Incorporated (VA) was formed. VA is a community based not-for-profit association, representing members from the Duncans Creek, Dungowan & Woolomin Valleys in Northern NSW. The Association supports efforts to reduce emissions and provide a sustainable future for the benefit of all urban & regional Australians. VA is opposed to ill-conceived, poorly researched plans that are a response to political pressure to achieve climate targets at the expense of the homes, land, communities, livelihoods, and the future of regional NSW residents. Our aim is to move High Voltage Transmission Lines (HVTLs) onto public land that is not as environmentally sensitive nor economically fundamental to our region’s agribusiness, food & fibre industries or the communities that support these industries. The first meeting of VA was held at “Dungowan Station” on 2 April 2024. At that meeting the executive committee was nominated and voted on. Positions were filled as follows: President: Tim White
Vice President: Campbell McIntosh
Treasurer: Mark Eather
Secretary: Theressa Miles & Teresa Eather 3 Non-Executive committee members were appointed to complete the operating committee: Jenny Wright, Merryl Uebel-Yan & Michelle Blakeman Action Points We need as many financial members as possible - the size of our membership is important in making it known that we have strong community support in the VA who oppose the HVTLs on private land and in our communities. Please register and encourage anyone you know to join and support the VA. Memberships: Memberships are open to anyone that has an interest in saving our countryside and communities. Memberships are $10 per person per year. You will get regular updates on what is happening in the fight with EnergyCo. You will be asked to sign petitions, send letters and potentially attend rallies and events. The amount you want to do is up to you. SIGN UP by clicSubscriber First NameSubscriber First NameSubscriber First Nameking the link. We will send you payment details. Donations: Donations are being asked for from anyone who wants to contribute. The costs to fight this battle will be high and donations will help us get the right advice from the right people. You will be able to donate via credit card on our website, direct debit or cash when you see our reps out in public. All donations are tax deductible. Impacted Landholders Contribution: All members that are impacted directly are being asked to donate $1500 per landholding. Please contact us via email if you are directly impacted.
VA will be engaging experts in many fields (legal, environmental, valuation etc) to give our members the best chance of moving the HVTL’s from its existing route. We will also be in communication with politicians (State & Federal in both the Upper & Lower House), media and other protest groups to ensure that we are heard & acknowledged. Next steps There is a HUGE amount to do in a very short period of time. Our follow up points are as follows. If you can help us, please don’t hesitate. Questions - We want your questions emailed to us at valleyalliance1@gmail.com .We will be starting a weekly campaign of questions that we want answers to. Answers have been few and far between and we want to hold EnergyCo accountable. A Media Engagement Plan is underway - look out for us on your social media, Radio and Newspaper. Legal representation - We have identified an expert in the field and will seek to engage their assistance. Protest Signage: we have ordered more. Allsopps Printing will be making them again. Don't be afraid to get onboard! Website- to be launched the week of 8 April 2024 – Valley Alliance Website. Take a look Facebook Page – Follow us on Facebook & Instagram. Please share both with your friends. We need to spread the word. Reports- We will be commissioning reports by experts in their fields (Environmental, Valuation & others) Meetings- We have met with Kevin Anderson & Barnaby Joyce. We will be continuing to increase political meetings and pressure. We also have requested a follow up meeting with EnergyCo - We will keep you updated. We will also be having more community meetings to update you and to get feedback - Don’t be shy!
THANK YOU for your support so far. A huge shout out of thanks to everyone that attended the Woolomin meeting and Tamworth information session. EnergyCo was shocked by the turnout and the organisation behind it. We need to keep the momentum going. We continue to show a large, united front for our homes, land community and future.
Also, thanks to Leslye Cole for her donation of skills and time to design and set up the Valley Alliance Inc logo. It looks great and represents our valleys, hills, creeks, rivers and farmland - thank you! Kate Ellis has designed our FB & Instagram sites. Thanks Kate , they looks amazing.
And finally thank you to the committee for the work they have done in a short period of time. You are legends.
Keep fighting (& bring on more rain). Public Land is the better option!
Remember - it is our homes, our land, our community, and our future. Tim White
President
Valley Alliance Inc
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