Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson with grandson Jack, Bev Henwood and Denise Davidson, pictured last September when they faced the grim prospect of a power sub-station at the Tynong farm. 22712A PROPERTY owned by a well-known Tynong family has been spared from a power sub-station with powerlines set to travel to an existing one in Cranbourne.
The Henwoods feared last year that the value of their 138-acre farm was set to be halved after the State Government listed overhead powerlines as its number one option to power the desalination plant – a plan which would’ve seen the sub-station built on their property.
The station was set to occupy 13 acres of the picturesque farm, which has been in the Henwood family for more than 40 years.
Bev Henwood was happy to hear the northerly grid option had been officially abandoned when contacted by the Gazette this week.
“In the beginning, it (substation) started as five acres then 13 (acres) and then ended up at 32 (acres),” Mrs Henwood said.
“I thought they could have the whole farm because that was going to mess it up. I wouldn’t have stayed here if that was going on.”
The family had also been supplied with information that suggested a power sub-station would require 24-hour lighting and noisy fans.
Mrs Henwood’s late husband Stan was a popular man in the community and a Cardinia Shire Council Award for outstanding citizens was named after him. Mayor Bill Pearson said Mr Henwood would’ve been devastated if a power sub-station was built on the property.
Mrs Henwood said it was a relief that her future on the farm hadn’t been decided by someone else.
“It’s up to me to make up my mind, not them pushing me out,” she said.
