Modelling homeowners' reactions to the placement of high voltage overhead transmission lines

摘要

What are people's reactions to news that high voltage overhead transmission lines (HVOTLs) are to be built near their homes? Will they pursue actions which might impact the project or, instead, do nothing and see what happens as due process is followed by its planners? Much could depend on whether the installation is merely in their vicinity or will excise part of their freeholding through land acquisition. This article resolves these issues by applying a staged model of infrastructure development in Queensland, Australia, via a telephone survey of 600 homeowners. Results indicate the statistical significance of certain independent variables relating to interviewees, and of intervening variables represented by their risk perceptions and prevailing attitude to electricity infrastructure. Threatened resumption of property produces distinctly different outcomes from those applying to more distant locations of power lines. Findings should prove relevant to planning authorities contemplating network expansion.