But local landowners say it will be impossible to adequately screen an industrial site of this size and, although ElectraNet said they had consulted with the community and nearby landowners, a number of residents say they haven’t heard a thing.

Debbie Dichiera, from Evilo Estate, will have one of the best views of the development, once construction commences next month – but has not been contacted by letter, phone or in person by any representative of ElectraNet.

Neighbour David Cook said he lodged a verbal objection to the development last year, but heard nothing back from the Planning Commission nor ElectraNet. He found out too late that letters had been sent to him at an old Adelaide address.

“The land is non complying and is zoned rural horticulture. It was zoned this way to protect the natural beauty of the environment,” Mr Cook said.

“Why would the council continue to allow ugly, unsightly monstrosities like this to be put up in beautiful parts of the Clare Valley?

“Every entrance to this town is marred with unsightly things that this council have let through, and they continue to do so. When is enough enough?”

You can’t build a function centre, school or golf course on land zoned Rural Horticultural, nor many other structures, so Mr Cook and his neighbours are having difficulty understanding the thinking of both the State Government and the council in allowing a high voltage electricity substation to be erected on such land.

Belinda Heinrich, whose parents’ property is next to the power station site, said her family was unaware of the proposal until contacted by ElectraNet three weeks ago.

As well as the visual impact Ms Heinrich is concerned about the long term health impacts from high voltage emissions, with studies still inconclusive on a link between cancer and power stations.

But for developments like ElectraNet’s, there is no appeal process. Under government legislation there is little opportunity for complaint and the development application, which was lodged in late December 2008, was approved by the Development Assessment Commission last May.

A spokesperson for the Commission said he did not believe there had been an inspection of the site at the time.

“We rely on the council to provide local advice, and in this case the council made no comment,” the commission’s principal planner Roger Freeman said.

“This gave us an indication that they didn’t see any local issues occurring there.”

Mr Freeman said there were no appeal rights for Crown development applications of this kind.

Mr Cook and Ms Heinrich attend Monday night’s (November 16) Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council meeting in Auburn and asked a number of questions of councillors concerning the development approval process.

The council's principal planner David Case said the ElectraNet application was under Section 49 of the Development Act, which meant decisions on approvals were made by the Planning Minister's office.

"It was a Ministerial decision, and not one for this council to make," Mr Case said.

It is likely some councillors will visit the site to fully inform themselves of the scope of the development, but reiterated they were unable to pursue objections as the approval came from the State Government.

Mr Cook said he would pursue other avenues to get his objections heard.