Upper Hunter Shire Council has raised serious concerns over the revised transmission line route for the New England Renewable Energy Zone, saying community consultation has been inadequate and impacts on farmland have been overlooked.
The updated study corridor was acknowledged at Council’s latest meeting, with councillors agreeing to prepare a letter to EnergyCo and NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe MP. The letter will call for a thorough investigation into using existing transmission corridors as a more sustainable option.
Farmers and residents in the Upper Hunter have expressed frustration over the process, saying the route cuts through productive agricultural land and scenic areas.
“You can’t do this desk assessment from the city,” said Mayor Maurice Collison.
“Get out on foot or in a helicopter and see what’s underneath those lines.”
Mayor Collison continued his scathing review of the new plan, labeling the decision as “ridiculous”.
“Our biggest rate payers are agriculture and it means a lot to the Shire, it means a lot to our residents,” he said.
“And as it is, I think they’d go over 18 homes. That’s just ridiculous.”
Mayor Collison even went as far as to say EnergyCo needed to look at their own guidelines.
“The new route is inconsistent with EnergyCo’s own guidelines,” he said.
“I mean, it says avoid the cluster of homes, avoid scenic areas, avoid productive agriculture, and demonstrate social license.
“I don’t know whether they’ve looked at their own policy!”
Council will review submissions received from the community and continue to advocate for local concerns to be considered during route planning and assessment stages. The issue has sparked strong emotions, with locals arguing the plan contradicts EnergyCo’s own guidelines to avoid clusters of homes, scenic areas and productive farmland.
