Central-West Orana REZ Transmission

Further to my earlier objecting submission, I believe that in the interest of fairness and equality, the NSW State Government should provide impacted communities / landowners with an unbiased body of qualified legal professionals who can provide relevant unbiased support relating to REZ issues. This should be at no cost to communities and State funded. Many individuals within rural NSW do not have the ability to comprehend the depth and complex language contained in EIS documents and this can therefore be difficult for some to break down and absorb the information. There needs to be more fairness here.

Otherwise, NSW State Government or EnergyCo should provide impacted landowners with financial assistance so they can seek independent, unbiased legal advice on the matters for the duration of their negotiations, and for support throughout EIS submissions.

I was also made aware that in the afternoon of Wednesday, 8th November 2023, some CWO REZ landowners received letters of compulsory acquisition for EnergyCo’s transmission project. How is this even legal especially when EnergyCo’s EIS has not even come off public exhibition yet? There is no fairness here. Residents of the CWO REZ have been set up for failure from the start. This is unacceptable and validates every point in my earlier objecting submission where I called EnergyCo out for their biased approach to their project.

I submit the following comments on the CWO REZ Transmission project development application - SSI48323210

Community consultation
We note that the consultation process undertaken by Energy Co was incomplete and difficult for some community members to participate in. Many local groups were not contacted in relation to the development. This was a loss for the development as we have great community environmental knowledge and networks and contacts locally and regionally who could have contributed throughout the consultation process.

We find there are still many community members who are unaware of the REZ as a whole and the proposed transmission lines.

Community Cohesion
We are already experiencing difficulties in our community due to division and conflict within the local community. The level of knowledge of community members about the REZ and its developments varies greatly with some people knowing very little about the proposed developments to our area.
People are concerned about the cumulative impacts of all the locally proposed developments. Some are also overwhelmed by the amount of information they need to acquire to understand the scope of the developments, how it may impact them and the community and how they can be involved in the development process. We strongly assert that any impacts from developments need to be considered with in the context of the REZ as a whole, the cumulative impacts on our region.

Environmental Concerns
Our local environment is already under stress. We recently experienced a major bushfire, then drought, then flooding and a mouse plague. It looks like we may be heading into drought once again. The REZ as a whole has the potential to cause significant environmental degradation. The transmission lines contribute to this with land clearing for easements and construction.
Environmental impacts need to be assessed within the cumulative context of the REZ, not as an isolated development. The EIS has not done this. Regional wide mapping would address this and support a realistic assessment of impacts.
Significant environmental impacts from the REZ as a whole could include impacts on:
● Biodiversity and habitat
● Wildlife movements between habitat areas.
● Food source protection for wildlife
● Impact on insect life
● River health
● Fire Management
● Ground and arterial water impacts
Issues to be addressed include:
● Habitat protection from fragmentation, increased human activity, and potential hazards from wind turbines or solar installations
● The construction and maintenance of transmission lines through bush and farming land result in the clearing of vegetation, disruption of local ecosystems and habitats It may lead to the decline of native flora and fauna, some of which are already endangered or at risk.
● The area is already suffering from the effects of climate change and past agricultural systems of land clearing. What remnant areas of bush and paddock trees are needed to maintain biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
● The decline and disruption of environment and eco systems has not been considered as part of the cumulative environmental impacts or valued as highly as it should in the DA We need to protect our natural environment at this era of climate change.
● Insects: It is observable that insect life in Central West NSW has significantly declined over the last decade. Insects play an important role in food production, soil health and waste transfer. The effects on our remaining insect population from the proposed transmission lines and associated RE developments have not been adequately addressed in the development application. Insects are essential to our survival and to agricultural production systems. Their protection is paramount.
● Wildlife movement and habitat - The effects of transmission infrastructure and associated clearing need to be investigated along with the cumulative impacts of the REZ developments. Wildlife, including insects, do not inhabitat human boundaries. Wildlife corridors, habitat areas and fragmentation, wildlife movements, changes to vegetation due to the edge effect of clearing and food availability need to be addressed wholistically with examination across the whole region and all the impacts and losses envisaged through the REZ to give an accurate picture of the environmental impacts of the proposed project. This has not been demonstrated in the development application/EIS.
● Visual Pollution: The installation of transmission lines and developments diminishes the aesthetic and recreational value of rural and bushland areas. This changes the nature of the community and will impact on tourism, especially agritourism in our area.
● Water Resources: There is concern over ground water changes and erosion due to infrastructure. Also as we are an arid area and have just experienced a major drought there is concern that water security has not been adequately addressed in the development application, especially in the context of the cumulative effects of the REZ.
● Sustainability – Although renewable energy is considered green and sustainable, major infrastructure projects do not support sustainability. We understand that Australia needs to move to renewable energy and also believe that a more sustainable model would be better suited to NSW. Instead of energy security competing with food security, cities could capitalise on producing more energy, thus reducing transmission losses, increasing supply chain security for cities and reducing the need for expensive, new, large transmission infrastructure.
● Food production and security – The cumulative impacts of the REZ could have a significant impact on food production if prime agricultural land is utilised for energy production.
We hope that the NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment Major Projects carefully considers all submissions from the local community in relation to this development. We are the ones who will be living with the impacts as we safeguard energy security for NSW.

I am writing in regards to the REZ transmission project currently underway in our region. I am a whole hearted supporter of finding and moving forward with new energy that is not reliant on non-renewable resources, but this project is not that!
The Solar and wind farms proposed for our region are nothing more than a box ticked for government on "clean, green energy". What are the plans for these turbines once they dont function efficiently, or technology moves forward? How will they be disposed of? What is the environmental impact of creating them in the first place? Where are the materials being sourced for the silicone and lithium in solar panels and batteries, will these be mined in the same way our coal is?
Wind turbines and solar panels will litter our region for years to come and at what cost??.. What we DO know is there is a cost to the value of our land. My husband and I have physically worked hard to be able to live where we do. It was decision we made when we were pregnant with our first child that our home was where we would raise our children and operate our small business from. The land we live on is not big enough to make an income from agriculturally. We invested in our property knowing that if we ever needed to sell, our target market would be people like ourselves who WANT to live here because of lifestyle it affords, the surrounding environment, a sanctuary away from the modern rat-race. Not only do these turbines cheat us from the life we've worked for, they are visually assaulting, and furthermore; will drop the market price of our biggest asset anywhere form 30-50%!
If this was imposed on metropolitan areas with higher house markets, would you still have the support for "clean energy"? Of course not. But the thing that I can't stomach is that even if this goes ahead and pulls the rug from us financially in the form of devalued property, visual and noise pollution daily amongst other things, it will not even achieve the goal of "clean, green energy"! The average life span of the solar panels is 10-15yrs, and wind turbines 20-30years. So in that time we will have born the cost of an under-thought project for the sake of a government tick box. If this was a project that had the research and longevity that perhaps it could take us forward with a renewable energy (?hydrogen, I won't pretend I'm the best person to answer this), then this would be worthy of the sacrifice to ourselves. It would almost feel honerable if it meant the sacrifice we make would set up ourselves and future generations with a safe, renewable energy that has a minimal environmental harm, for the next hundred years or so!
But this projects not that!

I object to the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project on the grounds that it will destruct the environment.

Please see attached submission from Community Power Agency on the Central West Orana EIS.

Attached is my objection to the CWO REZ Transmission project.

Earlier this year I spent some time at my niece and her husbands property near Mendoran , in the Central-West district. At that stage they were worried about the prospect of high voltage transmission lines and towers, wind turbines and solar panels being built on or near their property. I am appalled to find out that this is the very proposal for the Central West. I object strongly . How can farmers continue growing crops , rearing sheep and cattle with all that infrastructure on their land? The cost would also be astronomical let alone having to live with the absolute ugliness for the rest of their lives. Who is benefiting from the building of all these monstrosities? And who cleans up the pollution and hard waste when they all fail or wear out.....
I object strongly.

My name is Camilla Armstrong, and I wish to submit my objections to the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project. I am 38 years old, and live at “Pemcaw” on Birriwa Bus Route North with my partner and our 5-month-old daughter. Our house of my family’s farm, of which I am a 3rd generation family member; the first portion of this property was initially purchased by my grandparents in the 1950s, and my parents have continued to acquire neighbouring land through exceptional farm management, dedication and hard work. In total, our property at Pemcaw is 1460 hectares, all of which will be significantly impacted by the CWO REZ transmission project, as well as the adjacent wind and solar projects.
Following my high-school and university education, I lived and worked in Sydney and London for a number of years before returning home to the family farm in 2020. This was not a difficult decision for me, as I was starting my own business and there was nowhere else in the world I wanted to be. I now run a Speech Pathology private practice, which is predominantly conducted via telehealth. Growing up on this property and within our community near Birriwa was idyllic; my two older brothers and I would spend every waking hour outdoors, roaming freely around the farm and often jumping on our bikes and riding over to our neighbours’ places. The lifestyle we enjoyed was based on the beauty of our native flora and fauna, the incredibly close connections we had with our neighbours, and the culture which we had nurtured within our tight-knit community. The children whom I grew up with as my neighbours still live here, and are now raising their own children on these same farms. I am surrounded by families of up to their 6th generation of landholding. For those of us fortunate enough to live in this beautiful area, there is a deep history and connection to the land; the thought of being faced with the monstrosity of the CWO REZ transmission project every day is overwhelming; I am concerned about the change in lifestyle, huge increase in traffic along our local roads, safety concerns, noise and visual disturbances and the lack of thought that has been put into taking over some 4000 hectares of valuable agricultural land. I feel that EnergyCo has capitalised on this opportunity with little regard for the impacts it will have on those of us neighbouring the project.

I would like to take this opportunity to also raise that whilst I took time out of my days, my working hours, to attend the “Pop-up sessions” EnergyCo ran monthly within the local community, it was a complete waste of time. We were constantly told by EnergyCo employees that they were “too far down the ladder” to answer any of our questions; they were dismissive and unprepared for these “information sessions”. I am also aware that there are numerous landholders who have been approached by EnergyCo for acquisition of their land for the CWO REZ transmission project who have felt bullied and intimidated into being complicit. Quite simply, this transmission project and all the associated wind and solar projects, energy hubs, battery storage facilities and workers’ accommodations have an enormous negative cumulative effect for those of us within the local community. Our community is feeling devastated about the future of our farm management, financial futures and lifestyle.

The main impacts of the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project which are of concern to me and solidify my objection to the project include:

VISUAL IMPACTS
As mentioned, I live on Birriwa Bus Route North; I also work from home running my healthcare business. From my office and living rooms, I look straight out onto the proposed site for the transmission lines (not to mention ACEN’s Birriwa Solar Project directly across the road). With the transmission towers standing between 65-70m tall, as well as twin 500kV and a single 300kV line within the same easements, these towers and the transmission lines connecting them will be an absolute eyesore. Coming down into the village of Birriwa Gulgong, the countryside is beautiful; if this project goes ahead, this magnificent view will be completely overtaken with transmission lines and towers, solar and wind projects. It is simply unfair that we will have to live with this sight every single day.

INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY / LIFETYLE IMPACTS
Growing up here, our parents did not have any concerns for our safety amongst this community, because the only people to use our local roads were our neighbours. There is an unspoken understanding that these roads are shared with children on bikes or horses, and those of us who live here drive accordingly. The opportunity for the children growing up here to have that same freedom of lifestyle, once the CWO REZ transmission project is in effect, will disappear. Our local roads (e.g. Barney’s Reef Road and Tucklan Road) have been rated as being able to handle 1000 vehicles per lane per hour… considering we generally have to pull off onto the side of the road to pass other vehicles, I find this estimate to be rather unrealistic.
Aside from the obvious concerns around safety (I have never previously felt the need to lock my house, but will do so every time I leave the house if the project progresses), how does EnergyCo envisage managing the boom in the number of people using our roads? Our local councils are already struggling to maintain local roads, especially following significant rain events which leave many of these roads almost undriveable! How does EnergyCo propose to accommodate the use of these local roads for stock movements? How will the trucks laden with heavy machinery or construction materials endeavour not to disrupt the daily movements of stock and/or work-related travel for the farming community? Will the drivers associated with the transmission project be briefed on how to safely navigate through stock? Will they patiently sit behind a mob of sheep or cattle to ensure the safety of these animals?
Our social life and lifestyle in general will be negatively impacted by this transmission project and the associated renewable projects within the area. As I have mentioned, we currently have a very tight-knit and respectful community here. Some of our neighbours are already feeling that they have no choice but to move, to avoid the detrimental changes these projects will have to our lives. This is simply not fair, to feel forced out of our homes.

EFFECT ON WIDER COMMUNITY
The 2 proposed workers’ camps within this project will have a negative impact on our community for several reasons. For me personally, the 1200 worker camp near the Merotherie Energy Hub is in very close proximity to my home; this makes me feel very unsafe, to have such an enormous number of workers living amongst our current safe community. Are these workers drug and alcohol tested regularly? Will they also be travelling along the road right outside my home, where I am often alone at night with my baby? I imagine this to be true should they visit Dunedoo during their time off. How will this be managed? Furthermore, the influx of these workers will place an increased amount of pressure on our already insufficient healthcare facilities. Currently in Dunedoo, it is a 3-4 week wait to get an appointment with our local GP; the hospitals are under pressure to cope with the number of ED presentations due to lack of GPs. People are becoming desperate, particular those in the aged care sector. Working in healthcare myself, I am alarmed to think how our already less than satisfactory local healthcare services will manage should the CWO REZ transmission project progress.

EFFECT OF SOLAR PROJECT ON NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES
I am concerned about the market value of our land suffering a significant decrease if the construction of the Central-West Orana transmission project goes ahead. Currently, the river flats of our property are classed as LSC class 2, according to the Land and Soil Capability (LSC) assessment scheme in NSW, with LSC class 1 being the highest level. Within the Mid-Western Regional Council, there are no LSC class 1 properties, so it safe to say that these river flats are some of the best agricultural land in the district. Having spoken with the local stock and station agents, a significant downturn to the market value of both ours and our neighbours’ properties is expected should the project progress. Currently, the value of our property has doubled every 10 years; this project will put a stop to that. NO ONE wants to purchase a property surrounded by transmission towers and lines, and/or solar and wind farms.
I am concerned about the increased bushfire risk posed by the transmission project. Will it become the responsibility of the local bushfire brigades or their resources to attend to any fires which may be a result of the construction and/or running of the transmission lines, or any other projects within the REZ?
There are so many issues I could continue to discuss, however given the extensive nature of EnergyCo’s EIS (~8000 pages in total), and that I am working as well as caring for my baby whilst my partner is away for work, I simply do not have enough time to respond in the entirety that I would like to. Please take into account these concerns, as well as those which others writing to object to the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project will raise.
Sincerely,
Camilla Armstrong.

Please see attachments below

My family owns an original soldiers settlers block in the Dunedoo area, one of only two left in the district. The landscape is one I love dearly but aside from that I do not believe energy to be the most cost-effective means of providing energy supply to our population. Wind turbines and solar panels have a short life span and what will the people of our district be left with when they are past their use-by date? I believe that if this goes ahead, it will be a decision the government will come to deeply regret. Furthermore I believe that the leaders of our country need to start sending the message that our farmers are of great value and the land which produces so many of our primary products is worth saving. We as a nation have profited hugely off the back of our agricultural industry, please listen to our huge concerns.

Why should we have all this inconvenience for something that is not going to benefit us and all the power is going to be routed to big cities?
We are the ones that have to suffer from other so called green projects and why should we .
We bought our property in the country to have a peaceful life and retire in quietness but that doesn't seem to worry the people who want to put in these windfarms and power lines. They think they can walk all over us be assured that is not the case with me I will do every thing possible to obstruct this project from impacting my home and property and the environment that we currently live in. FOCKOFF.

I do not want to see beautiful country and paddocks changed into this

I object to the wind farm in the central west. It will not generate local jobs, will ruin the peace and cannot be recycled at the end of its life.

I am a Rockhampton resident concerned with the proposed Solar Mega farm and related infrastructure to this region. I believe that there are a number of factors as to why not - mostly environmental correctness gone wrong and loss of ideal farming land. However the main reason I feel this is a disaster waiting to happen is a HAIL STORM. Rockhampton was recently on national news for the Batteries burning out - but our latest greatest Cyclone (Marcia) is not the reason 80% of us have a new roof. Thus build it in time for the next explosive HAIL STORM and the formerly “Great” Barrier reef will be covered in glass.
The risk is not worth the reward!

Luke Brookes

My husband and I, and our young family, used to live on a mixed farming and grazing property in the Birriwa/Merotherie area. We have been told by our neighbours, family & friends who still live in the area how devastated they are about the influx of solar farms into the area. It appears the government has fast tracked the implementation of these solar enterprises in this area with little thought and proper consultation with stakeholders in the area in order for them to try to meet their climate targets.
We are also horrified to hear what is happening. We have seen disturbing images of the solar panels in the area. We list below our concerns:
** Why are solar farms taking over farming and grazing country when there are many less productive areas in NSW?
**The visual pollution and actual economic and practical benefits of solar panels is of great concern.
**The large FIFO workforce camps will be a blight on the farming community and towns in the local areas. They will have little interest or input into the local area and will have their own supermarkets, liquor store, police etc. Workers will be on deck 7am til 7pm so will have little time to contribute to local communities. The negative impacts on local infrastructure - roads, electricity, water etc will be substantial. Especially water - the long term effect on the water table will be disastrous - especially in drought conditions.
We ask that you please reconsider the location of these solar farms. The devastating effect on the Birriwa/Merotherie/Dunedoo areas, plus other farming areas nearby, is really upsetting. Maybe not to the government, but to the many, many farming families who have lived in this area since the 1800's.
Penny Rains

I OBJECT to the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission Project AND to the Central-West Orana REZ (which I have not been given the opportunity to provide feedback on).

I strongly object to this development. The damage to the land and peoples property is irreversible. We must ensure to preserve our land and not run these projects through peoples properties.

Hi,
Facts: Farmers thoughts are concerned with drought, flood, water, fertilizer costs, feed, cattle prices, staffing, locusts, farming equipment maintenance, fuel costs, mice and mental health - experiencing higher than average suicide rates.
It is not an easy life for those living on the land or those who live in the towns providing (limited) services.
The proposed Central West Orana REZ Transmission now adds new concerns and stresses both during construction phase/s and post completion/operational including and not limited to greater noise pollution, increase in run off and erosion, extra wear and tear on roads, removal of arable farming land, reduced air quality, increase water usage and extra waste and management. There are more undesirable outcomes but for the scope of this objection I shall briefly raise a few more concerns that I don't feel have been adequately mentioned or thought about in prior government consultation.
The electric and magnetic fields from transmission lines have been shown to have a negative effect on the behavior in cattle in addition to lowering house and land values whilst increasing the cost of insurance and in some instances being denied insurance on some or/all of the above . What are ways that the government is going to help?
The Central West Cycle Trail is a wonderful way to see this magnificent country, sadly what is being proposed will affect the cyclists as their safety will be compromised with trucks and other heavy vehicles increasing - this is dangerous and a concern for all road users. This CWS is currently safe and embraced by riders of all ages making it family friendly. Farmstays are popular for cyclists and in general for tourists alike in this region, but one can foresee a drop in visitors as the roads become hazardous and too dangerous for those on holidays, leading to a drop in income for those relying on these tourists. What will become of this community activity?
The glossy black cockatoo - an endangered species, is a stunning bird to see in full flight. What will the government do about this now that the habitat it likely to be destroyed?
Wind turbines have a long payoff period (if they do at all) at being carbon neutral. What is currently being proposed has more negative outcomes and consequences than benefits. I wholeheartedly object to this project.

We are operating a very successful sixth generation farming operation which is in the REZ zone. We have been living on and farming in this area for over 40 years, with 100% of our income derived from our farming enterprise. Our children are succeeding us on this farm and also own farmland in this REZ zone.
We are neighboured by a large, proposed windfarm. We are also in close proximity to one of the power hubs and solar farms.
Our Concerns are-
Erosion of the value of our properties (our life's work and superannuation)
Compromised firefighting with the hindering or aerial firefighting applications.
Restricted aerial ag operations.
Visual impact with the destruction of our beautiful vistas
Noise from the windfarm.
Possible health issues with the proximity of the power hub.
A large increase of traffic on the Golden Highway, which our three homesteads are located. Our livestock & farm machinery also have to cross this highway on a regular basis.
The destruction of birdlife from the wind turbines and native Flaura and fauna impacted by the construction of powerlines, solar & wind farms.
The mess left behind after the short lifespan of these projects.
We are very concerned with the whole impact on agricultural production in our area and the wellbeing of our towns and villages.

This project should be improved