Central-West Orana REZ Transmission

This area is prime agricultural land, which should continue to be used to grow livestock and crops to feed the growing population of the country instead of spending millions of dollars developing solar and wind farms and transmission lines to export all the energy produced back to the cities that are all ready over populated. My Family chooses to live here and I visit regularly for the lifestyle and tranquillity – this will all be taken away if these projects go ahead.

There are lots of other reasons why I object to this project, but considering I put in an objection in Nov 2022 and it took 11 months to get the opportunity to read the EIS and then the community were given 3 weeks to read the document and submit further discussion on why or why not this project should go ahead. This small community is getting thrown information from so many different companies about different projects all within a 50km radius and the information is mind-boggling. The government should be ashamed of how they are bombarding so many small communities just to meet a deadline that is impossible to beat.

To declare a REZ with no consultation with the communities you are imposing on, changing their landscape and destroying valuable agricultural land to profit multi nationals is short-sighted.
This is being forced upon hard working families that choose to live and work in peace and enjoy the countryside. We do not choose to live in a industrial zone.

As a fourth generation Coolah resident I don't want our beautiful agricultural district ruined forever by non-recyclable, high voltage transmission lines, 370 wind turbines & hectares of solar panels taking the place of abundant crops & grazing livestock that have been the lifeblood of this area for over a century. These projects will result in our district being relegated to an industrial wasteland, decimating our ability to produce food & fibre and will have a detrimental impact on employment. I object in the strongest terms to the REZ and for any of the so-called “renewable” projects going ahead.

This project is going to destroy several communities – Dunedoo, Gulgong and Coolah to start with, prime agricultural land and the Talbragar River Flood plain.

I am a single mother of 2 very young children who are 7th generation on our property “Merotherie”. With the development of this project My family property and our livelihoods are going to be destroyed. My children will be unable to grow up with the independence and freedom that both myself, and the previous generations of my family had. By the time both my father and I were six years old, we were moving cattle and sheep around the property on our own riding our ponies. This will be impossible for my children to experience due to the infrastructure, traffic and amount of unknown people inundating our quite little oasis.

There is a proposed 1200+ man camp to be built not even 5km from my home – this is twice the population of the closest town (Dunedoo) to me which is 20km away. I do not want 1200 unknown, the majority I expect will be men, living on my doorstep. This will make me feel uncomfortable and unsafe in my own home.
This so called satellite town has been given the name of “Merotherie Hub” – which is the name of my family property – we were not consulted about the use of our property name and this has caused great confusion within our community as people believe we are on board with this development and we are completely against it and have been from the 1st consultation with Energy Co.

There is discussion that the Merotherie Road is going to be the major access route to the Merotherie Hub. This road crosses the Talbragar River and there is 1.7km of flood plain that the road currently crosses. Currently when the river floods, this 1.7km is impassable for up to 3 days at a time. There is discussion to build this road up to make it weather proof. Man made materials such as culverts will cause significant erosion, artificial water courses and new drainage lines. This will be detrimental to the flow of the river and completely change the flow of the river both up and down stream. This will disturb the water table, which will in turn affect all the water resources on my property and surrounding properties. Not to mention further down the river system such as the Macquarie Marshes. Human intervention will never beat nature and it shouldn’t even be being considered to disrupt nature.

There is no way this project should go ahead, there are far to many families and communities that will be torn apart.

There are many other reasons why this shouldn’t go ahead
• Where is the water going to come from to supply these satellite towns?
• How will the waste be disposed of?
• What will happen to all the infrastructure once the solar and wind turbines become obsolete? Only have a 20-30yr lifespan?
• Biosecurity – There is going to be so much traffic coming and going through multiple properties, which will cause very high risk of contamination.
• The visual impact will be horrible. At the moment there is very little infrastructure seen on every vista, if this project goes ahead we will see wind turbines to the north and east, the transmission line to the south-east, and solar panels to the west. Our whole property is going to be surrounded by eyesores. This pristine agricultural land that has been producing prime beef, exceptional wool and lamb and grows some of the best crops in the district will become an industrial area. Where do you intend to feed the country from if you take over all this prime agricultural land?

HT transmission towers & lines are a blight on the landscape.
They provide no benefit to the residents of areas they traverse & in fact destroy the amenity of those areas.
Areas which will be subject to accidents or storm damage should these lines malfunction increases the risks of bushfire dramatically while at the same time increasing our inability to fight those fires both on the ground & from the air.
Easements through farming land are wide & inhibit the land use for agricultural purposes.
The whole REZ idea is destroying our world to allegedly 'save the planet'

I object to solar and wind farms in the beautiful Mid-western Regional council and Orana areas of NSW.
Mudgee, Gulgong and other areas of the Mid-western region thrive on tourism - with visitors flocking to our area to enjoy the beautiful countryside views. These solar and wind farms are an ugly, unsightly blight on the land of our beautiful region and should not be permitted.

I also object to the fact that farmers and property owners in this region have no say in the use of their land, that their hard work in owning, managing and running properties gives them no right to say "no thanks" because the government will take their land anyway. I have friends who OWN beautiful views on their hard earned and work properties that are going to have massive big power lines running right through the middle of their view - it's heart breaking.

No one wants to look out a window and see massive power poles and lines, or solar farms reflecting at them, or wind turbines.
Find somewhere else that does not impinge on peoples livelihoods or turn a tourism area into an unsightly disappointment.

There are better places.....

This proposal turns a beautiful productive country side into an ugly mass of turbines, solar panels and transmission lines. Once you deduct the costs and energy to source, produce and erect these constructions and take into account the ongoing maintainence and relatively short life span it becomes clear that the benefits (if any) are far outweighed by the devastation to land, community and physical and mental health.
I strongly object to this project.

As a farmer and property owner living in Merriwa and using the Golden Hwy on a daily basis to access Merriwa town, Mudgee, Sydney and Newcastle, I am deeply troubled by the increased use of heavy vehicles and traffic supporting the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission lines and other REZ infrastructure with no increase to the number of dual carriage sections and overtaking areas, particularly on a number of the hills. The increased traffic and limited opportunities to overtake are impacting our business and quality of life negatively. I also serve as an active member of the local (Bow RFS) and there has been an increase in the number of call outs to attend vehicle accidents, particularly heavy vehicle incidents on the Golden Hwy. We work in excess of 12hour days as farms and serve on the RFS to protect our property and our neighbours properties. We are not prepared to attend heavy vehicle incidents on the Golden Hwy going forward as they put our lives in danger and request the NSW Government to fund an emergency service to support heavy vehicle incidents on the Golden Hwy. This service should be funded out of the road users charges. Another major concern is the poor visability and lack of safe overtaking space on the section of the Golden Hwy approaching Ringwood Rd. Historically this section of the highway has been the location of many major accidents and very sadly deaths. While attempts have been made to improve the camber of the road the corners, poor visability, slow heavy vehicles and heavy vehicles joining the Golden Hwy at Ringwood Rd make this section of the Golden Hwy particularly unsafe. With a solar farm planned for the Ringwood Rd, there is potential for a major accident to occur at the intersection. Heavy vehicles entering the Golden Hwy from Ringwood Rd must climb up a steep incline in first gear to enter the Golden Hwy where cars are travelling at speed around blind corners. This intersection in particular should be addressed as a priority. There are other cinch points on the Golden Hwy where the heavy vehicles carrying the project infrastructure will cause traffic blockages. We have no public transport and poor local services which mean that farmers and other residents in our community must take to the Golden Hwy to travel to other communities to access basic services such as X Rays, dentists, many basic products, hospitals, car servicing, autoelectricians, nurseries etc. etc. We have to use our vehicles and travel the Golden Hwy and the heavy traffic for the Central West Orana REZ transmission will add significantly to our journey times without compensation. As noted above, we as farmers are time poor and don't have any spare time - sitting behind slow heavy vehicles longer mean we aren't getting our farming business done. PLEASE WORK TO IMPROVE THE GOLDEN HWY BY ELIMINATING CHOKE POINTS LIKE THE HUNTER CROSSING AT DENMAN and the RINGWOOD RD TURN OFF AND ADDING DUAL CARRIAGEWAY TO MUCH OF THE ROAD. MAKE THE SURFACE SAFER SO THAT IT ISN"T CONSTANTLY BEING DAMAGED BY THE HEAVY VEHICLES WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO MORE ROADWORK WHICH IN ITSELF HOLDS UP TRAFFIC. I am in support of the renewable energy projects but the transmission lines should be put underground on public land and our roads and transport should be brought up to scratch to improve efficiencies.

I do not support this project. I cannot see how it will benefit Dunedoo now or in the future. The EIS is way too big to fully comprehend so i do not believe that is true consultation. But no good will come to Dunedoo. The shire is already having trouble maintaining roads and infrastructure and we do not have enough water to have it being used for the length of the project.

Due to the sheer volume contained in this document, it is impossible for anyone to thoroughly read - a deliberate action to discourage submissions, just too hard. So I just read the Summary taking the headings as being relevant. And here it is - just the best farming land - Strategic Agricultural Land - Cassilis, Coolah, Leadville,Merotherie, Tallawang, Dunedoo, Cobbora and Goolma, to transfer the energy generated from the renewable energy generation projects within the Central-West Orana REZ onto the project’s 330 kV network infrastructure - - YES, you named them all. The Agricultural Commissioner is Missing In Action.
At one Transgrid "Consultation" meeting I was rudely asked by one of your employees "Don't you want electricity?" I could have just as rudely countered with "Don't you want to eat?"
Soils and Contamination Heading - I expected to read about how our prime farming land was going to be contaminated - BUT NO - you are worried about some pollution from mining operations fouling up your job.
Where is the carbon equation? Windfarms, solar farms - all manufactured overseas, transported across the world and across Australia. Do we have any capacity to source the steel for transmission towers/lines in Australia now or the power to run steel plants, having shut down clean coal plants and now waiting for renewable to power up?
All so city people can run their aircons full bore and pretend they are saving the planet by being green.
Have you read the attachment? only 98 pages- shouldn't be any trouble for you.

I objectio
I opject to the CWO REZ Transmission project (Energy Co) and don't want the district covered in high voltage transmission lines and towers and don't want the area to be turned into an industrial landscape of wind turbines on the hills, fields of solar panels and the associated environmental costs that may be associated with this.
  

I object to this project, we have lived on our little property for three years, we bought the property as our retirement home, with the amazing views and peace and quiet, with all the projects in the pipeline this now seems to be a dream that just won’t come true, I’m sick of hearing the new energy projects are for the greater good, I’m yet to see any reliable studies from Australia or anywhere in the world to support the complete disregard for the country that is being destroyed with all the changes going on.
Kind regards
Karen Hartas

I reserve the right to add to this submission at anytime in the future.

I object to the CWO REZ Transmission Project. I don't want powerlines
and towers over our family properties on which we live and work daily. Some have been in my family
since 1967, and are all productive farms, which will be negatively affected by the
proposed powerlines and towers.
I also don't don't want to live opposite a workers camp for 4 years that will operate 24/7 and cause
disturbance at my home from light, noise and increased traffic.
I also don't like being under threat from Energy Co for compulsory acquisition.
All of this because some seriously ill-informed, delusional and likely bribed bureaucrats, think that this transmission line
and wind and solar will save the planet.

Stop pushing this delusional, expensive, wasteful, harmful, unreasonable & illogical project, and grow a couple braincells to rub together.
Situations like this are exactly why the public trust and confidence in the government is at an all time low.
At this rate, the current governing body is on the 'fast-track' to being deposed.
You don't even need a big fancy complicated 30yr solution... just "Stop Doing Stupid Shit", and we will be on the fast-track to being the happiest & most successful country in the world.

Wind turbines destroy the landscape and what makes our country home. They are an atrocious eyesore and scaring on our lands. The energy they produce is out-wayed by their monetary and environmental cost. There are better energy production options than wind and solar.

I object to the project on environmental grounds and on economic grounds.
The project is environmentally destructive and the payback period after economic life cycle factors are included, the project is not viable.
There a several solutions to the energy needs of the state and wind farms are not one of them.

In addition, this technology will not provide dependable power. It’s time to consider small scale modern nuclear power plants.
Now that’s zero emissions!

Sîgmund Taubert

To who it may concern. I’m a property owner in the supposed red zone to be used to create green energy. Why are us as farmers always the ones to just to cop what the government has decided to go green. We don’t want them wether there power lines/solar panels or Windfarms to destroy our landscape. I don’t think there as green as there made out to be. So I say no to this and reserve the right to add to this submission at a later date.

We are making this submission as we object to the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission Project. We have been in the Cassilis district our entire lives, raising our family & operating various farming businesses. The proposed project will have detrimental impacts on our community, resources, agricultural land & environment. After reading the EIS, it is obvious that consultation has been very poor & the current proposal is a lose-lose scenario for the Cassilis community. Our concerns are outlined in the attached document.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the EIS for the CWO REZ Transmission project - our submission is attached.

Many Thanks,
Allison Mudford
[email protected]

We wish to object to the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission Project.
We live at 1100 Birriwa Bus Route North. Our dwelling is identified in the EIS as Sensitive Receiver 965.
The EIS does not adequately address the impacts of the project on us as neighbours to the Merotherie Energy Hub and Workforce Accommodation Camp.
We wish to raise the following concerns:
1. The proposed Merotherie Energy Hub is across the road from our boundary and a couple of hundred metres from our house. We understand the Accommodation Camp is intended for use by workers from multiple projects within the CWO REZ and will likely continue operation for many years.
a) The EIS has identified construction noise will be clearly audible at our dwelling. We anticipate we will experience clearly audible noise both during construction of the Accommodation Camp and Energy Hub, and at all times when the Accommodation Camp is operational.
b) Security is of paramount concern with over 1000 unknown workers living in such close proximity with little monitoring. Our gates are not currently lockable nor are our machinery sheds. We are genuinely concerned about our safety and security with this number of people, it would be impossible to thoroughly screen each worker as well as monitor their movements whilst at the camp and the substation.
c) The wind will cause dust to be blown in our direction, it is a windy area so this will be a daily occurrence. There is no way to prevent this.
d) Noise will be an obvious issue for us during construction considering our proximity to the camp as well as the substation. The daily easterly breeze will amplify this noise. We do not believe there is a solution to this issue.
e) Our fire risk will be increased given our proximity to the substation and we do not believe there are adequate measures in place to contain a fire nor prevent one from occurring. How will this additional risk affect our insurance premiums?
f) Emissions from the substation have not been measured for health implications, how can you allow residents to permanently reside this close to such a potential health hazard without compensation or remediation?
g) We strongly believe that the value of our land will be negatively affected now that we have a substation of this size and a worker’s camp across the road. We are confident our proximity to the hub would be a deterrent to a potential buyer. Not only will the highly desirable, scenic and quiet location be decimated, the ability of an owner to use the roads will be negatively impacted. There has been absolutely no recognition from Energy Co. of this fact and we believe it needs addressing and adequate compensation to be provided.

2. Predicted traffic along Birriwa Bus Routes
a) Safety is of high concern. The road is a school bus route, a stock route and used by families for bike riding, motorbike riding, stock movements and it is also part of the Central West Cycling Trail. Will the proposed speed limit take into consideration the current types of usage of these roads by residents? It is currently set at 100km/hr however this will not be appropriate for the number and size of vehicles that will use the road network.
b) Impact on stock movements. We currently use the South and North Birriwa Bus Routes to move stock on a regular basis. We are concerned this will be impossible with the heavy use of these roads. Internal laneway networks will need to be built throughout our property which we do not believe we should be financially responsible for. Our children ride their motorbikes and horses along these roads with us and we are concerned about the number of vehicles using the roads and the potential lack of concern for locals and their families using the roads. Despite the best attempts by Energy Co. at encouraging safe driving by their workers, it is not possible to monitor all vehicles at all times. Our method of moving stock around the property has been affected and we will potentially not be able use the sides of the roads to feed stock as we do during dry periods when feed is scarce.
c) The predicted number of vehicles using the roads is a vast increase to the current numbers and the road barely withstands its current usage. The road use will create a huge amount of noise and dust, especially from the heavy vehicles and this will add to the issue we will experience with noise & dust from construction.
Because we are neighbours and not host-landowners, we have not been offered any compensation or mitigation for the impacts the project will have on our land, home, business, and way of life. We are disappointed by the lack of communication from Energy Co and a willingness to understand the unique predicament we have been placed into. Considering the small number of residents Energy Co. claim will be affected, we had hoped as the most highly impacted residing residents, we would have been able to negotiate a better outcome for us and our family who have lived and farmed here for four generations.
We firmly believe we will not be able to continue living in our current home once construction of the project commences due to the impacts identified above.
We request the Proponent be directed to provide us with adequate compensation and mitigation for the impacts of the project on our land, home, business, and way of life.

Dear Sir/Madam

We wish to object to the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission project.

We do not want the district covered in high voltage transmission lines and towers.

The landscape (currently aesthetically pleasing to the eye) will be turned into an industrial landscape littered with wind turbines, solar panels, and high-voltage power lines. This is not what our parents anticipated when they purchased the land on which we currently reside and make a living off.

The visual amenity of the property will be ruined - we have attached an extract from the EIS which provides a preview of how the view of the landscape will be changed – it is covered in wires and towers.

If the project goes ahead, the utility of the property will be significantly diminished – no-one will want to live in a house with powerlines and towers in such close proximity, not to mention the impact on our mental health.

Furthermore, the removal of shade trees is also of great concern to us – trees are a valuable resource for shade and stock protection. The removal of trees for the erection of transmission line towers will significantly affect our operation. Regardless of whether trees are replaced or compensation is provided for the trees removed, it will be decades until any replaced trees will reach the size and height of removed trees.

We specifically wish to query the route that the transmission lines will take near our property, noting the significant dogleg in the path that the powerlines will take. Despite our previous discussions with EnergyCo, we are yet to receive a satisfactory response as to why the original route was amended to alter the path of the powerlines which now directly impacts our property.

We look forward to your response.

Michael, Craig & Hugh Nott