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State Significant Development

Recommendation

Hills of Gold Wind Farm

Tamworth Regional

Current Status: Recommendation

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

A wind farm and associated infrastructure located 50 km south-east of Tamworth and 8 km south of Nundle, comprising up to 70 wind turbines, battery storage and grid connection.

EPBC

This project is a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and will be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, or an accredited assessment process. For more information, refer to the Australian Government's website.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (2)

Request for SEARs (7)

SEARs (2)

EIS (41)

Response to Submissions (17)

Agency Advice (15)

Amendments (52)

Additional Information (19)

Recommendation (6)

Submissions

Filters
Showing 121 - 140 of 1122 submissions
Patricia Brand
Support
HANGING ROCK , New South Wales
Message
My family have lived in the Hanging Rock, Woolomin and Nundle community for more than 5 generations (including my children). My late husband and I have resided at our current Hanging rock property for more than 30 years, and Nundle for the 20 years prior to that. This project is most significant and beneficial in that time, which I fully support.

This project is good for jobs, and a once in a life time opportunity to see our failing roads fixed. We also would like to take advantage of the project to see our lack of any reliable telecommunications fixed - we still do not have any mobile phone coverage, and the copper telephone lines are consistently out of service.

This is a good and well planned project, which we want approved and built as soon as practical.
Leslye Cole
Object
Ogunbil , New South Wales
Message
Having read the plan currently on exhibition, I have many serious concerns about the project.
Most importantly, the protection and conservation of the fragile ecological environment that is threatened by the development. Specifically, the endangered and critically endangered flora communities, the endangered and critically endangered fauna, also the physical structure of the ridgelines and plateaus of the project area which perform the vital water recharge function as a source of the groundwater storages of the Hunter, Barnard and Peel river catchments.
Considering the area immediately surrounding the project location already has 18,160 hectares of native vegetation removed due to State Forest timber production, all remaining native bushland must be protected as being extremely valuable habitat for every section of threatened ecological flora communities detailed in the EIS. The only existing protected nature reserve, Ben Halls Gap, at 2,500 ha, is now under threat to be impacted by at least 15 wind turbines.
In Australia, its the in-ground water that keeps the landscape alive. Water enters higher ground through recharge areas of well-drained soils, moving down the landscape to be stored in the layer of sand and clay that underlies much of the continent for use by plants during the inevitable dry spells. The classification of the soil within the project area as almost entirely ferrosol (Map F16-3) suggests the whole site is one of those valuable recharge areas. Interrupting the natural filtration of water through soils on the ridgeline, by covering it with hard and compacted surfaces risks effectively ‘plugging’ an entry point of underground water in the landscape. Could this impact the aquifers in the wider surrounding catchments of the Hunter, Barnard and Peel river catchments, the Liverpool Plains and other flood plains? Is NSW State Government willing to take that gamble?
Regarding the noted bird species in the proposed site, there has been at least three major raptor omissions, and a serious underestimation of the number of Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila Audax. I am a keen birdwatcher and have observed the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides, Brown Falcon Falco berigora, and Swamp Harrier Circus approximans, flying over the ridgelines at our farm every year at Ogunbil, approximately 35 km from the site. The Little Eagle searches for prey by soaring up to 500m altitude. Considering their flight path is known to stretch 3,300 km it is reasonable to assume it would frequent the proposed site. The Brown Falcon is known as a wind turbine collision victim flying up to 2000m elevation. The Swamp Harrier also hunts by soaring and gliding often at great heights up to 1700m. I have also observed 7 wedge-tailed eagles feeding on the one carcass at the same time. Are there any other major omissions in the EIS?
Regarding aviation safety, I have observed two fixed wing crop-dusters working in tandem in the most amazing aerial acrobatic display on the one property on the Crawney Road, 8 km away from the proposed site, fulfilling their fertiliser application contract. What risks would there be to these contractor’s employment and/or safety with the placement of 70 turbines surrounding the area? The EIS states ‘Safe aerial application operations would be possible on properties within the Project Area and neighbouring the Project Area…by…the use of helicopters'. Is it acceptable that a company arranging for French and Japanese companies to buy into productive Australian agricultural land now dictates to the surrounding farmers how they can manage their property when, as savvy business people in their own right, they employ the best contractor for the job at hand?
The vibrant town of Nundle is run by enterprising, entrepreneurial and caring business people who have individually and collectively attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, and consequently, revenue to the town, and to the Tamworth region. Although a small community, they are passionate members who punch well above their weight, winning multiple tourism awards, heritage awards for preserving the built history of the town, and Community Leadership awards. They host a full calendar of events which help to bring millions of dollars of revenue to the local economy.
Tourists come to the area for the country music, horse events, fossicking, heritage, the slow pace and beauty of Nundle and the surrounding landscape. It offers a step back in time which appeals to history buffs and those with ‘slow living’ values, looking for an authentic country experience. The recent COVID-19 lockdown popularised this slow living concept, epitomised by the craze of making sourdough bread. University research has recorded ‘a new love of nature’ for people since the start of lockdown, with city dwellers yearning to spend more time in, and have connection with nature. This year has seen an influx of people into regional areas bringing their income with them.
Many farmers around the area have retired to the town of Nundle, bringing their money with them. My husband and I had planned to do the same — but that will be off the table if the wind farm goes ahead.
Tamworth Council has to seriously consider how important this town is to the region. What does the NSW Government, Tamworth Regional Council, Upper Hunter Shire Council, and Liverpool Plains Shire Council stand to gain with a proposal which goes against so many stipulations on their Local Environment Plans?
It seems clear from Page 83 “5. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES” that this EIS was written a long time ago and is already very out of date. It states the main alternative to wind energy is the continued use of fossil fuels. This could not be further from the truth of what is developing at this point in time.
It is no longer 2017, the original date of this proposal, so much has changed in Australia since then. Our country now has the most solar panels on household roofs per capita out of any nation in the world. As of 31 October 2020 more than 2.59 million rooftop solar power systems have been installed across Australia. Contributing to the move to solar has been the various and generous Government Solar Incentives. Millions of Australian Residents are now quietly financing and generating their own electricity and returning even more back into the grid.
Surely, this is the enduring monument of our generation that will go down in history, demonstrating the wisdom and foresight of our federal, state and local governments for future generations. Not backing an already outdated wind farm of 70 monstrous machines on one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes, which the EIS estimates will only generate power for 185,000 homes, quickly becoming technological dinosaurs after only 25 years. At which time, they will need to be dismantled and removed — and by who?
Might our money be better and more appropriately spent on developing more improved capacity for battery storage and utilisation of the power that the existing millions of rooftop panels are already feeding into the grid? This is the way of the future. Just in the last couple of weeks two of Australia’s energy retailers, Origin and AGL, have publicised their intention to build and install Australia’s largest batteries to connect to the grid to store the excess electricity feeding into it in their transition away from coal-fired electricity.
Looking to the future its inevitable that there will be even more uptake of domestic small-scale solar for clean energy generation. An awareness campaign informing the public about the success of the government incentives, including the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and its uptake by residents would also go a long way to demonstrate how they are planning for the future and already achieving a more sustainable energy Infrastructure.
This is potentially the most significant change to the Nundle landscape since European settlement and the gold rush. However, instead of adding to the richness the town, I am worried this development might just cause its demise. The proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm is not a choice between fossil fuels and renewables, but a choice about the environmentally sensitive siting of renewables and for choosing the most economically viable, suitable, and cutting edge technology appropriate for 2021 and beyond.
Contrary to the unbalanced portrayal of community support for the project in the EIS, the majority of the Nundle and Hanging Rock communities have signed petitions opposing the proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm and do not want to destroy the environment to save the environment.
For these reasons I oppose the Hills of Gold Wind Farm.
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
This project will ruin the appearance of our “Hills of Gold”. I have lived in Nundle all my life. I was educated and have worked here all my life. My family have lived in Nundle for three generations.

Nundle is a quiet place. I enjoy living here for the serenity and the surrounding natural environment. People who come to Nundle to live and to visit is of the same sentiment.

I am an active member of the community and enjoy the socialising especially during community events. Nundle was a tight knit community and the project has divided us. I fear that this project will take away the community spirit which is what makes living in Nundle so special.

The Community Enhancement Fund has been offered. How will the CEF be distributed equitably between the named areas Timor/Crawney/ Hanging Rock / Nundle. I question the financial benefit for the community and to the individuals. With the division I feel it will cause further unrest and we will no longer have a cohesive community to organise and participate in the events that we have been working on before this project proposal was announced.

We live in a small village. The Nundle swimming pool was built by donations raised and worked for by the local community. This is what village life is all about. For some people, this is the only social outlet. This satisfaction can only be fulfilled from a community working together.

What affects will the project have on Nundle on a daily basis? There will be an excessive flow of traffic and truck movements during the construction period. I am concerned for the access of residents on their trips to Tamworth. I am also concerned for ambulance and medical emergency for locals. At the moment, limited parking outside the post office is already a concern. If no parking zones are proposed then this will become even more dangerous to the community. Is there a safety plan put in place for the extra traffic going in and out of town?

Will the areas named be eligible for power discounts or rebates? There has been many promises made around town about this.

What are the environmental impacts for Nundle and Hanging Rock if this project goes ahead? We live in a very unique flora and fauna environment and we do not want to see this destroyed. There are Koala’s up there in the site area. There would be excessive land clearing to build the road next to Devils Elbow and destroy the natural habitat around it.

What alternate sites were considered to build turbines in the area? Wind turbines should be sensibly sited for the right location. Nundle and Hanging Rock is not the right place.
Joyce Holbourn
Object
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
Nundle is a quiet, peaceful village of around 300 souls. It is a popular tourist venue because of its beauty, peace and quiet. I have lived here for 35 years enjoying these attributes, together with the wildlife - many different birds including wedge tail eagles that live up on the Range. The platypus that live in the streams and creeks gurgling down from the range are fascinating to watch. Driving back to Nundle from wherever - Tamworth, Sydney, Newcastle, from any place - the sight of the range encircling Nundle brings relief to see the unspoilt beauty of the wooded craggy hills. Huge turbines with their flickering turning blades standing despoiling the natural beauty is something I do not want to see and strongly object to having foisted on me in the name environmental consideration. To site these turbines along the range will in fact be environmental vandalism. This is not the place for them. Tourists come to Nundle for the beauty, the peace, the natural unspoilt setting not to stroll around looking at wind turbines. These they can see in other places if that's what gives them pleasure - unspoit natural beauty is being eroded all over the world in the name of alleged progress and must be guarded and preserved, not torn and despoiled in the name of alleged environmental consideration and also for greed.
Joyce Holbourn
Object
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
Should this project receive approval there will be an immense increase in traffic passing through and around Nundle. Nundle does not suffer the pollution occurring in the cities - Our air is fresh and clean. If the wind farm is constructed there will be many cars, utilities, heavy rigid and much bigger articulated vehicles in the area all belching out their exhaust fumes in the name of allegedly upgrading the environment. Nundle and Hanging Rock will become saturated with petrol and diesel exhaust fumes for the spurious claim of producing clean energy. I strong object to having the environment I've enjoyed for so many years polluted by this monstrous wind farm plan.
Joyce Holbourn
Object
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
I am a member of the Nundle Golf Club Inc. This is a beautiful 9 hole course with breathtaking views of the Great Dividing Range encircling the area. Such is the visual impact of the scenic surroundings that they are balm to the soul - even when one is playing badly. Players on Nundle golf course would have their enjoyment of the current highly scenic mountain range impaired by highly visible 230m wind turbines on a 1200-1400m range; the blade tip elevation of the highest wind turbine is 1646m (reference EIS page 246, Hazards and Safety).
There may well be reduced safety and inconvenience entering and exiting the Nundle golf course considering the increased number of traffic movements proposed. This huge increase in traffic volume will also impact detrimentally on the residents of the village attempting to go about their business , with many holdups as this extra traffic and the massive components attempt to navigate the two major roads into Nundle and up the one road to Hanging Rock. The Range around Nundle is a most inappropriate area to attempt to establish a wind farm.
Name Withheld
Object
NEMINGHA , New South Wales
Message
I am writing to object to this proposal.
I believe that this is the wrong area for this proposal. I am concerned about the amount of clearing that is needed to be done to construct the windfarm, the transmission lines and the transport roads. We also have so many endangered animals that need protecting and this will take a lot of their habitat away.
My family own and manage a property that borders on the proposal site. We spend a lot of our time there and I help my family maintain the land and enjoy spending my time in nature.
I also have Autism, ADHD and suffer from generalised anxiety disorder. Our property in Hanging Rock, next to this proposal, is where I relax from daily struggles and enjoy the quiet. It is a safe place for me to be in nature and work and explore with my family.
Unfortunately with my disabilities, I can often be disturbed by noises, flashes of light and spinning objects. I am concerned that this project will turn my place of comfort and peace into a place where I get distressed and anxious because I will be too uncomfortable. That would be extremely upsetting for me and my family.
I hope that this project does not go ahead and that more suitable areas are chosen for these types of projects. They should be located where nature would not have to be destroyed and where they would not impact the neighbours and community.
Jordan Kightly
Object
ANNANDALE , New South Wales
Message
Whilst I concede the need for renewable energy such as wind and solar and support this for the future I personally believe that in this instance a project of State significance such as The Hills of Gold Wind Farm project should not be built adjacent to the historical town of Nundle and Hanging Rock. Below are my points of reason:
- The significant Environment Impact on Flora and Fauna.
Although the EIS undertakes a review of the impact to the flora and fauna, I believe in underestimates the damage to the local eco-system and the destructive nature of the installation work.
- Efficiency Turbines in the location (high winds).
The EIS notes but doesn't elaborate on the weather patterns of the location. Often the area suffers extremely high winds, too high for effective use of the wind turbines.
- Ongoing maintenance of the location.
With high winds, snow and dust. The EIS notes but I feel does not fully cover the additional requirements for ongoing maintenance of the turbines. At a significant cost to the government.

Overall, although supportive of Green Energy initiatives of the government, I am critical of the location chosen and would seek the government to review the location as the best for this project. There are better winds locations that would serve, easier access and better long term wind efficiency.
Name Withheld
Object
MORTDALE , New South Wales
Message
I am concerned that the proposal will detract from the aesthetic integrity of the district, and adversely impact the environment of an area of which I have been a frequent visitor for the past 25 years. I feel such a development is not suited for this area.
Name Withheld
Object
NEMINGHA , New South Wales
Message
I strongly object to this proposal.
For almost the last three years our family has been greatly impacted by this proposal and the stress it has caused. From completely unprofessional “community engagement”, online bullying, personal intimidation from those with vested interests, a complete division in the community, to extreme concern regarding the impacts on not only the environment, but also the impact on our community’s most vulnerable.
While WEP and Engie state that they “are committed to effective and genuine engagement”, they unfortunately, have been nothing of the sort. My family own and manage a property that shares a border with the project. We are under 2kms away. Instead of appropriate disclosure of the proposal, we were left to discover their objective by members of the general community. Since then, there have been countless times where emails and phone calls have gone unanswered and completely dismissed. No physical assessments for impacts have ever been conducted on our property. We have been told by a Someva representative that computer modelling is sufficient. As adjoining landholders with a large probability of significant impact, I find this to be a very poor example of community engagement.
Furthermore, part of effective and genuine community engagement is providing transparency regarding the proposal. Maps provided by the WEP and Engie to the community, to the CCC and in the EIS have been either incorrect or have had keys or levels omitted. There was one correction made in response to the CCC, however, many requests for corrections made by community members were dismissed. One in particular, the map in the EIS under Appendix 0 Soils and Water, has had the numbered levels in the key omitted. This is an important factor in assessing the capability of the soil as a vast amount of the proposal stands to be constructed on Level 8 soils.
According to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Level 8 Soils is: “Extremely low capability land: Limitations are so severe that the land is incapable of sustaining any land use apart from nature conservation. There should be no disturbance of native vegetation”.
Given that there has already been clearing of native vegetation along the site for agricultural use (not advised) and small landslides and extensive erosion has already occurred, siting such a proposal with such expensive infrastructure on this site has the potential to be disastrous. Not only for the proponents but for neighbours to the proposal as well. The fact that they have chosen to omit the numbered levels as well as the explanation of them from the EIS statement, suggests a deliberate lack of transparency. This behaviour also potentially creates a distrust for other important renewable energy projects in the future.
Given this ongoing dismissive and underhanded behaviour, I do not believe that WEP, Engie or their representatives have followed the community consultation guidelines appropriately.
As members of the local community, it has been extremely disappointing and hurtful with the vitriol that has been aimed at us personally for raising our concerns. We have had to endure intimidation and online defamation from those with vested interests in this proposal and have witnessed our fellow community members experience the same. We have sadly seen a deep demise in community spirits. Without even being constructed, this proposal has damaged a beautiful community. Unfortunately, no amount of community “enhancement” (compensation), can restore what has been done. The majority of Nundle and Hanging Rock residents have announced their objection to this proposal in a petition that was sighted by a JP and presented to the local MP for parliament. And yet, those that are opposed or voice their concerns have been intimidated, bullied and ridiculed. WEP and Engie have not appropriately addressed these issues – personally or in their EIS.
The proposal’s probable impact on the environment is substantial. We have a number of endangered and threatened species in our beautiful area, and destroying their habitat for a what is inherently a power station (albeit a renewable one), is hypocritical and devastating to the community. Our community is filled with people who care deeply for the natural environment and its conservation. They would not choose to live or own property here if they didn’t. The natural beauty of the area is profound and breathtaking. Our tourism thrives on it. Our community members seek refuge in it. With the proposed Renewable Energy Scheme in NSW set to combat our carbon emissions, this area (should the proposal be rejected) will be even more valuable and unique than it currently is. This proposal is not part of the scheme, nor should it be. The Hills of Gold are known Australia wide for their natural beauty and should remain so.
Lastly, is a concern that is deeply personal. The vulnerable in our community. Those with disabilities that persevere every day to overcome their struggles in life.
We have children that have disabilities. One of those is Autism Spectrum Disorder along with Sensory Processing Disorders. Our children are always with us either helping us with management of our property, or simply enjoying the natural environment. They adore it and see it as a sanctuary from the busy, loud, chaotic outside world.
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects the development of the brain in the area of social interaction. It is well documented that individuals on the Autistic Spectrum experience a degree of sensory impairment which renders them extremely sensitive to specific sounds, light and reflection and in many cases touch. To this end, it is reasonable to assume that individuals on the Autistic Spectrum will be even more susceptible to infrasound, mechanical noise and shadow flicker from wind turbines than the general population.
A 2010 study by Davis and Steigler found that noise sensitivity is a particular problem for those with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Over 17,000 children in the study who had ASD, over 40% were “hypersensitive to sound" and that “noise sensitivity is a particular problem” for children with ASD.
Clinical psychologists in the UK have reported the “extreme distress” that turbines could cause to people with Autism. Windfarm proposals have been rejected across the world, including countries like Scotland and the UK, because of the difficulties and distress they cause to Autistic members of the community.
More recently, an Canadian study by Howell et al (Faculty of Education Western University) 2015 titled “Autism and the Effect of Introducing a New Noise Source into Quiet Rural Communities: Risk Factor from Industrial Wind Power Generation” explored the effects of industrial wind power on rural communities and in particular, children with ASD. Their objective came from the lack of significant research in this area. Their findings were alarming to a mother of a child with ASD and sensory processing disorders. “The additional noise and low-frequency sound produced by the wind turbines may add to the burden of environmental noise that the ASD population is already coping with, including exposures at home and at school. Front line professionals such as educators and health care workers need to be aware of this possibility”.
Apart from all the community and environmental impacts that I have discussed, this proposal has the potential to be harmful and detrimental to my children who already struggle daily. Given that we are adjoining the proposal – literally bordering it – the risks and potential impacts far outweigh any compensation or benefit WEP or Engie could ever bring to us.
Our land is our pride, our natural joy, our sanctuary. A place where the vulnerable flourish and where nature thrives. For this proposal to be approved would be devastating to our children’s health, to our livelihoods and to the natural environmental beauty of the area.
Name Withheld
Object
BALCOLYN , New South Wales
Message
I often visit Nundle and consider it to be one of the most picturesque spots in NSW. The unspoilt nature of the village and local area would be the main attraction for most visitors and I was horrified when I learnt of the proposal to install a wind turbine farm on the surrounding hills. The extra traffic involved, particularly in the installation, and the necessary machinery for the wind farm would completely ruin this lovely place, where so many come to enjoy the beautiful countryside and the peace and tranquillity. I sincerely hope that this development is not allowed to go ahead.
Name Withheld
Support
BRANXTON , New South Wales
Message
I have travelled to Nundle many times over the years and love the town . I believe the wind farm will increase tourism and employment in the area as well as generating clean Energy for us all , reducing the pollution from coal fired powered stations
Rodney Haverfield
Support
Wattle ponds , New South Wales
Message
I support the wind farm going ahead. It is good for everyone
Name Withheld
Support
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
As a business owner in the community for over 30 years I can see that the proposed wind farm would generate business for everyone with in the community. I currently run 2 over night accommodation venues, one being a farm stay which would have a good view of the wind turbines. I have been asking guests at the farm stay for the past few months if they would mine seeing turbines up on the mountains when they arrived and the clear answer has been NO, they wouldn’t mine. Most people see renewable energy as our future and have said that they would love to come and visit the area once the wind farm is up and running, they see it, and so do I, as another tourist attraction for the area, as well as generating electricity. My farm stay has its own solar panels and a lot of guests are thrilled to learn this as they see us trying to use renewable energy -I strongly believe that renewable energy is our future.
Name Withheld
Support
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
This submission is on behalf of our family grazing partnership - our family farm here at Nundle has been in our family for generations being settled in 1852. During the last 171 years we have encountered many farming issues some good some bad but we think that the proposed wind farm for Nundle / Hanging Rock is just another way that local Farmers can diversify and continue to make a living off the land. Commodity prices go up and down and as a farmer you are never sure of your annual income so we are always searching for some other form of income. The nice thing with wind turbines is that you can still continue to graze your animals under the turbines, we won’t be benefiting from the proposed turbines but if we were approached to put them on our land we would jump at the opportunity as the annual payments would ease our financial situation greatly. I personally feel that a lot of other land owners in the area are simply jealous that the turbines aren’t going on their land Iam sure if they were and they were earning an income they wouldn’t be so against the wind farm proposal. Renewable energy is our future we have an abundance of wind so why not put it to a good use.
Name Withheld
Object
NUNDLE , New South Wales
Message
I believe the Hills of Gold Wind Farm should not go ahead at the site selected in Hanging Rock. Please see my attachment.
Attachments
Name Withheld
Support
Nemingha , New South Wales
Message
I support the wind farm. I feel that renewable energy is important as we are taking care for the future of our planet. I think it will be great for the local economy, by increasing employment in the region. My husband and I have a close connection to Nundle and Hanging Rock. We were married in Nundle in 2011, and love the village and surrounding area. If a wind farm had been in the area in 2011, it wouldn't have changed our decision to be married in this location.
Name Withheld
Support
Nemingha , New South Wales
Message
Renewablel energy is going to be the way forward.
I have been visiting Hanging Rock and Nundle for years and will continue to do so wind turbines or not.
I, personally do not find turbines offensive to look at, much better than large powerlines.
I can't see how this development can have an ongoing negative impact on the area, and is likely to add considerably to the localities through employment and incentives.
ACKMA Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association
Object
BATHURST , New South Wales
Message
ACKMA is not in favor of the Hills of Gold Wind Farm based on the proposed clearing of habitat and its proximity to geological features and caves.
Attachments
Skye Sylvester
Object
Nundle , New South Wales
Message
I am part of a family who own and operate a cattle breeding and fattening operation on Wombramurra Station Head of Peel Road Nundle. The Proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm Development will neighbour our property on a number of sides and will dramatically change the visual aspect from our house and cattle yards where we spend much of our working day. I feel this is a very large downside as I like the natural beauty of the Hills. I am also concerned with the extra traffic movements associated with the use of Head of Peel Road as an access route from a noise, dust, and traffic aspect as well as safety concerns. Our property runs both sides of the Head of Peel Road and the proposed Heavy vehicles and machinery as well as the extra vehicles travelling on the road will make it very difficult to move cattle between some of our paddocks and to access our two sets of cattle yards that are located near the road. I understand there are more than 39 residences in the village of Nundle that will be directly affected by the proposed transport route through the village and I am sure many of these residents will have safety and other concerns
I am also an avid animal lover and the destruction of the environment and habitat of many animals such as koalas, spotted quolls and bats deeply disturbs me. I understand the proponent has plans for offset credits however how does money replace these lost animals and where is it possible to find land as suitable offsets to this type of project? There are a large number of other wind farms currently proposed in NSW and I feel it is important to find a more suitable location for such a large environmentally significant industrial development. The lifespan of the project means the decommission phase will probably be occurring when myself and my siblings are running the property and I have great concerns for the destruction and pollution that will occur when these massive structures are removed. Added to this how is it possible to rehabilitate an area so unique and beautiful as the ridgelines where the project in proposed. This area should be preserved for future generations along with the flora and fauna that make it such a precious and beautiful area.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-9679
EPBC ID Number
2019/8535
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Electricity Generation - Wind
Local Government Areas
Tamworth Regional

Contact Planner

Name
Tatsiana Bandaruk