Hume North Battery Energy Storage System

There is a plethora of seriously detrimental, ECOCIDAL reasons to object to this totally disingenuous, toxic contaminating & life threatening, explosive BESS Disaster - as presented by this dodgy Applicant - who has no intention of ever having the available funds or being accountable to clean up this toxic nightmare!
Let’s have some transparency & see what a thorough ASIC Search reveals about this Applicant & their Holding Company?

The Hazardous, extremely toxic Fire Risks have life-threatening consequences for the community & irreversible environmentally harmful impacts - including toxic PFAS Contamination.

The Public Health & Safety Risks to our health & life-sustaining land & water are huge, making it completely inappropriate to trust these irresponsible, greedy, subsidy suckers & the careless State/Federal Government ideologues - making it imperative to require Reputable, Peer Reviewed, Independent Expert Evidence for the whole Assessment process in considering all points raised - including:-

*Serious, Irreversible Public Health & Safety Risks
*Engineering Facts regarding Storage Capability, Capacity Factor.
*Scientific Facts including toxicity, whole of life emissions, immediate clean-up following sudden Fire/Storm events, recycling & full waste disposal
*Toxic Fire Risks
*Toxic Impacts to Water [Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in 2004]
*Threats to surrounding Food Production from Toxic Contaminating Fire/Smoke event (Paris Agreement)
*Noise & Lighting Disturbance
*Inaccurate Visual Assessment
*Inability for Neighbours to acquire Public Liability Insurance,
*Devaluation of Surrounding Properties
*No Decommissioning/Remediation Bond
*NO SOCIAL LICENCE

*Determination of all Public Health & Safety Risks & Impacts to Human Beings/Stock/Ecology/Biodiversity/Ecosystems including:-
Fire Risks - Thermal Runaway
Toxic Fumes
Residue from Filthy BESS - including PFAS Contamination.
Electrical Force & Electromagnetic Radiation
Noise Nuisance & Lighting Disturbance

*Toxic Contamination impacts - BESS PFAS which will infiltrate the water table and local river systems, jeopardizing both our quality of life and broader water infrastructure.

The recent Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Draft has updated & revised their Guideline values:-
‘NHMRC has drafted an update of the PFAS Fact Sheet within the Guidelines that includes revised and newly established health-based guideline values. The draft PFAS fact sheet is supported by a NHMRC Statement on PFAS in drinking water, which provides a summary of the findings that informed the update.  
The PFAS reviewed as part of this update include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (GenX chemicals).’
Further information on the NHMRC Review of PFAS in Australian drinking water is available on the NHMRC website.

The World Health Organization now lists two PFAS as carcinogens or possible carcinogens: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a Group 1 carcinogen and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as a Group 2B carcinogen.

A range of PFAS is also subject to the Stockholm Convention for the protection of human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (ie, PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA and potentially all long chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids). 

Some types have been found to be toxic to human health and the environment.
In its most definitive regulatory action taken to date, the Commonwealth has effectively banned the import, use and manufacture of some of the more prominent types of PFAS (PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS) from 1 July 2025. (21 Feb 2024)

Impact of PFAS on Human Health
https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2024/46/more-funding-needed-to-investigate-impact-of-pfas-on-human-health/

Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems are also a PFAS Contaminant.
’Forever chemicals’ used in lithium ion batteries threaten environment, research finds | Lithium-ion batteries | The Guardian 14/7/24
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/14/forever-chemicals-

*Toxic Fire Risks - Including evidence from the local Volunteer Fire Fighters, all landowners in the area, Rural Fire Fighting Pilots & Medical Experts.

Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems
“The scale of Li-ion BESS energy storage envisioned at “mega scale” energy farms is unprecedented and requires urgent review. The explosion potential and the lack of engineering standards to prevent thermal runaway may put control of “battery fires” beyond the knowledge, experience and capabilities of local Fire and Rescue Services.
BESS present special hazards to fire-fighters….”
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352158070_Safety_of_Grid_Scale_Lithium-ion_Battery_Energy_Storage_Systems

Grid Scale Batteries & Fire Risk
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/656f411497ae14084ad8d03a/t/66fd2383b56dbc6906390297/1727865736681/Fannon-Batteries.pdf

Bouldercombe Battery🔥Fire sparks warning for residents in regional Queensland - 26/09/23
https://www.9news.com.au/national/bouldercombe-battery-fire-sparks-warning-for-residents-in-regional-queensland/b4b3058a-cb0b-4209-a02d-6b12d80c63ac

Gateway Energy Storage System🔥Fire: Otay Mesa, CA - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7UY4ioP4VQ

Add yet another Lithium Battery🔥FIRE - this one in Scotland - Lithium Battery Recycling Centre.
https://youtu.be/d-hvsz2tyhc?si=S16_g1LWETu1pj70.

*Clarify the Applicant’s Guarantee to Ensure Clean Drinking Water & No Environmental Contamination as “We have a human right to clean drinking water and an environment free of toxic load,” Dr Stops said. “Dr Orellana reminded us that Australia has ratified the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in 2004

*Confirm the Developer's Adherence to Amended Condition C8 PRIOR to Construction
Prior to Commencement of Any Works - Storm Water Management Plan.
On Site & Discharge From the Site.
Testing Points & Regular Water Samples, Suitably Qualified Person.
Written Response Procedures if CONTAMINATION is Found - required PRIOR to CONSTRUCTION.
Availability of Results.

*Provide Details of Upfront Decommissioning/Remediation Bond & Clean-Up Bond - required to cover full costs (updated in real time)of independently calculated amount with full explanation & identification of where it will be securely held.
Engineer certified, full explanation of all practical actions required to guarantee immediate clean-up after Fires, Storm Damage, Degradation, etc. & return of the site to its uncontaminated, inherent natural state, ready access to recycling & toxic waste capability & capacity - apart from local Council.

*An Accurate Analysis of The Full Life-Cycle Embedded Energy & all Emissions is required to be factually documented - from mining materials, processing, manufacturing, transportation, road works, construction, operation, recycling & waste disposal including all components used for all parts of the BESS plan & associated infrastructure.

*Accurately Document the Most Potent Greenhouse Gas of all - SF6 Emissions from the full life-cycle of Industrialised Solar, BESS, Switch Gear, Circuit Breakers, etc.
Climate change: Electrical industry's 'dirty secret' boosts warming - BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49567197

*Transparently confirm the plan to Indemnify Neighbours - due to inability of neighbours to acquire adequate Public Liability Insurance because of Hazardous ‘Renewable’ Industry

*Adhere to Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act so NO Components - including Cobalt for BESS are sourced from cruelly torturous Slave Labour Supply Chains where children as young as 6 years old are being forced to mine with their bare hands in toxic conditions & falling into mine pits.

*Factually Addressing & Assessing the Serious Health Impacts of Noise & Lighting Nuisance for people & animals.
This includes sleep deprivation, and other physiological impacts as reported by some individuals globally - increasing the risk of significant and legally consequential human health impacts.

*Noise Nuisance - Acousticians Pledge
Ensure SLR acousticians are members of the Australian Acoustical Society fulfilling their pledge to ensure that the “welfare, health and safety of the community at all times takes precedence over sectional, professional and private interests”.

*Factually outline the Engineering Facts of how this BESS plan meets all Aspects Equally of the National Electricity Law Objective:-
The objective of the National Electricity Law is to promote efficient investment in, & efficient operation and use of, electricity services for the long term interests of consumers with respect to:-
(a) price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply of electricity;
and
(b) the reliability, safety and security of the national electricity system;
and
(c) the achievement of targets set by a participating jurisdiction
(i) for reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions; or
(ii)that are likely to contribute to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

AEMO, and everyone in 'authority', place primacy on the emissions target rather than the other requirements of the NEL.
The emissions requirement was only added to the NEL in Sep 2023, with States tardy to legislate any targets, so on what basis did any Gov act prior to that to impose all this on us? Yet they all did, and still emphasise emissions over other objectives.
NEL is made in the SA Parliament, and in the 2nd reading, the minister there also reiterated that ALL OBJECTIVES ARE EQUAL.
Continued ->

This disastrous plan will never provide any reliable, affordable power at all.
It relies on the vagaries of the weather & is an incapable BESS.

When the powers that be realise that we are living in the Nuclear age & wish to remain an advanced country, most of what is planned for NSW will become obsolete.
The state will be stuck with the environmental vandalism & extensive contamination caused by Government (taxpayer’s) heavily subsidised ‘renewable’ energy installations.
What a disgrace!

I Object for these reasons:-
• It is destructive to native flora and fauna;
• Construction will leave a legacy of land destruction that is unlikely to be rectified by the builder;
• It is an abomination on the natural landscape of a massive scale.
• It is part of a system that costs billions, does not work reliably and attempts to solve a problem that does not exist, in other words useless and irresponsible use of public funds;
• All such infrastructures should be built at developer’s expense, NOT on public funds, we are told wind and solar are the cheapest, well prove it, remove all subsidises do not build this system on public funds;
• The TOTAL cost has not been verified by independent experts;
• There is NO verified scientific basis for reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere so this project is a total waste of public money, along with all other such projects.  There is in fact reliable verifiable scientific proof that CO2 is beneficial to plant life and by extension to human life on earth.

The fact is that so called ‘renewables’ will not bring enough energy to supply ordinary Australians. They have not been proven to deliver continuous supply.

I am very unhappy that there is no opportunity for open debate on this destructive energy depriving venture that will change the life of all Australians.

The fact is energy costs will keep on rising for ordinary, already struggling householders.

Australians are being unjustly deprived, mistreated & harmed by these terrible plans!

This obnoxious plan shows extreme disrespect for the environment, the local community, future generations & Australia’s welfare as it has horrendous, toxic impacts & is being imposed by intimidating bullies without factual research, proper consultation or consent.
Our voices are ignored while we are forced to endure a dangerous, untested system!

The environmental & economic ruination caused by this reckless, unreliable & unaffordable ‘renewable’ stupidity is causing great distress, austerity & hardship throughout Australia - hurting families & putting immense strain on businesses/ industry & the economy.
More jobs will be axed & vulnerable people will die as these terrible plans cause extensive blackouts & national weakness - with no energy security, food security or national security - thanks to incompetent, dictatorial megalomaniacs selling our electricity grid out to our most hostile enemies!

This is an unproven, unreliable experiment using inferior, environmentally destructive, toxic contaminating JUNK THAT NOBODY WANTS & WON’T EVEN WORK MOST OF THE TIME!
The empty promises of clean, reliable, sustainable are all absolute baloney as this deplorable, electrified nightmare is nothing but a great big scam making the carpetbaggers bucket loads of Fake Green cash ripping off the energy deprived, long suffering, unjustly treated public.

This inferior, damaging plan will cause inadequate Grid Reliability - breaking down the stability of the electricity grid, leaving Australians without an Essential Electricity Service that we are paying for to be available on demand.
There will disgracefully be BLACKOUTS & unreliable power during critical times, such as during extreme weather events or high demand.
PUT THE COAL BACK IN THE COALITION & ADD A NUCLEAR POWER FUTURE!

Energy Poverty will result from this Swindle Factory BESS plan that will burden Australians with exorbitant energy costs, driving many individuals & businesses to the wall.
We will continue to see prices unjustly skyrocket beyond what everyday Australians can afford, while also exacerbating the national cost-of-living crisis - all because of these pathetic, weather dependent plans that are so destructive & don’t work most of the time.

Irreversible Environmental Damage will be caused by this non-sensical plan, with harmful substances ruining our essential, productive land & water systems forever - never to be cleaned up by these vandalising developers & gullible hosts - leaving lasting damage to our environment.
This is a legacy of destruction that cannot be undone!

TOXIC POLLUTION & NO POWER will be the result of this destructive, industrialised rubbish - especially with forever chemicals—posing long-term risks of soil and water contamination, poisoning our ecosystems, wildlife, and future generations.

This energy depriving, horrible plan is a Life-Threatening Fire & Toxic Contamination Disaster - endangering lives, homes, productive land, water, stock & wildlife.
It puts rural communities at direct risk from highly flammable infrastructure that can easily ignite fires.

Hi I have heard of many batteries of various types being on fire.
The location of this battery power storage system is to close to the Murray river.
There is no safe runoff for chemicals used to put out any potential fires.
THE RUNOFF WILL END UP IN THE MURRAY RIVER
Farm irrigations and many townships depend on a SAFE WATER SUPPLY
All the way from the Hume Dam to Adelaide to the sea and in pipes beyond Adelaide.
ANY BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS MUST NOT BE NEAR ANY RIVERS ABOVE GROUND OR BELOW.

Stop the green washing! This project will not lower retail electricity prices nor effect the climate. Nor will it be reliable as it is dependent on highly variable weather conditions. This year my electricity cost was already 4.38 times greater than it was in 2019 for exactly the same consumption pattern and number of days. It rose every year despite changing to the lowest cost retail plans five times. Why? Because subsidised projects such as these cannibalise reliable near 24/7 base-load power plants. There are now low emissions high efficiency 24/7 base-load power plants being built around the world to meet emissions, affordability and reliability requirements. The Proponent knows this but is driven by profit regardless of the realties for Australians and the damage it will do to them and our businesses. Shame, shame, shame and shame!

I object to this Electricity Generating Works Electricity proposal because there is no 100% economic or effective recycling of either the toxic components or the toxic lithium batteries.

I oppose this project because the supply chain involves the use of slave labour. Cobalt and copper artisanal mining relies in slave labour in the DRC and the production of components in China uses slave labour. Stop these degrading projects.
This project just adds more damage to our already poorly maintained regional and local roads. Who pays for the wear and tear all these high numbers of extra heavy vehicles that will travel over hundreds of kilometres of our roads. Not the overseas owners of these projects. Ultimately the ratepayers and general public will pay. I therefore oppose this project.

Please refer to the attachment which provides reason for our objection.