Jindera Battery Energy Storage System

Soil organic carbon is critical for soil structure moisture retention nutrient cycling and long term fertility Disturbance from excavation compaction removal of vegetation and altered drainage will harm soil carbon stocks Biodiversity of soil fauna pollinators native grasses riparian vegetation may be severely reduced These affect agricultural health over. Can the proponent show an independent soil carbon baseline survey and model of loss and recovery over the project lifetime including post decommissioning ensuring net soil carbon remains equal or above baseline

Projected rental payments or investor subsidies often obscure real losses to agricultural income market value of land lost to crop or livestock production opportunity costs for neighbouring farms and declines in ecosystem service value not included Farmers may lose more in lost production and increased input costs than compensation offered. What calculated present value of all lost agricultural income over 25 years combined with losses to neighbouring farms plus ecosystem services has been provided and how does it compare to the developer’s profit

Policy for Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land NSW agriculture policies and local council zoning likely protect Class 1‑3 land The project may conflict with state policies that aim to minimise conversion of prime farmland There may be legal inconsistencies or conflicts the project. What specific state or local policy prohibits conversion of Class 3 land for a BESS facility and how will this project comply or be exempted explicitly

Once foundations roads transformer pads are built parts of soil will be compacted vegetation removed hydrology altered Some damage is permanent or very difficult to remedy Even at decommissioning full restoration rarely returns soil health fully Past restoration projects often fail to recover original productivity
After decommissioning can the proponent guarantee that soil compaction chemical residues and hydrological changes will be entirely reversed restored methods proven and costed under independent supervision

Farmland here produces food fodder feed for animals and crops for human consumption Losing farmland reduces local self sufficiency In severe climate or supply chain disruptions local production becomes more important National food security depends in part on preserving productive agricultural
What modelling has been done to assess how much locally produced crops or livestock output will be lost over the life of this project and how that loss compares to any energy or emissions benefit

The Jindera BESS is an irresponsible, deceptive, and dangerous assault on:
Food security
Public health
National sovereignty
Energy affordability
Rural community futures

•An immediate Moratorium on BESS & industrialised Solar/Wind Swindle Factories is essential.
•A Royal Commission ASAP into the ‘Energy Transmission/Interconnector Nightmare.
•Independent Electrical Engineering & Toxicology Review
•Audit of CCP-Controlled Supply Chains in National Energy Projects
•Full Soil & Water Toxicity Baseline Study & ongoing, Independent Expert Testing, Monitoring, & Reporting - onsite & surrounding area.

Neighbouring farms and residences will suffer from reduced amenity noise risk of fire visual intrusion reducing appeal and investment value Land valuations and bank loan security may decline Insurance premiums may rise Affected property owners may not be compensated justly
What valuation study has been completed that shows the change in property values for all neighbouring properties over 5, 10, 20 years and what compensation mechanism is in place

Creek lines riparian zones and soils may hold cultural artefacts Indigenous heritage often tied to land not only built sites The aesthetic and landscape values to the community are part of place identity These values are rarely submitted in assessments or given weight comparable to industrial metrics
What archaeological survey has been undertaken covering full site including creek courses and riparian zones what indigenous consultation was done and what protections will be guaranteed and enforceable

On site verification may have sampled only less productive or selected parcels thus biasing classification downward Seasonal or soil moisture variability may mean soil capability fluctuates Land capability maps like eSpade are thorough and publicly available The conflict between eSpade and the applicant’s verification demands clarity
What complete soil survey data including topsoil depth subsoil texture and moisture infiltration rates across all cores across seasons was collected and how it contradicts or aligns with eSpade mappings

Stormwater infiltration reduced by hard surfaces roads foundations will reduce groundwater recharge Chemical spills leaks runoff from battery infrastructure may pollute shallow groundwater Supplies for bores stock and irrigation may be affected What groundwater monitoring plan independent of the proponent is in place to ensure no contamination or reduction in aquifer recharge over the life of the project including decommissioning

Public trust has been eroded beyond repair as communities in Greater Hume Shire and across regional NSW are being used as dumping grounds for fire-prone, PFAS-leaching, grid-destabilising junk infrastructure — all while being gaslit by political spin, propaganda, and bribery dressed up as "consultation."

Climate models show heavier rainfall extremes and more frequent droughts Soil erosion increased under both More intense rainfall causes greater runoff and erosion. The assessment appears to assume historical weather patterns not future climate vulnerability
What climate projection scenarios were used in the environmental assessment what worst case scenarios for rainfall drought and temperature extremes were modelled and how resilient is the project design under each

Construction brings heavy machinery compacting soil roads tracks causing compaction disturbance erosion dust noise undisrupted drainage Soil biology may be severely disturbed topsoil lost or relocated Recovery is slow and uncertain
What monitoring program with baseline soil biology fauna and topsoil depth has been established before construction and what binding liabilities are there if construction causes irreversible damage

Landowner may be paid rental but neighbour farms affected by noise water loss fire or contamination receive nothing Ecosystem services loss pollinators soil carbon clean water are not compensated Community burdens are uneven
What compensation scheme is proposed that includes all impacted neighbours ecosystem services lost and ongoing monitoring and how is it guaranteed and funded

Rural landscapes are valued for their scenic vistas iconic views sense of place Industrial battery infrastructure hard stands fencing lighting disrupt these views Light spill at night will be visible reducing dark sky character
What visual impact assessment with viewpoint modelling day and night was completed what mitigation (screening landscaping setbacks) is guaranteed and enforceable

Landowner may be paid rental but neighbour farms affected by noise water loss fire or contamination receive nothing Ecosystem services loss pollinators soil carbon clean water are not compensated Community burdens are uneven
What compensation scheme is proposed that includes all impacted neighbours ecosystem services lost and ongoing monitoring and how is it guaranteed and funded

Concerns:
- Fire and explosion risks plus re-ignition
- Pollution and contamination of surrounding land and water sources should a fire occur.
- Health risks due to toxic smoke should a fire occur.
- No benefit to the community. Economic or social. Benefits only big business.
- Environmental impact at the site, surrounding the site and in other countries that manufacture the equipment.
- BESS manufacture supports slave & child labour in developing nations.
- Visual impact to rural area. The introduction of large industrial scale BESS will change the character of the area.
- Carbon footprint- while BESS can help integrate renewable energy, its own production and operation contributes to carbon emissions.
- Lack of community consultation.
BESS are the asbestos of the future. There is nothing green, renewable
or cheap about it. Without subsidies from the Australian tax payer, these projects would have been scrapped years ago. The real cost to the environment and the health of the nation will reveal itself in the years to come.
The use of slave labour in countries such as China is well documented yet still the supply of Solar panels and Battery Energy Storage Systems are imported from these regions. It needs to stop.

Rural landscapes are valued for their scenic vistas iconic views sense of place Industrial battery infrastructure hard stands fencing lighting disrupt these views Light spill at night will be visible reducing dark sky character
What visual impact assessment with viewpoint modelling day and night was completed what mitigation (screening landscaping setbacks) is guaranteed and enforceable

equately address continuous noise from cooling systems transformers maintenance or occasional heavy operations Noise can stress livestock affect breeding and feedlot health Visual intrusion from infrastructure lighting fencing and containers degrades rural character for residents and may reduce land values An assessment of likely noise levels especially at night or during peak charging or discharging must be included Visual amenity for neighbours reduced permanently as industrial scale equipment is unlikely to blend with landscape. What decibel measurement modelling has been done that shows noise from the facility in worst case operation will not exceed acceptable levels at neighbouring farm residences during livestock breeding hours at night and what remedial measures will be imposed if sound exceeds those levels

Approving this battery energy storage project on what appears to be prime or near prime agricultural land will set a precedent across NSW that similar projects may locate on productive farmland It will weaken policy protections and encourage more industrial projects in rural zones once the threshold is breached Local councils and developers will point to this case as justification for approving future proposals on Class 3 or even better land The cumulative effect is erosion of agricultural land protections and loss of rural economic base

If this proposal is approved how can the Secretary ensure that no further battery storage or solar infrastructure will be sited on Class 1 2 or 3 agricultural lands in the region ever again and what legal enforceable policy or legislative instrument will bind that guarantee