Modification 2 Decentralised BESS

I object to Coppabella wind farm Mod 2 Decentralised BESS SSD 6689 as this project has lingered since approval March 2008 now almost a decade later Goldwind wish to apply to install decentralised BESS to 71% of their wind turbines to improve the financial viability of this project and make it more attractive to potential investors? As a member of the Coppabella CCC, I and other Coppabella CCC members were advised by Goldwind at the June 2025 Coppabella CCC that they intended to apply for a decentralised BESS system for the Coppabella wind turbine project. A decentralised BESS for the Coppabella project was discussed at the 16th October 2025 Coppabella CCC This they accordingly applied for on the 25th November 2025.
Then the window of opportunity to submit a submission on this projects Coppabella wind farm Mod 2 Decentralised BESS SSD was delivered for exhibition between 3-17 December 2025.
I find it hard to understand how adding a decentralised BESS with a discharge output of 19.86MWh/ turbine would substantially add value to the Coppabella wind turbine project, therefore make this project any more attractive to an investor? Goldwind freely admit that they are having trouble attracting an investor to fund this project considering several other factors that need to be funded by Goldwind including duplication of the 99M Yass Murrumburrah transmission line from Coppabella 132KV substation back to the Yass 330/132KV substation announced November 2018, then announced August 2019 that Goldwind would have to fund a 132KV step-up to 330KV transformer and associated 132KV and 330KV switchyards at the Yass 330/132KV substation?
Then the Australian Energy Regulator has requested that a Static Synchronous Compensator be installed at the Yass 330/132KV substation in association with the 132KV step-up to 330KV transformer and associated 132KV and 330KV switchyards to facilitate a CONSTRAINED 270MW delivery from the Coppabella Wind Turbine Project. All this extra expense including a 71% decentralised BESS to deliver a maximum 270MW from the Coppabella Wind Turbine Project?
Goldwind intend using Goldblock BESS units concurrently claiming that their Lithium Iron Phosphate Chemistry batteries are low risk fire ignition points whilst that maybe the case, any potential fire ignition point sited at such an elevated location as the crest of the Coppabella Range has the potential on a catastrophic day to send burning embers 10's of if not potentially hundreds of kilometers to the East from there? As an example, during the January 2003 Canberra Bushfires cinders from Canberra were noted falling on the NSW South Coast? Due to the toxic nature of the smoke from and location of these batteries atop the Coppabella Range as an elected RFS Deputy Captain from a nearby RFS brigade East of the Coppabella Range I would not expect any volunteer under my command to risk their lives attempting to suppress such a battery fire?
At a previous Coppabella CCC when Goldwind had an engineer attend and try to tell the Coppabella CCC Members that the access roads that Goldwind would install across the Coppabella Range would assist fire suppression I quickly explained that NSW RFS Volunteers do not suppress fires from the ridgeline but as the fire burns slowly downhill towards a watercourse such as a gulley.
So, summing up I reiterate that I am opposed to Coppabella wind farm Mod 2 Decentralised BESS SSD 6689, because adding an undisclosed extra expense to the Coppabella wind turbine project considering the already added expenses list above doesn't make this a financially more viable project as proffered by the proponent Goldwind and the increased fire risk from this Decentralised BESS installation nevertheless how minimal that fire risk maybe?

Independent research warns that mega-scale BESS fires exceed firefighting capabilities and have life threatening, poisonous impacts for human beings and biodiversity, while the NSW Government is hastily and irresponsibly approving these dangerously volatile projects without doing their due diligence.

This horrific failure in their duty of care to the people of NSW/Australia - in spite of the catastrophic impacts - just to appease vested interests - is outrageous and must be condemned.

“Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems”
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352158070_Safety_of_Grid_Scale_Lithium-ion_Battery_Energy_Storage_Systems

This horrible plan is for toxic pollution that lingers for generations - defying all the Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development - including the Precautionary Principle and Intergenerational Equity.

Hazardous Battery fires disperse microscopic heavy metals and fluorinated compounds that are highly toxic, bioaccumulate, evade detection, and leave no viable cleanup pathway - resulting in toxic wasteland and public health and safety disasters.

OBJECT to Applicant: Goldwind - who want an addition of battery, Coppabella Wind, Yass, Murrumbidgee Vital Upper Tributary Catchments.
Halt All Further progress of Coppabella Wind. Goldwind should be in an Inquiry shouldn't they. Illegal entry of asbestos reasons.
Goldwind are surely Under investigation aren't they? Aren't they? They are (?) for asbestos issues as in ILLEGAL ENTRY of asbestos into Australia. How did that happen? How? How? How did it happen? Who breached the law?
It is up to the goodwill of the owner, developer, gov.au, nsw.gov.au, vic.gov.au, sa.gov.au, councils mayors councillors planners to develop in a way that does not pose a safety risk to human health or the environment.
Do you, nsw.gov.au, gov.au, councils NSW,, engage a building engineer or surveyor to sign off on the build, and if so, are they covered for liability insurance for the construction of BESS? (Add Wind Turbines?)
You - gov.au, qld.gov.au, .gov.au, vic.gov.au, sa.gov.au- have a General Environmental Duty (GED) under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 2017, to minimise the risk of harm to human health and the environment from pollution, so far as reasonably practicable. In Victoria, it is a criminal offence to breach one's GED. Are you complying with your GED obligations in the construction of BESS and or wind farms? The answer is NO. You have Breached GED toward your Fellow Australians eating Off Murray Darling Basin Food Production Catchments nb. You should All be Charged - all of you because for too long you have Breached GED obligations toward your Fellow Australians state and federal.
Mayors and Councillors will be included of course for breaching GED obligations towards their Fellow Australians, how dare they.
Ban BESS Now, Right Now, in Australia.
Hold those Responsible fully Accountable and Charged. Risk to the public, Innocent, reasons.
Um.....how DOES gov.au, nsw.gov.au, vic.gov.au, sa.gov.au get away with it ? Goldwind? They Always do. I do Not want them to you see. How are they Doing it is a Question isn't it.
Lithium-ion batteries pose a safety risk to human health and environment. As do BESS Now planned All over Australia???? Who Is Responsible For That ?? Find out will ya. Hurry Up. Rapid Approval rates SOMEHOW forBESS and Lithium Ion batteries by by by who who who? Name and Shame the who someone. Cease and Desist BESS and Lithium Ion batteries in on upon Australia Immediately.
Has to be you, Ngunnawal peoples. You claim you are the Custodians. Act. Stop BESS Now. Or you ain't a Custodian you see. Custodians Care for Country All On Country Hey. You aren't. How dare you. How Dare You Ngunnawal peoples who do Not Care for Country Sacred Always for All prior to 187 years ago.
Mob are ? No Care.
The Ngunnawal people are the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region. Ohh c'mon. No such thing. You people Disgust me. You ain't Custodians. You No Care.
You No Care You No Care I know you don't.
Murray Darling Basin region be very Aware is Aboriginal Cultural Heritage region from the Sacred ever so Sacred Mountains dividing east flow from west flow to the seas they reach or Did once upon a time but no more due to Disgraceful Inappropriate Cumulative Anthropogenic Changes To the Entire Murray Darling Basin.
Who's fault is that? Yours, gov.au, qld.gov.au nsw.gov.au, vic.gov.au, sa.gov.au. Stop blaming Climate change. Gov.au is at fault. Stop this transition IMMEDIATELY because WATER IS PRECIOUS Always Was until Filthy White man changed all that in under 187 years of occupation of an InHabited Land they took away from the Original Inhabitants living simply in Honour and Respect toward Country a Cultural Heritage passed on over century after century back to 67,843 years or so ago.
Filthy white man ways Cease Now on in over through the Lands Sacred to the All Here Now, Elders Past Present All.
Ban BESS Now, Immediately Now. Too Risky in Australia, Yes.
Search Assist says:- first description in Search,nb:-
"Lithium-ion batteries can be toxic due to the chemicals they contain, which can be harmful if released into the environment or if the battery is damaged. Additionally, when these batteries catch fire, they can release hazardous gases that pose health risks to nearby individuals".
https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/safety-education/battery-and-charging-safety/lithium-ion-battery-safety  Be aware of the risks related to damaged lithium-ion batteries, including electric shock, secondary fire risks, and exposure to toxic, corrosive, and flammable vapours and substances.  
https://www.alsym.com/blog/lithium-based-batteries-are-toxic-from-start-to-finish/  How do we make lithium-ion batteries less toxic? Making lithium-ion batteries less toxic will be difficult. Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP / LiFePO4) batteries that eliminate the need for cobalt are a step in the right direction, but remain problematic. The only true option is to move away from lithium-based
https://thebatterytips.com/battery-specifications/is-lithium-ion-battery-toxic/  Lithium ion batteries can be toxic. They contain harmful materials like metals (copper, nickel, lead) and dangerous organic chemicals (flammable electrolytes). Improper disposal poses health risks and environmental hazards. To minimize toxicity, it's important to handle and recycle these
https://www.ri.se/sites/default/files/2020-10/Toxicity%20risk%20report_18%20June%202020_0.pdf    Most currently used lithium-ion battery electrolytes on exposure to the environment are toxic, irritant or harmful in addition to being flammable
https://teex.org/wp-content/uploads/LITHIUM-ION-BATTERY-FIRES-AND-EMISSIONS-CHARACTERIZATION.pdf  The tests concluded that: Li-ion battery thermal runaway fires are an extreme emissions event, releasing highly toxic gases and particles that exceed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-permissible exposure limits (PEL)
https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Battery-Safety-for-Consumers.pdf  Risk: Lithium-ion Batteries can be a fire risk. Occasionally, if a Lithium-ion Battery is improperly charged, handled, stored or disposed of there is a risk of overheating, catching fire or explosion. This also increases the risk of a house fire, garage fire or personal injury.
Halt All Further processing of Li-ion batteries in Australia Immediately!
Protect Our Air, Soil, Lands, Water, Waterways Australian and Murray Darling Basin Food Production Catchments nb, nb, nb, nb, nb, nb, nb from Heavy Metals.
https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/erin-brockovich-lawsuit-moss-landing-power-plant-fire/

This CCP reliant, filthy, rip-off BESS plan’s ridiculously short 10 year life span and endless replacement makes no sense!
It defies all aspects of the National Electricity Law Objective regarding:-
(a) price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply of electricity;
and
(b) the reliability, safety and security of the national electricity system

This BESS creates a cycle of constant replacement, contamination, ever escalating toxic waste and austerity from rising costs.

There are no benefits whatsoever from this ruinable junk that’s a poisonous curse to the public, our essential energy security, food security, our economy and sovereignty.

The predatory vested interests are manipulating the market - profiteering at our expense - while we all suffering the Government inflicted Cost of Living Crisis - caused by intermittent RenewaBULLs and BESS that profits from price volatility and arbitrage, distorting electricity markets and increasing costs for consumers.

The parasitic crooks pedalling and approving Intermittent, weather dependent Solar/Wind generation with bankruptingly costly BESS are completely failing the Australian people & irresponsibly destroying our country - which is blessed with far superior, natural energy resources that they are cruelly depriving us of.

Who is the enabler of this torturous prioritisation of CCP control of our electricity system and the deliberate sacrificing of our once energy independent, secure country?

Goldwind is a Chinese company that has already imported Asbestos into Australia in its Wind turbines and now they want to install shipping containers of lithium ion batteries. What toxic legacy will this leave? STOP destroying our environment. STOP using taxpayers funds in order to enhance the profit of Goldwind. The result of this project will be increased fire risk, increased diesel generator use, increased land fill, increased envrionmental damage and increased cost of electricity for consumers.

I object and do NOT consent to this project for the following reasons:

The fact that this project and other similar renewable projects are connected to potentially flammable and dangerous high voltage transmission lines and towers. For example:

Just over sixteen years ago, on the 7th of February 2009, 6 out of the 11 Black Saturday fires that took 173 lives and did untold damage to property, livestock and wildlife, were started by high voltage transmission lines. This was such a devastating, large scale catastrophe that a Royal Commission was called to investigate why these fires happened and how they could be prevented in the future - VBRC_Summary_PF.pdf, Remembering Black Saturday - 15th anniversary | Emergency Victoria. 

Cameron Stuart of Brittanica.com on the 20th of January 2025 (Black Saturday bushfires | Causes, Deaths, Map, & Location | Britannica), described the horrific, catastrophic, devastating Black Saturday fires in detail:

"On February 7 Victorians were told to brace for the “worst day” in the state’s history: weather forecasters warned of a record heat wave with temperatures soaring to 115.5 °F (46.4 °C), combined with gale-force winds of up to 56 miles (90 km) per hour. That day more than 47 major fires erupted across the state, 14 of them claiming lives or causing significant damage. The most deadly conflagration, known as the Kilmore East fire, which claimed 121 lives, was sparked by a faulty power pole near the township of Kilmore East, 37 miles (60 km) north of Melbourne. The flames quickly jumped a major highway and roared into a forest, where they turned into a giant fireball, dwarfing the resources of local firefighters, who could only flee in its path. Aided by steep slopes and powerful winds, this fire raced through a series of townships, including Kinglake (where 38 people died), Strathewen (27 perished), and St. Andrews (12 were killed), catching residents by surprise and trapping many in their homes. Some sought to escape by car as the fires approached, but dozens died on the roads as they were overtaken by the fire, which leapt 330 feet (100 metres) above the tree line and was powerful enough to kill with radiant heat from nearly 1,000 feet

Late in the afternoon a sudden change in wind direction pushed the fire to the northeast, bringing new towns into its path. A parallel fire, known as the Murrindindi fire, also blew to the northeast, swallowing the unsuspecting tourist town of Marysville, where 34 people lost their lives. Fire experts said that these two fires alone released energy equivalent to that of 1,500 atomic bombs like the one dropped on Hiroshima, Japan."

Fire experts said that these two fires alone released energy equivalent to that of 1,500 atomic bombs like the one dropped on Hiroshima, Japan."

Not only are lithium battery factories extremely dangerous, but they are also deadly Lithium battery factory fire kills 22 in South Korea. 

In California, it was reported that it was PG&E's powerlines that had sparked the recent horrific and deeply devastating fires - , How Did The California Wildfires Start? Officials Weigh Power Lines, Fireworks—And Arson (forbes.com), PG&E’s Lengthy Record of Starting Wildfires, and What the Company Is Doing to Change It (californialocal.com) and in fact, PG$E was found to be responsible for the worst fire in California history - the Camp Fire (Customers of PG&E, other utilities pay billions for wildfire prevention- CalMatters)

"POWER LINES AND ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE
----------------------------------------

Multiple residents of Altadena sued Southern California Edison on Monday, alleging the Eaton Fire was started by the company’s electrical equipment. The lawsuits cite eyewitness reports of sparking power lines. The company has pushed back against the theory, saying in a statement Sunday its “analysis shows no interruptions or operational/electrical anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire.” One of the filed complaints reportedly alleged, “there is clear evidence from video footage, photographs, and witness accounts that the fire was caused by electrical equipment operated by Defendants Edison International and Southern California Edison.” Power infrastructure has been a leading cause of fires in California in the past—with eight of the state’s 20 most destructive fires having power-related causes—and the amount of fires started by equipment has grown recently, The New York Times reported."

Interestingly enough,, prior to the recent wildfires in California, PG&E had a mitigation plan, which as you can very plainly see did NOT stop the extremely horrific, deadly and destructive California Wildfires from happening, much less actually put them out, and so now, what will happen to all the taxpayers who lost their homes, livelihoods, pets, etc because of PG&E's powerlines sparking the tremendously fast moving fires throughout Southern California, doing untold damage, along with taking lives?  (TN13803_20240402T112956_PGE's_2025_Wildfire_Mitigation_Plan_Update.pdf).

And then there is the astronomical and, in my opinion, completely irresponsible and unjustifiable cost of these renewables:

Stated in the 2025 SUBMISSION TO CSIRO'S DRAFT 2024-25 GENCOST REPORT.pdf

"3.0 Capital Cost Factors GenCost defines future capital cost factors 6 for various generation and storage technologies. It observes recent years when freight and raw materials rapidly increased costs. Its use of a 2006 to 2009 price bubble to show prices returned to previous expectations is not entirely realistic since the industry was much smaller at that time and basic power costs affecting manufacturing have been recently escalating much more rapidly. GenCost’s contention that “…inflationary pressures for most technologies and the cost of some…such as solar PV and batteries are falling again” is contestable. We believe this is only a small part of the story. In our view: • Renewables are now relatively mature technologies after 30 years of intensive development, thus making assumptions of substantial future cost decreases too optimistic. • Labour costs have been hit with high inflation recently; these costs are not going to go down. • The dominance of one country, China, in the entire supply chain for renewables makes higher future prices likely as competition is stifled and hence deserves more careful analysis. • Increasing demand in global markets may cause price rises. • Shipping costs are being hit by increasing fuel costs. • Operating costs of renewables are greater than anticipated, as the UK and Germany have found. • Subsidies for the cheapest form of electricity generation, which surely should not still be necessary) could be reduced, adding to manufacturing costs. Compounding the uncertainties in predicting future costs are: a. realisation that the extraordinary costs involved are not affordable nor sustainable, b. the negative impact on national economies from unreliable intermittent power, c. many countries, including the largest, doing nothing or very little, to meet Net Zero goals, d. the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Accord, e. the mounting market failure of EVs, f. recognition that the science of climate catastrophism is overstated and overhyped, and g. the severe environmental impacts of solar and wind generation installations being regarded as unacceptable. 6 GenCost Section 5 P3"

This report/submission was written by 19 independent engineers and professionals who are all well qualified to comment on the true costs of implementing the government’s Net Zero 2050 policy for the National Electricity Market (NEM):

Professor Michael Asten, PhD, BSc (Hon), BLitt, FRAS Ben Beattie, BE(Elec), CPEng RPEQ Jeremy Barlow, BE, MBA, FAIMM William Bourke, BSc, BEng (Aero), MEng Sc. Michael Bowden IEng (Electronics-UK); CPL; CQP Rafe Champion, MSc (History and Philosophy of Science), B.Ag.Sc. (Hons) Arthur Day, PhD, BSc (Hon) Paul R C Goard, BSc, Physicist, M.A.I.P., M.I.of P., M.A.I.E., M.A.M.O.S. Peter J F Harris, BEng, Dipl. Prod Eng. Professor Emeritus Aynsley Kellow, BA(Hons) PhD Bryan Leyland, MSc (Power systems) DistFEngNZ, FIMechE, FIEE (rtd) John McBratney, B. Tech (Electronic Engineering), formerly MIE Aust, MIEEE John McLean, PhD Paul Miskelly, BE MEngSc Electrical Engineering Grant Piper, BE Aero UNSW, FRAeS, Chair NREN Peter Ridd, PhD, BSc James R (Jim) Simpson, (Ret., former business unit manager, OTC & Telstra) Bill Stinson, Dip.Tech(Building), B.AppSc.(Building), Dip Labour Relations & Law, Cert. Design Sc. (Facilities) James Taylor, PhD, MSc, BEng Elect (Hon), PEng, FCASI

In addition, developers, NOT landowners, farmers or people who host renewables should be made to not only pay full decommission costs of these renewables, they also should be held solely responsible, along with the planning commission and government to ensure that no electrical bushfires breaks out of the renewables, high voltage transmission lines and towers, wind turbines, Battery storage units, solar "farms" (farms is a misnomer indeed) and any other energy infrastructure, NOT landowners, farmers or people who host renewables. https://braddonbeagle.com/do-we-have-a-do-as-i-do-or-do-as-i-say-government-you-decide/

This BESS plan demonstrates reckless disregard for safety.
Proceeding despite known hazards as the DPHI and IPCN are irresponsibly doing - constitutes reckless disregard for human life, bordering on a conscious violation of safety rights.

Even Fire authorities acknowledge BESS standards and codes lag deployment, turning communities into unwilling test subjects for life threatening, dangerous experiments they don’t know how to handle.

This submission has been removed from publication due to inappropriate or potentially defamatory content. However the Department, in assessing and making any recommendations in relation to this application will take into consideration such of the submission’s content that is relevant. The submission will also still be counted for the purpose of identifying who can determine the application.

Please see attached letter of objection to the proposed Modification.

I wish to lodge a formal objection to the proposed modification to incorporate decentralised Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at the Coppabella Wind Farm location.

Our property is an active agricultural holding producing food for human consumption and livestock markets. The introduction of multiple industrial-scale BESS units (the size of shipping containers) in close proximity presents unacceptable and unquantified risks to agricultural production, community safety, and environmental health.

Bushfire & Emergency Response Risk
Lithium battery fires are resistant to conventional suppression and burn at extreme temperatures, producing toxic byproducts requiring large-scale exclusion zones. Local RFS brigades are primarily volunteer-based and not equipped for industrial lithium fire response on elevated terrain.

Contamination Risk to Food Production
A failure event may release heavy metals, fluorinated gases, and contaminated firewater runoff that could enter pasture, dams, soil and subsequently the human food chain. No evidence has been provided of independent agricultural impact modelling.

Land-Use Conflict
The introduction of industrial infrastructure into a rural food-producing landscape is inconsistent with the character and zoning of the region. The ongoing agricultural viability of surrounding land has not been assessed.

Decommissioning, Failure and Liability
There is insufficient detail on end-of-life disposal, remediation, and who bears liability should the operating entity become insolvent.

For these reasons, I request that the modification proposal be rejected until independent agricultural, fire safety, environmental and emergency-management studies are undertaken and publicly released.

As a very near Neighbour who will see turbines from my home. By 100% of object to the project for many reasons cited by neighbours. I particularly object to the inclusion of BESS batteries with every turbine. They are enormous fire hazards in a very high danger fire zone. This is prime farmland. There are enough renewable energy in this area and ready. This is not a governance sanctioned renewable area. Object to saying about my window. I have not been consulted in anyway or contacted or recompensed.

I object to SSD-6698-MOD-2 on the grounds that the proposal introduces increased bushfire risk into an already high-risk rural landscape and does not demonstrate that these risks can be practically managed by local emergency services.
The project is located in a bushfire-prone area where terrain and limited accessibility already create elevated fire risk. The proposal to install up to 318 lithium-based battery containers across 53 ridgeline turbine sites would further increase both the likelihood and consequences of fire, as well as the risk to emergency service personnel expected to respond in this environment. There is a real likelihood that fire services would be forced into a defensive firefighting strategy, leaving the surrounding landscape and nearby properties at an unacceptable level of risk. This risk extends beyond property, it is risk to people and livestock's lives, noting that this is a predominantly agricultural setting.
Introducing hundreds of high-energy battery systems into a fire-prone landscape materially changes the risk profile of the project. Even where infrastructure is located within existing disturbance envelopes, the nature and scale of the fire hazard are fundamentally different from those considered under the original approval.
This modification therefore does not satisfy the requirement under Section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that a modification be “substantially the same development”.
On fire-safety grounds alone, SSD-6698-MOD-2 should not be approved. The risk to life, property, livestock, and the broader landscape is significant and has not been robustly assessed, modelled, or mitigated.

The modification to the Goldwind Coppabella wind farm is unacceptable. The proposed BESS batteries under each turbine will create an unacceptable fire risk on the steepest hills in the area, which are not accessible by on ground fire crews. Additionally, fires from wind farms cannot be fought by aerial firefighters (please see attached expert and peer reviewed Fire Risk Report). This is a fire prone area and this added risk places communities in danger of wild fires, potentially reaching the township of Yass NSW and the city of Canberra. The landscape of these hills make the addition of BESS under each turbine implausible, these hills are prone to erosion and the works required will increase the probability of severe erosion. The project is located on slopes steeper than 20° (≈36% grade), in a soil landscape the proponent’s own documents describe as having 30–50% slope and a high erosion hazard.” This modification cannot be allowed approval.

I strongly object to this project.
This area is in a rugged, heavily timbered area which is frequently subject to lightning strikes. The bushfire risk of this area is extreme. Our family are volunteer fire fighters and we will not be attending a fire where there are turbines and BESS structures. This area has to be protected by aerial bombing and the pilots have agreed that it is too dangerous to fly amongst the turbines even when they are stationary. So a summer storm will start a fire and it will quickly get out of control and threaten neighbours, villages and even Yass, Murrumbateman and Canberra.

This area is heavily timbered with old growth native trees. These trees provide habitat for many animals, birds in particular require hollow limbs for nests. This project will require wholesale clearing of old growth native trees and subsequent lose of habitat. Promises of planting new trees will not be a solution as the trees take decades if not centuries to provide the correct conditions for the birds.
This is an agricultural area. We are already saturated with wind turbines. I strongly oppose the further industrialization of agricultural land.

Wind turbines affect terrestrial communications when electromagnetic signals travel through a wind factory to a receiving antenna. Blades of turbines reflect signals in other directions, scattering signals leaving televisions with scrambled pictures, radio stations are fuzzy and mobile phone coverage is impacted.

Communications are important during emergency situations (bushfires, floods, storm season etc).

Binalong, Boorowa, parts of Bowning, Kangiara and surrounding areas receive signals from Mt Ulandra for television and local ABC radio. The Coppabella site is located between Mt Ulandra and these communities.

The Coppabella development does not intend to implement retransmission services to avoid impact to available television stations and radio stations.

We do not support BESS plans near our communities being in a fire prone area. Already, we cannot have aerial fire fighting equipment near wind turbines…

Looking at statistics with lithium ion fires thus far:

Recent Trends
2024: Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) responded to around 318-323 lithium-ion battery fires, up from 272 in 2023.
Early 2025: Reports indicated over 290 fires by December, with 25 recorded by February alone, highlighting the growing danger.
Frequency: This averages to roughly 5-6 fires per week, with the trend continuing upward.

This increases our risk and we do not wish to have this here.

I am very concerned at the scale of this project. It is MUCH too large and will be seen for miles around. This is taking advantage of rural communities and will impact their quality of life considerably. Mental health issues will rise with this imposition.
Key very real issues:
It will destroy the landscape, the visual impact of scenery, the community identity.
Noise is a well known issue l, sleep disturbance
Blight on landscape - these will spoil a beautiful part of NSW
Aircraft safety given height
These will reduce the appeal for tourism, and as a destination
It will reduce property prices as people won’t choose to live near this .
Major impact on Birdlife given scale of blades
The huge battery storage is a major concern in the event of bush fire, they won’t be able to put them out, and they will further endanger people and livestock.
Intermittent power and some turbine failures
At the end of their life, when they are obsolete, the massive wind turbines are not recycled and will remain the concern of the farm owner they sit on.

SOLAR farms are more tolerable for the community and environmental.
Technology is changing quickly and these will become obsolete in a short time.

The community is strongly opposed to this
The land is high quality farming land that we need for food production.
Other communities such as Henty are asking for such projects as their soil is poor.
Do better and get this project stopped.
Listen to the community.
The issues are real.

The proposed project modifications for the inclusion of decentralised BESS units at specified turbine locations at the proposed Coppabella WF is an unacceptable risk in a fire prone area. Vistra Energy's Moss Landing BESS Battery facility in California on January 16, 2025 serves as a dire warning to placing this infrastructure in inappropriate areas. Added to this risk is the inability to fight fires from the air where there are turbines. I have personally fought many bushfires in this area, more than anyone should ever have to, and know that these steep hills, with this proposed infrastructure is a disaster waiting to happen. Furthermore, research shows that once tall wind turbines are installed, many more lightning strikes terminate on or very close to the turbines than before they were built, mainly within a few hundred meters of the towers. That’s due to their height and their tendency to launch upward lightning. Installing BESS batteries amongst infrastructure that attracts and causes lightning is an unacceptable fire risk, if these BESS batteries catch on fire there is no way to put them out and the consequences will be horrific to the environment and to the nearby communities. This modification cannot be allowed to proceed.