Tamworth Battery Energy Storage System

I object to the location of this site close to our subdivision. The risk of fire is too great and the roads leading up to this facility are not suited for the vehicles required to build this site. The neighbouring properties are zones rural residential which is the main reason we purchased our acreage in this area, not in an industrial estate.

I think this priject is too close to calala.
Roads wouldnt handle the extra traffic to build and maintain.
Obvious fire risk with these batteries.
And very close to goonoo goonoo creek.
Terrible spot as tamworth is earmarked to grow rapidly over the next few years.

I am writing to express my concern for the future of the residents within the Kingswood/ Calala areas in regards to the TAMWORTH BESS. The lack of concern for the residents who will be of no benefit to this is disappointing.
From increases in constant noise, traffic and potential environmental damage which only lead to a decrease in quality and value of real estate in these area, to the fact that the energy stored there will be of absolutely no benefit to Tamworth, makes me a resident of Calala, wonder why anyone with common sense would put forward this proposal on the edge of an expanding city, with so many people to be affected negatively.

I strongly object to the proposed project for the following reasons:
# The noise generated from the battery farm day and night is far from satisfactory for the mental health and wellbeing of human health to the neighbouring residents.
# The water run off will contaminate the local aquifers which will affect the health of livestock that rely on these water supplies.
# The battery farms are far from suitable to these regional areas as our temperatures exceed safe operating temperatures.
# The locality of this battery farm is too close to residential areas (within 1 kilometre) and in extreme close proximity to newly established housing estate.
#Nothing about this project benefits the local community as any obtained electricity stored is sent to another location closer to Sydney.
# The lights will be intrusive to our living and will increase mental health.
# There is concern regarding the recycling of these resources as they are non recyclable and there is no evidence to say they are environmentally safe.
# These projects are overseas investments, if these projects are 'outstanding investments' than why doesn't Australia make the investment in these renewable energy resources.
# Land values will decrease due to the result of this project. People do not want to be surrounded by battery farms that propose serious health matters.

I strongly object to the proposed BATTERY Project for many reasons which I will list below:
# the health hazards long-term and short term that will affect people, animals and the environment.
# the noise that will be heard 24/7 from these batteries and the cooling etc to run them
# It is too close to residential houses, not just individual sparse farmland and it is within 10km of the CBD as well
# A minimum of 30acres of batteries on a 100 acre block will be very unsightly and aesthetically ugly.
# The residents of Tamworth are not even going to benefit from any of these renewable initiatives
# The values of these beautiful rural properties will reduce dramatically

Negative effect for our health
I have got young children and concern about loud noise and will effect our market value of our property.

I am living in effected area and will not want to get any negative result from this project. It is very noisy and will give a negative effect toward my family(2 adults and 2 young children).

Please find my OBJECTION to the proposed Tamworth BESS

I wish to register my objection to the Tamworth BESS and believe it should not proceed.
This installation is clearly industrial in nature, size, and appearance and therefore belongs in an industrial area and not on farmland.
I am aware of five proposals in our area, four of which are within five kilometres of Tamworth city. I feel all five should be considered at the same time as areas of influence overlap and therefore compound the inconvenience.
The consultants who have been engaged seem to have been selected because of their expertise in 'mitigating' objections rather than as architects and industrial designers who would take what is an eyesore spoiling our amenity and add subjective beautification. These professionals could then provide terrain models with 3D walkthrough presentations and simulations which would provide a more true basis for evaluation.
The documents provided by the proponents are deliberately vague, for example the property boundaries are not clear at all and not to scale, making accurate assessment impossible. The proponents know their application will go on public exhibition ; why isn't there an 'Executive Summary' provided with bullet points for all relevant points, saving elderly people the agony of wading through 700 pages of the application. Aged responders cannot be expected to print and absorb 700 pages, most not having the technical degrees or expertise.

I object to this proposed project because it is in the wrong location and because the rural lifestyle of the residents will be negatively and permanently impacted.
The Tamworth BESS will be one of three projects proposed within one kilometre of each other and the cumulative effect of this will have a detrimental impact on the amenity of local residents.
It will also be too close to Tamworth itself. The town is expanding towards the Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre with a major supermarket and other shops soon to be built in this area. The proposed project is 4.6 km away.
Naturally, the large international companies that are building the Battery Energy Storage Systems pursue the cheapest way to proceed with their projects choosing sites close to existing infrastructure. However, they seem to have little or no regard for the welfare of the local residents, and indeed the whole region, in their race to achieve multi million-dollar profits that go overseas. The farmland is gone, the rural atmosphere is gone, and they are gone. Only the local residents who have chosen to live here because of the rural lifestyle are left to live with it. Even the electricity is only stored here. Those of us who are directly impacted are pretty much ignored. These projects should not be permitted to be built so close to homes. One BESS 400 metres from our home is bad enough, but three within a kilometre? Unlike us, the proponents suffer no negative impact, no financial loss, no loss of amenity, nothing - except profits. We are concerned three Battery Energy Storage Systems so close to our homes and town will negatively affect our environment, our rural lifestyle and our property values.

I have reviewed the documents provided by GMR regarding the proposed battery energy storage facility on Burgmanns Lane. Below, I have summarized my objections in a concise manner.
As a close neighbor to the proposed battery project, I object to its location due to its proximity to newly constructed homes and the use of prime grazing farmland within the city limits of Tamworth.
This type of proposal often serves as a precursor to larger wind turbine or solar farm projects. As a directly affected resident (only 600m from my home), I object to the development of both a battery storage facility and potential future renewable energy structures. This objection is based on the close proximity to town and the significant environmental and amenity impacts it could have.
Battery Fire Risks:
Two Tesla Megapacks were engulfed in flames during initial testing at the Victorian Big Battery site in Moorabool, near Geelong, on July 30. The fire triggered a toxic smoke warning and took four days to be controlled by firefighters. The potential for such a fire near homes and open grassland is unacceptable. The risk of toxic smoke and an uncontrolled fire within 500m of a housing estate is concerning. This type of development should be located at least 10 km from any house or town to prevent the risk of toxic smoke and fire affecting nearby homes.
Noise:
The BESS EIS statement predicts that operational noise will exceed noise criteria for about 90% of residences within 1 km of the project site. As a resident who values the quiet environment away from main roads, I object to any increase in ambient noise. This type of development should be situated far from residential areas to avoid noise pollution.
Traffic:
Burgmanns Lane and Burgess Lane were heavily used and damaged during the recent construction at the TransGrid site adjacent to the proposed battery site. Further construction would increase traffic, causing additional wear and tear on the road surfaces. The council should require the applicant to seal the road from the New England Highway to the Burgess Lane intersection and the remaining Burgess Lane. The current road barely copes with existing traffic.
Land Use:
The EIS statement claims that the project land is not high-value agricultural land. I dispute this, given that adjacent land is irrigated and used for year-round lucerne crops, essential for local farmers during droughts. It's easy for someone in a city office to dismiss the value of this land, but it holds significant value for the local community.



Environmental Impact of Solar Farms:
Solar farms can significantly increase surrounding ambient temperatures, especially compared to open grazing land. Ambient temperatures around solar farms can increase by 4-5 degrees Celsius on average. Given that local summer temperatures already exceed 35 degrees Celsius, this would make the area unbearably hot and increase power loads due to higher air conditioning usage, thereby raising running costs for local homes.
Summary:
I request that GMR disclose all future proposals for land held by them or associated companies in the vicinity of Burgmanns Lane before any decisions are made by the council or other authorities. The proposed usage of the battery must be disclosed to the local community before any approvals are granted. If GMR or associated companies intend to install renewable energy facilities this close to the city, I am confident the local community will strongly recommend refusing the development of the BESS Tamworth.
If GMR intends the development to be used only for off-the-grid power and not for renewable energy storage, the council should condition the development consent to ensure the battery system will not be used for storing energy from wind turbines or solar farms.

I wish to advise that I VERY STRONGLY OPPOSE and object to this project. The placement of the proposed battery plant is far too close to individuals and community members and their homes. Any projects such as this one should be placed much further from people's homes and neighbourhoods - Not only due to the effects the battery plant may have on the health and wellbeing of those located on Burgmanns Lane but also those in the neighbouring area behind the proposed battery plant - All of these people will be negatively impacted/affected - This is not okay. Not to mention the extremely significant devaluing of properties in the area should this battery plant go ahead, placing people in a position of high financial loss which is a disgrace. It is sad and disappointing (to say the least) to hear that a company would even consider placing a battery plant right next to peoples homes, regardless of the 'measures' you may plan to take in a very poor attempt to counteract the negative effect the battery plant will have on these communities members lives and livelihoods.
I know many people on Burgmanns Lane and regularly visit the area - It is beautiful and peaceful and should be left that way.
You MUST find elsewhere for this project where it will not have such a negative impact on community members - Somewhere further out of town and away from peoples homes. If you continue to try and go ahead with this project in the current proposed location, it simply shows you have an absolute disregard for community members and those it will have such a significant negative impact on in so many ways.

Please find attached my objection to Tamworth BESS SSD-23830229

Please find attached my objection to Tamworth BESS SSD-23830229

The risk is to high for this particular project and the land they want to put it on is likely to flood

Please see the attached Submission of Rejection

We live in close proximity to the proposed project. We own a small business that employs 5 people, supporting the Equine Industry in Tamworth and surrounding areas. I believe that this project is going to destroy the Equine Industry in Tamworth and even though it might create some jobs in the short term, it will destroy more jobs in the long term.
Tamworth has been a growing and booming country town, and becoming the hub of BESS systems will not only stop the growth of Tamworth, but also risk local residents' health and wellbeing.

Please find attached the Submission of rejection for the Tamworth BESS

I Object to the proposed Kingswood BESS
The local properties rely on bore water. There is a high risk of contamination.
There is no disclosure if these battery units catch on fire. My own research, shows that if these batteries catch on fire they release toxic gases and can't be extinguished.
The area where these batteries are going is located close to a heavily populated suburb called Calala and small rural holders.
It will impact heavily on property values and lifestyles for many in the area.
If Goonoo Goonoo Creek is contaminated, this flows into the Peel River where endangered platypus already occupy these Rivers from the mouth of Goonoo Goonoo Creek.
These batteries and transmission lines will heavily effect our local farmers.
The Bess is not an essential part of the REZ.
As I understand the Profits will be going overseas.

I would like to register my objection to the above proposed development/project.
• Such developments are not in keeping with our rural area and will be of no benefit to our region.
• I believe the technology is flawed and will obsolete in a short period of time.
• In the event of a fire the batteries will be unable to be extinguished and will emit toxic gases.
• The area is frequently cut off by flood waters.
• If there were to be a fire and the area was affected by a flood there would be no suitable location/accommodation for the local residents be evacuated to?
• Burgmanns Lane is part of the proposed Tamworth bypass, this would pose a greater risk of accidents around the site.
• The local properties rely of bore water. This is at risk of contamination.
• The Goonoo Goonoo Creek is at risk of contamination and therefore the Peel River is also at risk of contamination.
• The Bess is not an essential part of the REZ.
• The business that will own the Kingswood BESS will be profiting from the project.
• The profits will be going overseas.
• It will have an impact on property values.
• There will be constant noise.
• They will over heat in our summer temperatures.