Wattle Creek Battery Energy Storage System

INDUSTRIALISED BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS DEFY:
•Every Aspect of the National Electricity Law Objective
•All Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development
•Australian and International Standards.
•Genuine Protection of Ecology & Biodiversity
•Australian Drinking Water 💦 Guidelines
•Stockholm Convention
•The WHO
•Commonwealth PFAS Ban
•Modern Slavery Act
•Social Licence
•LPA Accreditation
•Paris Agreement

**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, AER, AEMC, Energy Ministers, Networks, Generators & everyone in 'authority', place primacy on emissions target rather than the other requirements of the NEL.
The emissions requirement was only added to the NEL in Sep 2023, and the NSW Emissions Reduction Act 2023 was only passed in Nov 23 (other states were similarly 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.

The Four Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) are:
• The Precautionary Principle: When there is a threat of serious environmental damage, action should be taken to prevent it, even if there is not full scientific certainty.
• Intergenerational Equity: The current generation should take care of the environment so that future generations can benefit from it.
• Conservation of Biological Diversity: The diversity of plants and animals should be preserved.
• Improved Valuation, Pricing, and Incentive Mechanisms: The costs of pollution and waste should be paid by those who cause them.
**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-lithium-ion-batteries-environment

**CSIRO Advisory Note AN-004 Extinguishment of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires.

**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

** Disaster at Moss Landing: The Risk of Battery Storage - YouTube - 16/1/25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuTaZFQA18E

**Massive Green Battery Plant Catches on Fire Again
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/02/20/massive-green-battery-plant-catches-on-fire-again-weeks-after-major-toxic-blaze/

Taxpayer Subsidised Exploitation: These profiteers gorge on subsidies, while everyday Australians face skyrocketing energy bills and collapsing reliability.

This horrible plan is a massive land Grab, transfer of wealth & ECOCIDE by stealth with both native grasslands, birds, pollinators, and insects destroyed silently—under glossy PR and tokenistic “offsets.”

The micro plastic from this abomination will be horrendous. I have not read any way this will be mitigate or contained.
Until transparent, enforceable, and community-approved safety and environmental protections are in place this project need serious consider if it should ever proceed.

Lithium-ion battery fires are a growing national hazard . Australia sees many battery fires annually, including serious incidents in trucks, recycling centres, and large-scale energy sites.
The Wattle Creek BESS proposes a 350 MW / 1,400 MWh facility in a bushfire-prone, agricultural , this industrial installation fails to present detailed, independently verified fire prevention or emergency response plans. This puts rural communities, farmland, and lives at risk. This is an extremely Risky place for tis , it should be abandon.
The extensive wildlife have not been considered.

There’s absolutely nothing genuinely sustainable or circular economy about this Fake Green Disaster!

This FILTHY BATTERY BOMB IS A TOXIC DISASTER -
non-recyclable, and full of embedded toxins contradicting their own green claims.

Local farmers, homes and businesses face losing critical water supply, should this project go ahead. How would the community get through periods of drought and water restrictions when this infrastructure would clearly be given water priority?

As the next generation I object. This junk is no good for me, the environment . It is absolutely not good for farmers

You crazy adult are making bad decisions and this junk will be let to my generation to clean up

BESS factories are destroying the landscapes and significantly devaluing residential, agricultural and commercial properties within rural communities. Nobody would want to live anywhere near this heap of fire-causing garbage.
Nuclear MUST be explored. I OBJECT to the BESS and ALL renewable projects that are proposed for Australia

There no specify fire safety training programs for personnel and emergency responders. there is no onsite fire prevention. there is inadequate water storage facilities onsite.

BESS is dangerous and brings hazards to the project and community.
The noises from this BESS project will have negative impacts on the nearby livestock and wildlife. These impacts will be evident in not only everyday life for the animals, but also during breeding and birthing cycles. BESS carries significant fire risk.

This battery storage system is of a major fire risk and will put significant strain on local and rural firefighting services. These local firefighting services are not equipped with the resources or man-power to manage emergency fires for when they do break out at this site. Why should the community risk their lives and step up to fight fires for infrastructure that they never wanted there in the first place?

The proposal lacks detailed information on fire suppression systems to mitigate fire risks. there is an unprecedented number of these installation being built. Is the cya expected to attend

NO!! I object to this project. Explore a reliable form of energy such as nuclear. Explore a cleaner form of energy such as nuclear. Battery Energy Storage Systems are too dangerous for the environment. BESS presents significant fire risks.
BESS infrastructure will negatively impact the safety, visual amenity of the community and landscapes.

I object to the Wattle Creek BESS project.
Why is our government forcing FIRE HAZARDOUS infrastructure and UNRELIABLE energy on our nation at the expense of rural Australia?!?
Save the land that supports and produces food and fibre for Australia. Put these elsewhere!
These projects are destroying rural Australia!!

I Object to Wattle Creek BESS for the following 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.
• 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.
As we are constantly 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.

This infrastructure is too dangerous to the neighbouring properties and communities. BESS factories are a significant fire risk. BESS factories cause significant noise pollution. I object to this project.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) fails to provide comprehensive fire risk management strategies. these industrial installion pose an enormous fire risk the an already high fire danger area.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the farmers of the land within our great nation of Australia today. I pay my respects to Australia’s past, present and future farmers who have and will continue to battle setbacks such as renewable energy destruction, drought, floods, vermin plagues, diseases, and government policy, all so they can provide Australia with food and fibre. I acknowledge that these setbacks come at a high price of mental health, and many have taken their lives as a result due to such pressures. I extend this respect and am thankful for the sacrifices those within the agricultural industry make in order to provide Australia with the essentials; I acknowledge the agricultural industry as the backbone of our nation
We need to unite and fight these developers and the Australian government for forcing this upon us.

I object because BESS projects are too damaging to the communities, landscapes, environment and animals. what happens when they catch fire? How will the sound from the BESS impact local livestock and native wildlife? Not only are they dangerous, they are an absolute eye-sore. Let's put these closer to the cities so all the NIMBYs can marvel at what their vote has given them. Leave our landscapes alone and our government needs to do better.
Noting the Livestock Producer Assurance accreditation application, they recognise and acknowledge that agricultural land WILL BE POISONED by batteries and solar panels. Given this significant fact, these projects should NOT go ahead as they compromise our food security and environmental safety.