Dallas Schuller
Object
Dallas Schuller
Object
Mangoplah
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because of the High risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the High risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
The proposed Mangoplah BESS project would generate a range of different waste types including spoil, green waste, packaging, human rubbish and waste, and equipment, which according to Umwelt (Australia) Pty. Limited, in their Environment Impact Statement, 2024, are at risk of “Environmental damage from inadequately stored or managed waste, high volumes of waste from excessive material usage, and improper or incomplete site clean-up” (p.225, Territory Battery). Moreover, they state that loose materials stockpiled on site, such as spoil or green waste could be transported by stormwater or wind into nearby waterways or sensitive vegetation or habitat, which has the potential to impact ecosystems, and the blockage of waterways. In addition, there is also the potential for food scraps from the workers associated with the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, “attracting pests and other animals to the site, leading to a spread of invasive species in the area and impacting the balance of existing ecosystems” (cited, p. 225, Umwelt, Territory Battery EIS, 2024). Furthermore, human waste from workers associated with the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project “could also severely impact water quality of groundwater or surface water bodies, vegetation condition or soil condition if transported off-site by stormwater. Human waste also poses a health and amenity risk to on-site personnel exposed to uncontained waste or odours” (cited, p.225, Umwelt, Territory Battery EIS, 2024).
Moreover, the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “The final volumes of waste materials would not be known until the detailed designs are completed and a construction contractor is appointed” (p.222, 2025). The report goes onto further state “Wastes that are likely to be generated from the Project during construction include:
• Vegetation from site clearing – this is expected to be limited to grasses
• Surplus spoil from earthworks required for the Project – excess spoil would be reused onsite to fill in trenches and stabilise cleared areas
• General construction waste e.g. concrete, steel, timber – this is expected to be minimal with quantities of building materials required to be accurately estimated
• Domestic waste materials including plastics, packaging materials, putrescible waste generated by construction personnel
• Chemicals and oils
• Wastewater generated at construction compounds
• Waste from onsite amenities i.e. septic disposal” (p.223, 2025).
This high risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, is alarming and of major concern if these materials and wastes are transported either by wind or by stormwater runoff into the waterways, and creeks that surround the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, as they will impact on the local environment, the ecosystem and biosecurity of the nearby landholders.
Furthermore, as stated in the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement that “The NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 include waste minimisation and management objectives to encourage the most effective use of resources and to reduce environmental harm in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development” (p.220, 2025), with the report further stating “The project’s resource management options would be considered against a hierarchy of the following order:
· Avoidance of unnecessary resource consumption
· Resource recovery (including reuse, reprocessing, recycling and energy recovery)
· Disposal” (p.220, 2025)
This is somewhat contradictory when the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “Regional capabilities are highly relevant for ensuring waste reuse options are fully explored. The region has low population density over large distances, which limits waste collection, separation, reuse and recovery options” (p.221, 2025), in other words, how and where are all the materials and waste created during the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project going to be safely disposed of in an appropriate manner and location.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the proposed Mangoplah BESS project built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Because of the High risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the High risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
The proposed Mangoplah BESS project would generate a range of different waste types including spoil, green waste, packaging, human rubbish and waste, and equipment, which according to Umwelt (Australia) Pty. Limited, in their Environment Impact Statement, 2024, are at risk of “Environmental damage from inadequately stored or managed waste, high volumes of waste from excessive material usage, and improper or incomplete site clean-up” (p.225, Territory Battery). Moreover, they state that loose materials stockpiled on site, such as spoil or green waste could be transported by stormwater or wind into nearby waterways or sensitive vegetation or habitat, which has the potential to impact ecosystems, and the blockage of waterways. In addition, there is also the potential for food scraps from the workers associated with the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, “attracting pests and other animals to the site, leading to a spread of invasive species in the area and impacting the balance of existing ecosystems” (cited, p. 225, Umwelt, Territory Battery EIS, 2024). Furthermore, human waste from workers associated with the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project “could also severely impact water quality of groundwater or surface water bodies, vegetation condition or soil condition if transported off-site by stormwater. Human waste also poses a health and amenity risk to on-site personnel exposed to uncontained waste or odours” (cited, p.225, Umwelt, Territory Battery EIS, 2024).
Moreover, the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “The final volumes of waste materials would not be known until the detailed designs are completed and a construction contractor is appointed” (p.222, 2025). The report goes onto further state “Wastes that are likely to be generated from the Project during construction include:
• Vegetation from site clearing – this is expected to be limited to grasses
• Surplus spoil from earthworks required for the Project – excess spoil would be reused onsite to fill in trenches and stabilise cleared areas
• General construction waste e.g. concrete, steel, timber – this is expected to be minimal with quantities of building materials required to be accurately estimated
• Domestic waste materials including plastics, packaging materials, putrescible waste generated by construction personnel
• Chemicals and oils
• Wastewater generated at construction compounds
• Waste from onsite amenities i.e. septic disposal” (p.223, 2025).
This high risk to the environment from materials and waste from the construction of the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, is alarming and of major concern if these materials and wastes are transported either by wind or by stormwater runoff into the waterways, and creeks that surround the access roadway to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, as they will impact on the local environment, the ecosystem and biosecurity of the nearby landholders.
Furthermore, as stated in the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement that “The NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 include waste minimisation and management objectives to encourage the most effective use of resources and to reduce environmental harm in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development” (p.220, 2025), with the report further stating “The project’s resource management options would be considered against a hierarchy of the following order:
· Avoidance of unnecessary resource consumption
· Resource recovery (including reuse, reprocessing, recycling and energy recovery)
· Disposal” (p.220, 2025)
This is somewhat contradictory when the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “Regional capabilities are highly relevant for ensuring waste reuse options are fully explored. The region has low population density over large distances, which limits waste collection, separation, reuse and recovery options” (p.221, 2025), in other words, how and where are all the materials and waste created during the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project going to be safely disposed of in an appropriate manner and location.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the proposed Mangoplah BESS project built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Jock Trainer
Object
Jock Trainer
Object
Mangoplah
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because - No to the water being obtained from local supplies during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project. Because - No to the water being obtained from local supplies during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
Water is a vital commodity in and around the area of Mangoplah, not only for the local village community but more importantly for the farmers in the area. The water supply for the village of Mangoplah “is sourced in Wagga Wagga primarily from the river intake…along with borefields…” (Riverina Water, n.d.), the water is treated in Wagga Wagga and supplies many villages via a network of pipes including Mangoplah. Riverina Water state that “Our primary sources are surface water from the Murrumbidgee River and groundwater from our network of bores across the supply area” (n.d.). With Riverina Water further stating that the “Water sourced and treated in Wagga Wagga supplies many villages via our network, including Ladysmith, San Isidore, Uranquinty, The Rock, Mangoplah, Yerong Creek, Henty, Morven, Pleasant Hills and Walla Walla” (n.d.).
The availability of water supply during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, is of major concern to the residents of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders, as currently there is no water supply available at or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS site, all water supply needed during the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project will need to be trucked into the site of the Mangoplah BESS project. A 10,000-litre truckload of water from Wagga can cost approximately $200 to $350+, depending on where the water is sourced from town water supply, from a bore, or a different source.
The Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “Potable water source would be required for workforce consumption (drinking water), fire suppression water and concreting, while non-potable water requirements will be primarily for the construction phase for dust suppression” (p.47, 2025). Further stating that “Two 50kL fire water tank would also be located onsite, which would be filled by water tankers and retained for emergency use only during construction. The size of these tanks would be confirmed in consultation with key emergency service authorities and regulators. During operations, water levels will also be maintained by water tankers trucks” (p.47, 2025). This water is “Portable water” (p.48, 2025), apparently going to be sourced from “the Council’s water supply via commercial agreement or private purchase.
Non-potable water from Riverina Water County Council and / or captured rainwater onsite (i.e. roof water)” (p.48, 2025). This statement is very concerning to the community of Mangoplah and more so the Mangoplah Rural Fire Service, if this water is taken from the water supply located in the village, as this water supply at Mangoplah is only to be used in an emergency, not to be used by such projects as the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
Moreover, as a long term Mangoplah village resident, and seeing over the years how the water supply to the village of Mangoplah has changed, with the increase in residents moving into the village, it has become very difficult for the residents, not only to have a suitable water flow just to have a shower, let alone any water to be able to water the lawn and garden. I also stress that no water should be taken from existing dams, bores and especially water that supplies the village of Mangoplah, as the water supply is water is a vital commodity in and around the area of Mangoplah, not only for the local village community but more importantly for the farmers in the area.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the BESS built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Because - No to the water being obtained from local supplies during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project. Because - No to the water being obtained from local supplies during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
Water is a vital commodity in and around the area of Mangoplah, not only for the local village community but more importantly for the farmers in the area. The water supply for the village of Mangoplah “is sourced in Wagga Wagga primarily from the river intake…along with borefields…” (Riverina Water, n.d.), the water is treated in Wagga Wagga and supplies many villages via a network of pipes including Mangoplah. Riverina Water state that “Our primary sources are surface water from the Murrumbidgee River and groundwater from our network of bores across the supply area” (n.d.). With Riverina Water further stating that the “Water sourced and treated in Wagga Wagga supplies many villages via our network, including Ladysmith, San Isidore, Uranquinty, The Rock, Mangoplah, Yerong Creek, Henty, Morven, Pleasant Hills and Walla Walla” (n.d.).
The availability of water supply during construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, is of major concern to the residents of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders, as currently there is no water supply available at or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS site, all water supply needed during the construction of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project will need to be trucked into the site of the Mangoplah BESS project. A 10,000-litre truckload of water from Wagga can cost approximately $200 to $350+, depending on where the water is sourced from town water supply, from a bore, or a different source.
The Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement states that “Potable water source would be required for workforce consumption (drinking water), fire suppression water and concreting, while non-potable water requirements will be primarily for the construction phase for dust suppression” (p.47, 2025). Further stating that “Two 50kL fire water tank would also be located onsite, which would be filled by water tankers and retained for emergency use only during construction. The size of these tanks would be confirmed in consultation with key emergency service authorities and regulators. During operations, water levels will also be maintained by water tankers trucks” (p.47, 2025). This water is “Portable water” (p.48, 2025), apparently going to be sourced from “the Council’s water supply via commercial agreement or private purchase.
Non-potable water from Riverina Water County Council and / or captured rainwater onsite (i.e. roof water)” (p.48, 2025). This statement is very concerning to the community of Mangoplah and more so the Mangoplah Rural Fire Service, if this water is taken from the water supply located in the village, as this water supply at Mangoplah is only to be used in an emergency, not to be used by such projects as the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
Moreover, as a long term Mangoplah village resident, and seeing over the years how the water supply to the village of Mangoplah has changed, with the increase in residents moving into the village, it has become very difficult for the residents, not only to have a suitable water flow just to have a shower, let alone any water to be able to water the lawn and garden. I also stress that no water should be taken from existing dams, bores and especially water that supplies the village of Mangoplah, as the water supply is water is a vital commodity in and around the area of Mangoplah, not only for the local village community but more importantly for the farmers in the area.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the BESS built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Brendon Heniecke
Object
Brendon Heniecke
Object
Tumbarumba
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because the Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) heavy trucks should not be allowed to travel on the Holbrook Road, to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because the Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) heavy trucks should not be allowed to travel on the Holbrook Road, to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
*AS PER ATTACHED LETTER*
Because the Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) heavy trucks should not be allowed to travel on the Holbrook Road, to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because the Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) heavy trucks should not be allowed to travel on the Holbrook Road, to the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
*AS PER ATTACHED LETTER*
Attachments
David Griffin
Object
David Griffin
Object
Mangoplah
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because of the Complete lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the Complete lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
There has been a distinct lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stated in the Scope Report that “The Applicant would lease part of Lot 222 DP754557 from the primary associated landholder for the operation of the Project. Electrical substations are treated as premises rather than fixtures due to the substantial and permanent nature of their construction. The need for subdivision, particularly in relation to the onsite substation would be confirmed and detailed in the EIS following further engagement with TransGrid, the Applicant and the landowner” (p.3, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024).
Then the “substation” is mentioned again on page 23, of the Mangoplah BESS Scope Report, with Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stating that “The Project Site is approximately 13.1 ha, with the indicative investigation area for the BESS and related substation occupying approximately 10.4ha of that area”, and they go onto say that “An onsite substation area is currently being investigated where it will connect to the transmission line. The final layout and connection point would be refined during the EIS phase” (p.28, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024). The final layout of where in proposed Mangoplah BESS project the Substation will be located is seen in “Figure 3-1, Development Footprint…” (p. 37, Environmental Impact Assessment, 2025), which clearly shows how big the Substation will be in comparison with the 108 Tesla Megapack 2XL layout of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project area.
This is the only information that the community have received regarding the construction of the Substation, which will be bigger in overall area than the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, which is very alarming for the residents of the village of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders, as Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited state that “The overall Project Site is not considered the final impact area, allowing for the final Development Footprint to be developed throughout the EIS The Project Site” (p.23, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024), with them going on to state that “The final Project Site that will be assessed in the EIS will be informed by community and stakeholder consultation…” (p.23, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024).
Within the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement it was stated that “The substation is generally comprised of a high voltage switchyard, one or more large transformers, auxiliary services equipment, any required power quality components (e.g. harmonic filters, capacitors, etc).
The substation would be built on a specialized hardstand area called a bench; this is surrounded by security fencing as required by the relevant electrical safety regulations. One 132kV transformer would be installed on a large concrete bund. This bund is designed to retain the contents of the transformer and cooling system (insulating oil) in the event of failure. An oil water separator is likely to be installed in the bund as an environmental protection measure and would be subject to regular inspection and maintenance.
The substation would comprise of:
• 1 high voltage switch bay (132/33kV transformer)
• Switch room and control room
• Diesel generator” (p. 40, 2025).
The general layout of where in the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site the substation would be actually located can be seen on pages 10 and 11 of the Mangoplah Preliminary Hazard Analysis (2025).
Moreover, there has been no information on how heigh each of the power lines connecting the substation to the main grid will be as this may interfere with arial spraying to nearby landholders, and also in the event of a bushfire, also interfere with arial water bombing.
Furthermore, in a Newsletter sent to the Mangoplah community and surrounding landholders in July, 2025, Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stated that “We recognise that community expectations are changing. There is a growing demand for open communication, meaningful involvement in decision-making, and clear, timely benefits that reflect both the scale of a Project and its local impacts. The Proponent is committed to meeting these expectations by:
• Providing clear, accurate, and easy-to understand information
• Offering genuine opportunities for input throughout the process
• Reporting back on how community feedback has been considered and reflected in the
Project. This approach reflects our commitment to engaging respectfully with the community and ensuring the Project is developed in a way that considers local interests and concerns”.
As mentioned earlier, this distinct lack of information and consultation with the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders regarding the construction of the Substation, has been totally inadequate considering the proposed size of the Substation. In addition, there has been no information or consultation with the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders as to the overall design or layout of the Substation site, how high each of the electrical towers will be, what is the distance from the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to the Substation, and how many construction workers will be associated with the construction of the Substation, and how long will the Substation take to build, but more importantly who owns the Substation, as there has been no mention what soever within the Environmental Impact Statement.
More alerting, to the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders is the fact that a Substation is considered a permanent structure, as according to the NSW Land Registry Service “Electrical substations are treated as premises rather than fixtures due to the substantial and permanent nature of their construction” (2023). Whereas the proposed Mangoplah BESS project Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited state that “at the end of its useful life than it will be decommissioned” (p. 27, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS). They go onto state “The decommissioning phase would involve removal of all above ground infrastructure and below ground infrastructure where possible and return of the site to its existing land capability” (p.27, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024). The question being is if the Mangoplah BESS is decommissioned, what happens to the Substation, who owns it, who controls it and who is responsible for the maintenance not only on the site but also the surrounding lease that being Lot 222, none of these issues have been mentioned at all within the Environmental Impact Statement.
It deeply concerns and affects me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being treated with the disrespect and disregard of not being informed or consulted about such a large permanent structure in the vicinity of the village of Mangoplah, but also the surrounding landholders, which in the long term will impact greatly on the value of the surrounding properties. This change in the land use from farming to industrial I feel will negatively impact upon Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. I take it upon you to consider the cost to the Mangoplah community and the surrounding landholders and how this project will affect them in the future, as many of the local community members have been in the district for generations and do not want a permanent Substation or the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to be constructed in such an inappropriate and ill-chosen location.
Because of the Complete lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the Complete lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
There has been a distinct lack of information and consultation with the Mangoplah community regarding the construction of the Substation adjoining the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stated in the Scope Report that “The Applicant would lease part of Lot 222 DP754557 from the primary associated landholder for the operation of the Project. Electrical substations are treated as premises rather than fixtures due to the substantial and permanent nature of their construction. The need for subdivision, particularly in relation to the onsite substation would be confirmed and detailed in the EIS following further engagement with TransGrid, the Applicant and the landowner” (p.3, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024).
Then the “substation” is mentioned again on page 23, of the Mangoplah BESS Scope Report, with Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stating that “The Project Site is approximately 13.1 ha, with the indicative investigation area for the BESS and related substation occupying approximately 10.4ha of that area”, and they go onto say that “An onsite substation area is currently being investigated where it will connect to the transmission line. The final layout and connection point would be refined during the EIS phase” (p.28, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024). The final layout of where in proposed Mangoplah BESS project the Substation will be located is seen in “Figure 3-1, Development Footprint…” (p. 37, Environmental Impact Assessment, 2025), which clearly shows how big the Substation will be in comparison with the 108 Tesla Megapack 2XL layout of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project area.
This is the only information that the community have received regarding the construction of the Substation, which will be bigger in overall area than the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, which is very alarming for the residents of the village of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders, as Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited state that “The overall Project Site is not considered the final impact area, allowing for the final Development Footprint to be developed throughout the EIS The Project Site” (p.23, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024), with them going on to state that “The final Project Site that will be assessed in the EIS will be informed by community and stakeholder consultation…” (p.23, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024).
Within the Mangoplah Environmental Impact Statement it was stated that “The substation is generally comprised of a high voltage switchyard, one or more large transformers, auxiliary services equipment, any required power quality components (e.g. harmonic filters, capacitors, etc).
The substation would be built on a specialized hardstand area called a bench; this is surrounded by security fencing as required by the relevant electrical safety regulations. One 132kV transformer would be installed on a large concrete bund. This bund is designed to retain the contents of the transformer and cooling system (insulating oil) in the event of failure. An oil water separator is likely to be installed in the bund as an environmental protection measure and would be subject to regular inspection and maintenance.
The substation would comprise of:
• 1 high voltage switch bay (132/33kV transformer)
• Switch room and control room
• Diesel generator” (p. 40, 2025).
The general layout of where in the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site the substation would be actually located can be seen on pages 10 and 11 of the Mangoplah Preliminary Hazard Analysis (2025).
Moreover, there has been no information on how heigh each of the power lines connecting the substation to the main grid will be as this may interfere with arial spraying to nearby landholders, and also in the event of a bushfire, also interfere with arial water bombing.
Furthermore, in a Newsletter sent to the Mangoplah community and surrounding landholders in July, 2025, Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited stated that “We recognise that community expectations are changing. There is a growing demand for open communication, meaningful involvement in decision-making, and clear, timely benefits that reflect both the scale of a Project and its local impacts. The Proponent is committed to meeting these expectations by:
• Providing clear, accurate, and easy-to understand information
• Offering genuine opportunities for input throughout the process
• Reporting back on how community feedback has been considered and reflected in the
Project. This approach reflects our commitment to engaging respectfully with the community and ensuring the Project is developed in a way that considers local interests and concerns”.
As mentioned earlier, this distinct lack of information and consultation with the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders regarding the construction of the Substation, has been totally inadequate considering the proposed size of the Substation. In addition, there has been no information or consultation with the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders as to the overall design or layout of the Substation site, how high each of the electrical towers will be, what is the distance from the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to the Substation, and how many construction workers will be associated with the construction of the Substation, and how long will the Substation take to build, but more importantly who owns the Substation, as there has been no mention what soever within the Environmental Impact Statement.
More alerting, to the community of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders is the fact that a Substation is considered a permanent structure, as according to the NSW Land Registry Service “Electrical substations are treated as premises rather than fixtures due to the substantial and permanent nature of their construction” (2023). Whereas the proposed Mangoplah BESS project Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Limited state that “at the end of its useful life than it will be decommissioned” (p. 27, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS). They go onto state “The decommissioning phase would involve removal of all above ground infrastructure and below ground infrastructure where possible and return of the site to its existing land capability” (p.27, Scoping Report Mangoplah BESS, 2024). The question being is if the Mangoplah BESS is decommissioned, what happens to the Substation, who owns it, who controls it and who is responsible for the maintenance not only on the site but also the surrounding lease that being Lot 222, none of these issues have been mentioned at all within the Environmental Impact Statement.
It deeply concerns and affects me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being treated with the disrespect and disregard of not being informed or consulted about such a large permanent structure in the vicinity of the village of Mangoplah, but also the surrounding landholders, which in the long term will impact greatly on the value of the surrounding properties. This change in the land use from farming to industrial I feel will negatively impact upon Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. I take it upon you to consider the cost to the Mangoplah community and the surrounding landholders and how this project will affect them in the future, as many of the local community members have been in the district for generations and do not want a permanent Substation or the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to be constructed in such an inappropriate and ill-chosen location.
Dougall Walker
Object
Dougall Walker
Object
Mangoplah
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because of The limited amount of local Rural Fire Service members available to fight a fire that may occur in or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of The limited amount of local Rural Fire Service members available to fight a fire that may occur in or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The nation's volunteer firefighting force has been reduced by about 18,000 members over the past decade, and the loss of more than 3000 members in the NSW’s Rural Fire Service in four years, raising concerns about state fire services' ability to combat fires during prolonged bushfire seasons (Paul Sakkal, The Age. 2019).
In the event of a fire occurring at or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS site is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Brigade members, as the proposed Mangoplah BESS site is located 3km from the Holbrook Road, is 2.4 from the closest local Rural Fire Brigade, with other available Rural Fire Brigade units located up to 22km from the Mangoplah BESS site.
More concerning, is the fact that the average age according to the NSW Rural Fire Service is over 50 years of age. The Age Newspaper states that “only one in 10 RFS volunteers is aged 25 or younger, and the median age of NSW volunteers is more than 50 (Paul Sakkal, 2019). I am one of these NSW Rural Fire Service members who is in the category, having being a volunteer with the local NSW Rural Fire Service for many years, I have seen and been involved with many fires in the Mangoplah and surrounding area. Furthermore, this can be disconcerting for the safety of the local members, as the NSW Rural Fire Service, states that the proposed Mangoplah BESS project is located within a Priority 2 area, which prioritizes firefighter safety, then people, then property, then the environment, and finally resorting normally. This means that when responding to an incident, the safety of firefighters is paramount, followed by the protection of human life, and then the protection of structures and other assets.
In addition, there are problems with being able to contact Rural Fire Brigade members because of poor mobile reception and mobile ‘black spots’ in the area around Mangoplah, it can take approximately 1 hour to manage to get a crew together to man even one tanker, which adds a degree of difficulty in being able to get an appropriate number of Rural Fire Brigade members to attend the fire. The Australian Government stated in their article Mobile Black Spot Program to “provide new resilient mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia that are prone to Natural Disasters, including bushfires…”, further saying “The focus on areas impacted by, or at risk of, Natural Disasters reflects the increasing exposure of many regions to these events, and the need for communities to access resilient mobile communications services during and after these events” (n.d., Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts). Unfortunately, a large portion of the area around the Mangoplah and Pulletop area continue to have mobile black spots, this is despite the NSW Government stating in their Connecting Country Communities, Mobile Black Spot Program fact sheet, that the program will “focus on locations with unique coverage problems in small communities or areas prone to natural disasters” (p.2, n.d.). The fact sheet goes onto to state that “The Mobile Black Spot Program in NSW is being delivered through the NSW Telco Authority and is focussed on targeting mobile black spots within NSW, specifically within smaller reginal and rural communities” (p.2, n.d.).
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members who are very limited in number, is of major concern in the event of a fire occurring within or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS, not only because of the lack of knowledge in how to fight such a fire, but also because of the lack of appropriate safety equipment needed to fight such a fire.
Moreover, are the community concerns regarding bushfires and potential limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
It deeply affects and concerns me, especially being a long serving Rural Fire Service member within the Mangoplah Brigade, that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members, and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.
Because of The limited amount of local Rural Fire Service members available to fight a fire that may occur in or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection against the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of The limited amount of local Rural Fire Service members available to fight a fire that may occur in or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The nation's volunteer firefighting force has been reduced by about 18,000 members over the past decade, and the loss of more than 3000 members in the NSW’s Rural Fire Service in four years, raising concerns about state fire services' ability to combat fires during prolonged bushfire seasons (Paul Sakkal, The Age. 2019).
In the event of a fire occurring at or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS site is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Brigade members, as the proposed Mangoplah BESS site is located 3km from the Holbrook Road, is 2.4 from the closest local Rural Fire Brigade, with other available Rural Fire Brigade units located up to 22km from the Mangoplah BESS site.
More concerning, is the fact that the average age according to the NSW Rural Fire Service is over 50 years of age. The Age Newspaper states that “only one in 10 RFS volunteers is aged 25 or younger, and the median age of NSW volunteers is more than 50 (Paul Sakkal, 2019). I am one of these NSW Rural Fire Service members who is in the category, having being a volunteer with the local NSW Rural Fire Service for many years, I have seen and been involved with many fires in the Mangoplah and surrounding area. Furthermore, this can be disconcerting for the safety of the local members, as the NSW Rural Fire Service, states that the proposed Mangoplah BESS project is located within a Priority 2 area, which prioritizes firefighter safety, then people, then property, then the environment, and finally resorting normally. This means that when responding to an incident, the safety of firefighters is paramount, followed by the protection of human life, and then the protection of structures and other assets.
In addition, there are problems with being able to contact Rural Fire Brigade members because of poor mobile reception and mobile ‘black spots’ in the area around Mangoplah, it can take approximately 1 hour to manage to get a crew together to man even one tanker, which adds a degree of difficulty in being able to get an appropriate number of Rural Fire Brigade members to attend the fire. The Australian Government stated in their article Mobile Black Spot Program to “provide new resilient mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia that are prone to Natural Disasters, including bushfires…”, further saying “The focus on areas impacted by, or at risk of, Natural Disasters reflects the increasing exposure of many regions to these events, and the need for communities to access resilient mobile communications services during and after these events” (n.d., Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts). Unfortunately, a large portion of the area around the Mangoplah and Pulletop area continue to have mobile black spots, this is despite the NSW Government stating in their Connecting Country Communities, Mobile Black Spot Program fact sheet, that the program will “focus on locations with unique coverage problems in small communities or areas prone to natural disasters” (p.2, n.d.). The fact sheet goes onto to state that “The Mobile Black Spot Program in NSW is being delivered through the NSW Telco Authority and is focussed on targeting mobile black spots within NSW, specifically within smaller reginal and rural communities” (p.2, n.d.).
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members who are very limited in number, is of major concern in the event of a fire occurring within or near the proposed Mangoplah BESS, not only because of the lack of knowledge in how to fight such a fire, but also because of the lack of appropriate safety equipment needed to fight such a fire.
Moreover, are the community concerns regarding bushfires and potential limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
It deeply affects and concerns me, especially being a long serving Rural Fire Service member within the Mangoplah Brigade, that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members, and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.
Mike Slieker
Object
Mike Slieker
Object
The Rock
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because of The risk of injury to local Rural Fire Service members and Fire and Rescue NSW members in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of The risk of injury to local Rural Fire Service members and Fire and Rescue NSW members in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
Large-scale lithium-ion battery fires pose significant injury risks to firefighters due to explosions, toxic gas release, and intense heat. These fires can result in explosions from thermal runaway, releasing toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride and potentially leading to severe burns and poisoning. The NSW Rural Fire Service state that “to mitigate this risk, firefighters wear protective clothing”, this can be extremely difficult in the event of a lithium-ion battery fire, due to the lack of appropriate protective clothing, including self-contained breathing apparatuses and structural firefighting gear, required to fight such a fire, this equipment is only at the disposal of appropriately qualified members and experienced to fight such a fire, according to the NSW Fire & Rescue. Furthermore, lithium-ion battery fires pose a significant thermal hazard, with fires reaching extreme temperatures ranging from 700-1000 degrees Celsius, additionally lithium-ion battery fires can produce toxic gases and potentially lead to explosions, further increasing the danger facing the local Rural Fire Service members.
According to Fordham et.al. “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…” (p.3, Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems, 2021). Fordhman et.al. go onto state that “there are growing concerns about the use of Lithium-ion batteries in large scale applications, especially as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) linked to renewable energy projects and grid energy storage. These concerns arise from the simple consideration that large quantities of energy are being stored, which if released uncontrollably in fault situations could cause major damage to health, life, property and the environment” (p.4, Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems, 2021). More worrying however is that “A large BESS can pass all existing engineering design and fire safety test codes and still fail in thermal runaway” (p.8, Fordhman, et.al., 2021)
Moreover, the Acting Superintendent, Manager of Operational Liaison and Special Hazards Unit, Fire and Rescue NSW, stated in a letter to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, that “it has been the experience of FRNSW that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire and suitable additional provisions are likely to be required in accordance with E1D17 and E2D21 of the National Construction Code 2022” (2024).
The National Construction Code 2022 state that –
E1D17 –“Suitable additional provision must be made if special problems of fighting fire could arise because of –
(a) The nature or quantity of materials stored, displayed or used in a building or on the allotment.
(b) The location of the building in relation to water supply for fire fighting purposes”.
E2D21 –“Provision for special hazards – additional smoke hazard management measures may be necessary due to the –
(a) Special characteristics of the building; or
(b) Special function or use of the building; or
(c) Special type or quantity of materials stored, displayed, or used in a building; or
(d) Special mix of classifications within a building or fire compartment…”
Furthermore, are the community of Mangoplah concerns, regarding limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to even more concerning is that NSWFR state “that large-scale LiBESS pose a unique challenge to firefighters when responding to and managing an incident”, the NSWFR goes on to say that “large-scale LiBESS as a hazardous electrical, chemical and fire risk with the risk of community consequence that necessitates special consideration”. In addition, Superintendent James O’Carroll, stated “that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire…” (NSW Fire & Rescue, 2025). This is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, because they only have the knowledge, experience and equipment to fight bushfire, not fires of this nature, but then in the Deniliquin EIS Report it states that “Following commissioning of the BESS, the preparedness of local RFS and Fire and Rescue brigades would be enhanced through site orientation and information events and the facilitation of training in the management of LFP battery fires” (p.132, 2025).
Moreover, the very idea of being asked or told that the local Rural Fire Service members are to be involved in fighting a fire that may occur near or within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site is outrageous, and very concerning for the local Rural Fire Service members are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
More concerning to the local Rural Fire Service members is the high risk to their health, not only from the extreme heat and receiving radiation burns, and heat stroke, but also the effects from the release of the toxic chemicals from the lithium-ion batteries, including respiratory conditions such as upper airway obstruction leading to pulmonary oedema, as well as heart conditions, including abnormal heart rhythms such as dysrhythmias, hypotention, to thermal burns of the hands and the eyes, leading to permanent clouding of the cornea (Vamosi, n.d.)
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members of getting heat radiation, radiation burns, and injury is of major concern in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery and fire occurring within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site, which can be life changing for the local Rural Fire Service members who are aging volunteers. These fires also have the potential threat of thermal runaway and release of toxic chemicals into the air affecting the village of Mangoplah, the surrounding farmland, crops and livestock but also leaking into the local waterways and creeks.
More concerning is the fact that the above issues, requirement and recommendations have not been taken into account, when the inappropriate and ill-chosen location for the proposed Mangoplah BESS project was considered.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.
Because of The risk of injury to local Rural Fire Service members and Fire and Rescue NSW members in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of The risk of injury to local Rural Fire Service members and Fire and Rescue NSW members in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
Large-scale lithium-ion battery fires pose significant injury risks to firefighters due to explosions, toxic gas release, and intense heat. These fires can result in explosions from thermal runaway, releasing toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride and potentially leading to severe burns and poisoning. The NSW Rural Fire Service state that “to mitigate this risk, firefighters wear protective clothing”, this can be extremely difficult in the event of a lithium-ion battery fire, due to the lack of appropriate protective clothing, including self-contained breathing apparatuses and structural firefighting gear, required to fight such a fire, this equipment is only at the disposal of appropriately qualified members and experienced to fight such a fire, according to the NSW Fire & Rescue. Furthermore, lithium-ion battery fires pose a significant thermal hazard, with fires reaching extreme temperatures ranging from 700-1000 degrees Celsius, additionally lithium-ion battery fires can produce toxic gases and potentially lead to explosions, further increasing the danger facing the local Rural Fire Service members.
According to Fordham et.al. “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…” (p.3, Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems, 2021). Fordhman et.al. go onto state that “there are growing concerns about the use of Lithium-ion batteries in large scale applications, especially as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) linked to renewable energy projects and grid energy storage. These concerns arise from the simple consideration that large quantities of energy are being stored, which if released uncontrollably in fault situations could cause major damage to health, life, property and the environment” (p.4, Safety of Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems, 2021). More worrying however is that “A large BESS can pass all existing engineering design and fire safety test codes and still fail in thermal runaway” (p.8, Fordhman, et.al., 2021)
Moreover, the Acting Superintendent, Manager of Operational Liaison and Special Hazards Unit, Fire and Rescue NSW, stated in a letter to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, that “it has been the experience of FRNSW that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire and suitable additional provisions are likely to be required in accordance with E1D17 and E2D21 of the National Construction Code 2022” (2024).
The National Construction Code 2022 state that –
E1D17 –“Suitable additional provision must be made if special problems of fighting fire could arise because of –
(a) The nature or quantity of materials stored, displayed or used in a building or on the allotment.
(b) The location of the building in relation to water supply for fire fighting purposes”.
E2D21 –“Provision for special hazards – additional smoke hazard management measures may be necessary due to the –
(a) Special characteristics of the building; or
(b) Special function or use of the building; or
(c) Special type or quantity of materials stored, displayed, or used in a building; or
(d) Special mix of classifications within a building or fire compartment…”
Furthermore, are the community of Mangoplah concerns, regarding limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to even more concerning is that NSWFR state “that large-scale LiBESS pose a unique challenge to firefighters when responding to and managing an incident”, the NSWFR goes on to say that “large-scale LiBESS as a hazardous electrical, chemical and fire risk with the risk of community consequence that necessitates special consideration”. In addition, Superintendent James O’Carroll, stated “that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire…” (NSW Fire & Rescue, 2025). This is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, because they only have the knowledge, experience and equipment to fight bushfire, not fires of this nature, but then in the Deniliquin EIS Report it states that “Following commissioning of the BESS, the preparedness of local RFS and Fire and Rescue brigades would be enhanced through site orientation and information events and the facilitation of training in the management of LFP battery fires” (p.132, 2025).
Moreover, the very idea of being asked or told that the local Rural Fire Service members are to be involved in fighting a fire that may occur near or within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site is outrageous, and very concerning for the local Rural Fire Service members are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
More concerning to the local Rural Fire Service members is the high risk to their health, not only from the extreme heat and receiving radiation burns, and heat stroke, but also the effects from the release of the toxic chemicals from the lithium-ion batteries, including respiratory conditions such as upper airway obstruction leading to pulmonary oedema, as well as heart conditions, including abnormal heart rhythms such as dysrhythmias, hypotention, to thermal burns of the hands and the eyes, leading to permanent clouding of the cornea (Vamosi, n.d.)
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members of getting heat radiation, radiation burns, and injury is of major concern in the event of an explosion of a lithium-ion battery and fire occurring within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site, which can be life changing for the local Rural Fire Service members who are aging volunteers. These fires also have the potential threat of thermal runaway and release of toxic chemicals into the air affecting the village of Mangoplah, the surrounding farmland, crops and livestock but also leaking into the local waterways and creeks.
More concerning is the fact that the above issues, requirement and recommendations have not been taken into account, when the inappropriate and ill-chosen location for the proposed Mangoplah BESS project was considered.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.
Carly Fabris
Object
Carly Fabris
Object
The Rock
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System – SSD-77527735.
Because of the Very high risk of hazardous toxic plumes from a fire that may occur within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project affecting human health.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the Very high risk of hazardous toxic plumes from a fire that may occur within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project affecting human health.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
As stated by Lote Consulting, Fire Safety Security, 2022, in their report cited in Neoen, Territory Battery stated, “There have been several recent fires at BESS projects around Australia with associated dispersion of potentially toxic gases” (p.7) and the potential impact on sensitive receptors. Lote Consulting, Fire Safety Security, 2022, mentioned within the report that these toxic gases included, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Fluorine Gases, how these affect people is discussed in more detail below.
Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, state that in the event of “toxic chemicals/fumes being released”, the risk is rated as high (p. 251, Neoen, Territory Battery, 2024). Moreover, according to the NSW Department of Planning, these hazardous “toxic substances can affect people in many different ways and the seriousness of the exposure will be highly dependent on the sensitivity of the individual and on the duration of the exposure” (p.16, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011). As stated by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, Neoen, Territory Battery EIS report, that “most people will begin to experience health effect if exposed to the chemicals for one hour” (p.277). Additionally, Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, in the Neoen, Territory Battery EIS Report have recommended that the residents “from the source to a distance of 20 km shall be notified to shelter inside in the event of a BESS fire” (p. 1054). Even more concerning by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, is the increased Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) produced, the “larger impact distances should be considered…” (p.1053). More disturbing as stated by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited in the Neoen, Territory Battery EIS, “under less stable weather conditions, people within 247 metres of the fire could be exposed to fatal concentrations of Hydrogen Floride (HF) gas if exposed for one hour” (p.258).
Moreover, the NSW Department of Planning state that a hazard “is anything or situation with a potential for causing damage to people, property or the biophysical environment” (p.6, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011). Furthermore, they describe risk, as “the likelihood of a defined adverse outcome…risk of fatality, injury or environmental damage” (p.6, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011).
As mentioned above the toxic gases released during a BESS fire include Hydrogen Fluoride, which if inhaled “is almost completely absorbed in the upper respiratory tract, before reaching the lungs, and distribution to the blood is rapid” (p.81, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, 2001), resulting in possible burns, cough, narrowing of the large airways (bronchoconstriction), and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea).
●Severe: Immediate narrowing and swelling of the throat, upper airway obstruction, accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), and partial or complete lung collapse.
●Whole-body (systemic) effects are likely, including low blood levels of calcium and magnesium (hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia), high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia), low blood pressure (hypotension), abnormal or disordered heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), accumulation of acid in blood and tissues (metabolic acidosis), involuntary muscle contractions, seizures, and death. Hydrofluoric acid can also be absorbed through the skin, resulting in corrosive effects on the skin, it can also cross the placenta during pregnancy resulting in fetal deaths.
It is of major concern that the residents of the village of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders will be at a very high risk of exposure to hazardous toxic plumes in the event of a fire that may occur at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, which can be life changing for everyone in the village of Mangoplah, especially the farmers in the surrounding area with the toxic fumes from a lithium-ion battery fire affecting their soil, crops, and pasture grasses, resulting in loss of income for farmers, but the hazardous toxic plumes can also have a devastating impact on the ecosystem surrounding the area of Mangoplah.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the proposed Mangoplah BESS project built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Because of the Very high risk of hazardous toxic plumes from a fire that may occur within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project affecting human health.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of the Very high risk of hazardous toxic plumes from a fire that may occur within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project affecting human health.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
As stated by Lote Consulting, Fire Safety Security, 2022, in their report cited in Neoen, Territory Battery stated, “There have been several recent fires at BESS projects around Australia with associated dispersion of potentially toxic gases” (p.7) and the potential impact on sensitive receptors. Lote Consulting, Fire Safety Security, 2022, mentioned within the report that these toxic gases included, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Fluorine Gases, how these affect people is discussed in more detail below.
Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, state that in the event of “toxic chemicals/fumes being released”, the risk is rated as high (p. 251, Neoen, Territory Battery, 2024). Moreover, according to the NSW Department of Planning, these hazardous “toxic substances can affect people in many different ways and the seriousness of the exposure will be highly dependent on the sensitivity of the individual and on the duration of the exposure” (p.16, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011). As stated by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, Neoen, Territory Battery EIS report, that “most people will begin to experience health effect if exposed to the chemicals for one hour” (p.277). Additionally, Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, in the Neoen, Territory Battery EIS Report have recommended that the residents “from the source to a distance of 20 km shall be notified to shelter inside in the event of a BESS fire” (p. 1054). Even more concerning by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited, is the increased Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) produced, the “larger impact distances should be considered…” (p.1053). More disturbing as stated by Umwelt Australia Pty. Limited in the Neoen, Territory Battery EIS, “under less stable weather conditions, people within 247 metres of the fire could be exposed to fatal concentrations of Hydrogen Floride (HF) gas if exposed for one hour” (p.258).
Moreover, the NSW Department of Planning state that a hazard “is anything or situation with a potential for causing damage to people, property or the biophysical environment” (p.6, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011). Furthermore, they describe risk, as “the likelihood of a defined adverse outcome…risk of fatality, injury or environmental damage” (p.6, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory, Paper 6, 2011).
As mentioned above the toxic gases released during a BESS fire include Hydrogen Fluoride, which if inhaled “is almost completely absorbed in the upper respiratory tract, before reaching the lungs, and distribution to the blood is rapid” (p.81, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, 2001), resulting in possible burns, cough, narrowing of the large airways (bronchoconstriction), and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea).
●Severe: Immediate narrowing and swelling of the throat, upper airway obstruction, accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), and partial or complete lung collapse.
●Whole-body (systemic) effects are likely, including low blood levels of calcium and magnesium (hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia), high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia), low blood pressure (hypotension), abnormal or disordered heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), accumulation of acid in blood and tissues (metabolic acidosis), involuntary muscle contractions, seizures, and death. Hydrofluoric acid can also be absorbed through the skin, resulting in corrosive effects on the skin, it can also cross the placenta during pregnancy resulting in fetal deaths.
It is of major concern that the residents of the village of Mangoplah and the surrounding landholders will be at a very high risk of exposure to hazardous toxic plumes in the event of a fire that may occur at the proposed Mangoplah BESS project, which can be life changing for everyone in the village of Mangoplah, especially the farmers in the surrounding area with the toxic fumes from a lithium-ion battery fire affecting their soil, crops, and pasture grasses, resulting in loss of income for farmers, but the hazardous toxic plumes can also have a devastating impact on the ecosystem surrounding the area of Mangoplah.
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk of having the proposed Mangoplah BESS project built within close proximity to the village of Mangoplah but also very close to productive farming and grazing land. Additionally, the change of land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the environment, the cost to the Mangoplah community and surrounding farming families, many of whom have been here for generations, working hard to keep the area going, do not want the proposed Mangoplah BESS project to go ahead.
Jeremy Cobb
Object
Jeremy Cobb
Object
The Rock
,
New South Wales
Message
Subject: Objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System - SSD-77527735.
Because of A very high risk of injury to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the Substation and proposed Mangoplah BESS project site in the event of a fire.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of A very high risk of injury to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the Substation and proposed Mangoplah BESS project site in the event of a fire.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
Electrical substations “poses several electrical hazards to personnel and assets such as arc flashes, electric shocks, fires and explosions”(p.1, Saed Amer, 2022), moreover, “managing electrical fire risks is of growing significance…it is the leading cause of fire accidents costing personnel to suffer from severe injuries to fatalities” (p.1, Saed Amer, 2022). Moreover, “There are many hazards in a substation, however the primary hazards are: a. fire caused by overheating and damage of insulation which can be either due to overcurrent or short circuiting; b. arc flash which results from an arcing fault, where the electric arcs and resulting radiation and shrapnel cause fires, severe skin burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries, c. electric shock resulting from current flowing through the body interfering with muscle and central nervous functions; d. electrical burns resulting from the heating effect of the current which burns the body tissue; e. explosion caused by an arc flash and an arc blast” (Hurley et al. 2015, cited in Managing Electrical Fire Risks in Substations: A Framework to Protect Lives and Assets, 2022). These hazards are of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, who are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the substation and BESS site, is of major concern in the event of a fire occurring within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project and or the adjoining Substation. Causing problems with the local Rural Fire Service members not being able to get close enough to be able to fight the fire. As the NSW Rural Fire Service states that “personnel should remain at least 8 metres away from electrical hazards”, they go on to say that “members responding to incidents involving live electricity must prioritize safety by adhering to strict protocols. They need to identify and avoid electrical hazards, remain a safe distance from power lines and equipment, and ensure power is isolated before approaching”. This is of major concern, as this might take some time to notify the appropriate personnel of the incident and to have all power turned off to the location, which only adds more pressure on the local Rural Fire Service members to control a fire near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site and adjoining Substation.
In addition, as stated in the Finley EIS Report, “Electrical equipment fires typically begin with smouldering, leading to slow fire development before full ignition occurs” (p.90, 2025), the report further states this is “not a unique fire scenario”…”the fire is expected to grow slowly” (p.90, 2025), this in turn, makes it difficult for the local Rural Fire Service members to be aware of the impact that may be occurring, in and around the vicinity of the Substation.
Even more concerning is that NSWFR state “that large-scale LiBESS pose a unique challenge to firefighters when responding to and managing an incident”, the NSWFR goes on to say that “large-scale LiBESS as a hazardous electrical, chemical and fire risk with the risk of community consequence that necessitates special consideration”. In addition, Superintendent James O’Carroll, stated “that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire…” (NSW Fire & Rescue, 2025). Moreover, is the lack of appropriate equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatuses and structural firefighting gear, which according to the NSWFR, should only be used by appropriately qualified members. This is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, because they only have the knowledge, experience and equipment to fight bushfire, not fires of this nature, but then in the Deniliquin EIS Report it states that “Following commissioning of the BESS, the preparedness of local RFS and Fire and Rescue brigades would be enhanced through site orientation and information events and the facilitation of training in the management of LFP battery fires” (p.132, 2025).
This is very concerning for the local Rural Fire Service members, as they are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
Moreover, are the community concerns regarding bushfires and potential limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.
Because of A very high risk of injury to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the Substation and proposed Mangoplah BESS project site in the event of a fire.
I am writing to formally express my objection to the Mangoplah Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposed by Samsung C & T Renewable Energy Australia (SREA) Pty. Ltd., to be located within the property on 4178 Holbrook Road, Mangoplah. Because of A very high risk of injury to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the Substation and proposed Mangoplah BESS project site in the event of a fire.
The site is within close vicinity to the village of Mangoplah and is surrounded by agricultural and grazing land – to me it is not a place to build such a project.
Electrical substations “poses several electrical hazards to personnel and assets such as arc flashes, electric shocks, fires and explosions”(p.1, Saed Amer, 2022), moreover, “managing electrical fire risks is of growing significance…it is the leading cause of fire accidents costing personnel to suffer from severe injuries to fatalities” (p.1, Saed Amer, 2022). Moreover, “There are many hazards in a substation, however the primary hazards are: a. fire caused by overheating and damage of insulation which can be either due to overcurrent or short circuiting; b. arc flash which results from an arcing fault, where the electric arcs and resulting radiation and shrapnel cause fires, severe skin burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries, c. electric shock resulting from current flowing through the body interfering with muscle and central nervous functions; d. electrical burns resulting from the heating effect of the current which burns the body tissue; e. explosion caused by an arc flash and an arc blast” (Hurley et al. 2015, cited in Managing Electrical Fire Risks in Substations: A Framework to Protect Lives and Assets, 2022). These hazards are of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, who are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
Fire Risk and Safety to the local Rural Fire Service members with live electricity around the substation and BESS site, is of major concern in the event of a fire occurring within the proposed Mangoplah BESS project and or the adjoining Substation. Causing problems with the local Rural Fire Service members not being able to get close enough to be able to fight the fire. As the NSW Rural Fire Service states that “personnel should remain at least 8 metres away from electrical hazards”, they go on to say that “members responding to incidents involving live electricity must prioritize safety by adhering to strict protocols. They need to identify and avoid electrical hazards, remain a safe distance from power lines and equipment, and ensure power is isolated before approaching”. This is of major concern, as this might take some time to notify the appropriate personnel of the incident and to have all power turned off to the location, which only adds more pressure on the local Rural Fire Service members to control a fire near the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site and adjoining Substation.
In addition, as stated in the Finley EIS Report, “Electrical equipment fires typically begin with smouldering, leading to slow fire development before full ignition occurs” (p.90, 2025), the report further states this is “not a unique fire scenario”…”the fire is expected to grow slowly” (p.90, 2025), this in turn, makes it difficult for the local Rural Fire Service members to be aware of the impact that may be occurring, in and around the vicinity of the Substation.
Even more concerning is that NSWFR state “that large-scale LiBESS pose a unique challenge to firefighters when responding to and managing an incident”, the NSWFR goes on to say that “large-scale LiBESS as a hazardous electrical, chemical and fire risk with the risk of community consequence that necessitates special consideration”. In addition, Superintendent James O’Carroll, stated “that BESS facilities present special problems of fighting fire…” (NSW Fire & Rescue, 2025). Moreover, is the lack of appropriate equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatuses and structural firefighting gear, which according to the NSWFR, should only be used by appropriately qualified members. This is of major concern to the local Rural Fire Service members, because they only have the knowledge, experience and equipment to fight bushfire, not fires of this nature, but then in the Deniliquin EIS Report it states that “Following commissioning of the BESS, the preparedness of local RFS and Fire and Rescue brigades would be enhanced through site orientation and information events and the facilitation of training in the management of LFP battery fires” (p.132, 2025).
This is very concerning for the local Rural Fire Service members, as they are volunteers who are not directly paid for their time, and are not volunteers to sacrifice their lives to protect the proposed Mangoplah BESS project in the event of a fire occurring near or within the area of the proposed Mangoplah BESS project site.
Moreover, are the community concerns regarding bushfires and potential limitations to firefighting operations are often dismissed due to the RFS not raising any objections to projects during the planning process. Not only are there issues with access due to infrastructure but another whole range due to lithium-ion batteries and potential toxicity (Bowman, 2025).
It deeply affects and concerns me that a rural community like Mangoplah is being exposed to this degree of risk and being impacted so heavily. Please consider the fire risk and the added pressure posed to the local Rural Fire Service members and the broader community. In addition, changing the land use from farming to industrial will negatively impact Mangoplah’s rural setting and lifestyle. Please consider the cost to the Mangoplah community – their environment, their safety, their homes and many farming families who have been here for generations will all be at increased risk if the proposed Mangoplah BESS project goes ahead.