First up, the EIS is a massive document. It’s intentionally dense, because EnergyCo would rather you didn’t actually read it. Luckily EnergyCo also published a summary version here. Or you can read through our key issues below.

Next, we really need people to make a submission. This is the first and only time you’ll have a say on this project. No point complaining later - this is your chance.

Up to now, EnergyCo has been claiming to be doing “community consultation”, but the simple fact is nothing raised in any of those meetings has gone anywhere. Zero impact. They may as well have not happened. The amazing thing is EnergyCo actually seem to think people are telling them they are doing a good job.

Here is what EnergyCo think
people are saying about
EnergyCo:

You can submit a response to the EIS, and you should. But you need to address the issues raised. Don’t get sidetracked into what you think about renewable energy or politics or net zero or how dreadful EnergyCo are - otherwise they’ll just ignore your response.

Here’s a quick summary of the key issues.

Giving themselves permission to our public land

A bit of the transmission corridor is on private property, but the majority goes through State Forest. Yes, the same State Forest that we all own and enjoy. The beautiful Watagans, Corrabare & Pokolbin State Forests. 

EnergyCo have essentially approved themselves to clear a huge corridor through our stunning forests. 

Clearing our trees, our native wildlife, and destroying our bushwalks and campgrounds. Who wants to go on a bushwalk along a massive transmission corridor covered in weeds, rubbish and burnt out cars? Or try to enjoy a picnic next to a humming 500kv tower?

Clearing land

This section of the transmission corridor involves clearing 761 hectares (1,880 acres) of native vegetation. It also means creating or upgrading hundreds of roads and tracks to access each of the towers.

Some of this is on private land, but the majority is through State Forests. There is an already cleared corridor a few km to the north, which EnergyCo could have used. Someone just drew a line on a map and decided to put it there. No community input. Roads everywhere and massive cleared corridors means more burnt out cars, crime and idiots.

Massive impact on biodiversity

• Direct impact to 38 threatened flora

• Direct impact to 28 threatened fauna

• Other impacts on 4 threatened birds and 4 threatened mammals

• Serious and irreversible impacts to 16 hectares, containing 8 threatened flora and 7 threatened fauna species

Missing data and faulty surveys

This Impact Statement is based on survey data. But some of the private properties they haven’t even visited yet - this is evident by blank sections in their survey maps. But they then go and treat that blank section as containing no ecological value. In one example, a property they have not bothered to survey contains a wide variety of Persoonia, including threatened species that local groups are trying to restore.

Ignoring social and community impacts

Several of the impacted properties have been set up as wildlife care sanctuaries. Our communities have invested funds and time in building these up. They are critical for injured animals and supporting an ecosystem already under pressure. EnergyCo has ignored the impact of destroying these important assets - they don’t even get a mention.

Ignoring the human impact

Our elderly and vulnerable should be treated with respect and care. EnergyCo have treated this as an opportunity to bully, threaten and swindle. Make ridiculous low offers, trespass and treat with aggressive disdain. Cases such as Ian & Vicky Barry don’t even get a mention, yet EnergyCo have the time to use their stories as a recruiting tool.

Offsets

To address all this destruction, EnergyCo plan to buy 234,753 offset credits. Essentially they are paying someone else (with our money) so they can destroy our pristine bushland. Study after study have shown these credits to be often very dodgy and don’t offset anything. Just don’t destroy our native bushland in the first place - use the existing corridor.

Traffic impact

There will be daily traffic movement of almost 1000 heavy vehicles through small towns like Millfield. 7 days a week. For at least 3 years, and probably more.

Imagine being stuck in that traffic jam, 7 days a week for 3 years. An extra 800-1000 vehicles a day. If you don’t want this, speak up now.

Worker villages and construction compounds

There will be several worker compounds, with workshops, concrete manufacture, helicopter landing and accommodation for several hundred workers in demountables. These will be at:

• Muswellbrook

• Howick

• Millfield

• Gouldsville

• Cooranbong / Martinsville

There are also other construction support bases not listed in the EIS along the corridor. So small roads such as Mount View Rd and Mt Baker Rd will get additional heavy traffic.

Fire resilience

There is no analysis of the impact of this project on our fire resilience. Some dams that have been used by helicopters to collect water for firefighting will now be blocked by high voltage transmission lines. The presence of high voltage lines also restricts movement of some firefighting equipment. High winds may result in towers or lines down, which at 500kv may start more fires. EnergyCo isn’t funding any additional fire fighting capacity - it’s up to our communities to support this.

Improved vehicle access to bushland means more traffic, and unfortunately more arson during high risk times. Any easement or track access that EnergyCo demands (either on private or state forest) means they essentially own it - a landholder can no longer erect gates or restrict access to prevent firebugs getting through.