Newsletter # 13

Important Notice: Council Requests for Biodiversity Baseline Studies

We want to inform you about recent developments regarding requests from Tamworth Regional Council for Biodiversity Baseline Studies on private properties. Both impacted and non-directly impacted landholders may have been approached by Bronwyn Brennan (Senior Environmental Scientist) or Ashleigh Smith (Sustainability Coordinator) from the council, as well as representatives from Stringybark Ecological, seeking permission to enter properties for data collection.

After consulting with our solicitor, Valley Alliance strongly advises all landholders—whether directly impacted by the High Voltage Transmission Lines (HVTLs) or not—to refrain from granting access to Tamworth Regional Council or Stringybark Ecological acting on the council’s behalf for these studies.

We strongly advise that you share this important information with your neighbours to ensure everyone is aware of their rights. If you have any questions or require further details about this legal advice, please do not hesitate to contact Valley Alliance directly.

EnergyCo Meeting with Valley Alliance Committee Members

On 8th October, 2024, several committee members of Valley Alliance met with EnergyCo to discuss the proposed NEREZ route. Unfortunately, the meeting was unproductive and highlighted a concerning bias from EnergyCo regarding the NEREZ. Their approach indicates a disregard for local input and community concerns.

When committee members questioned EnergyCo about their assessment criteria, they consistently avoided discussing the Aberbaldie Travelling Stock Route—a route that meets their own standards but was dismissed without proper consideration. Instead, the theme of the meeting was one of evasion, with EnergyCo either ignoring the issue or changing the subject entirely.  Their focus was only discussing the benefits to EnergyCo by utilising the current proposed corridor.

It is crucial to clarify that EnergyCo has NOT conducted a thorough assessment of the route proposed by Valley Alliance. They only examined a segment involving the Stock Route and then merged it with their chosen paths. This lack of genuine engagement with the community reflects a troubling trend of oversight and lack of listening carefully to the community.

Due to the discrepancies in the data found in the EnergyCo report regarding the Aberbaldie Travelling Stock Route, as well as their failure to assess the route as we specified, we have formally requested a reassessment of this route.

It is important for Valley Alliance members to note that in the media releases and FAQs, EnergyCo claims to be consulting with impacted landholders and the community. However, this is not the case for the currently affected landholders. EnergyCo did engage with those impacted by the previous route in 2023. Since announcing the new proposed corridor in March 2024, they have failed to genuinely and authentically consult with the newly impacted landholders and the community associated with Valley Alliance, which includes a significant number of affected members. Misleading statements in their media releases and FAQs may give the impression that they are engaging with all affected parties, but this is not the case.

Another alarming discovery from the meeting was that EnergyCo’s maps contain inaccuracies, failing to include all known residences within the proposed route. We have formally requested a reassessment of their data to rectify these discrepancies. Their reliance on outdated desktop assessments raises significant alarm and concern about the validity of their findings.

Additionally, EnergyCo's lack of local knowledge is evident. They were unaware that some areas have only one access road. This ignorance poses a severe risk to community safety, particularly in Category 1 bushfire zones. The dismissive attitude shown towards residents' safety, especially in areas like Duncan’s Creek, where the proposed routes could impede evacuation in emergency situations, is extremely troubling.  

Valley Alliance Committee members observed a concerning lack of engagement from leadership, which may highlight why the EnergyCo team often appears unproductive, unresponsive, and disengaged. It’s disheartening to witness such a lack of accountability and effectiveness from a team that claims to be effectively consulting with our community during what could potentially be a life changing process for many impacted members.

Senate Inquiry into Nuclear Energy

In related news, there is currently a Senate inquiry into nuclear energy. Submissions are welcome until 15th November, 2024, and should be at least 250 words in length. Details on public hearings will be announced soon.

For more information and to submit your views, please visit: Senate Inquiry on Nuclear Energy

We highly recommend watching this insightful video from the Senate hearings, featuring a discussion between Dan Repacholi MP (Committee Chair) and Dr. Adi Paterson, a nuclear expert. You can view the video here: Watch Now.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights on the topic!

Ombudsman to help resolve renewable project disputes

The government has appointed an Ombudsman to offer independent advice and dispute resolution services to landholders impacted by renewable energy infrastructure projects.

It’s important to reflect on the events of March 2024, when EnergyCo poorly communicated their plans to impact our homes and communities, failing to properly consult with us. At the few information sessions they held, EnergyCo staff were unprepared and unwilling to answer the community's questions. If any of your previous communications to EnergyCo went unanswered, or if your concerns, complaints, or questions were not addressed, we recommend resending your letter to the Ombudsman in December.

Starting in December, the new services will be rolled out by the NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman. Once we have more details, we will share them with you. In the meantime, if you need assistance with drafting your correspondence to the Ombudsman, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to help

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we can advocate for our community’s safety and interests.