Bushfire-impacted landholders in the Snowy Valleys have spent the best part of the year working towards recovery.
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But now several are galvanising around a new challenge - the route of TransGrid's HumeLink project, a new 500 kilovolt transmission line, which will help connect Snowy Hydro 2.0 with the electricity grid.
The transmission line is set to cut through the property of Yaven Creek cattle producer Matt Pearce, who had around 90 per cent of his farm burnt out in the fires.
His house and upgraded and extended cattle yards are in the middle of HumeLink's current study corridor.
"We invested considerably into our cattle yards following the fires, and we've now found out that this potential power line will go over the top of them," Mr Pearce said.
"Another major worry is the devaluation of our property and how we operate our business under and around the lines, it will have massive impacts on our operation."
He said they were also concerned by the lack of community consultation carried out by TransGrid.
"It's been really flawed, it seems that only directly impacted landholders, with the corridor running through their place, were contacted by TransGrid.
"There were people who sit only a few hundred metres outside the study corridor, who had no idea it was happening until they were made aware by other community members."
Mr Pearce said they would like to see the route run through Crown lands where possible, as opposed to prime agricultural country.
TransGrid stated that the HumeLink corridor was currently under examination - and consultation with the community and landholders would be considered when determining the route.
They said members of the senior executive team met with landholders on Wednesday and consultation will continue for another year.
TransGrid's Head of Corporate Affairs, Graeme Wedderburn said they were there to listen to the views and concerns of local people.
"Local community leaders like landowner Matt Pearce and Dr Joe McGirr MP have been very clear about wanting TransGrid's people to meet face to face with local people and today's meeting is the first opportunity to do this," Mr Wedderburn said.
"I've spoken directly with Matt Pearce and Joe McGirr over the last few weeks and I'd like to thank them both for convening the meeting today and for productive discussions on how meaningful and genuine consultation can occur for landowners in local communities with us on the project.
"We have been receiving lots of calls and inquiries about the project from people in communities all across the region including from Yass, Bannister and Bannaby and we are committed to providing opportunities for consultation in all areas."
Mr Pearce said he was pleased that TransGrid had now engaged with them and were looking forward to meeting with representatives to address some of their concerns.
"We've been under a huge amount of pressure and mental strain from what we went through earlier in the year with the bushfires, then there was COVID-19 and now this has become all consuming for a number of us," he said.
"It's another gift from 2020."
