Transgrid meets with farmers over powerline plan

The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone Transmission project will deliver high voltage transmission infrastructure to connect renewable energy to the existing electricity network.

Local landowners have voiced their concerns about the project after first finding out about it when a letter arrived in the mail in December.

Those in attendance represented about 28 per cent of the 250 landholders impacted by the proposal.

Farmers discussed the impact Transgrid's restrictions on routine farming operations around the power lines will have on their production capacity; making many businesses unviable.

Height restrictions on farming machinery, interference on guidance technology and the no go area for aerial management would mean crops would not be managed in a timely and cost effective manner, they said.

Some properties would potentially be cut in half by the power line. Many family homes were in the proposed corridor raising health concerns. The significant negative impact on land values was also discussed.

The meeting was chaired by Brian Elton of Elton Consulting.

While the Merriwa-Cassilis Alliance does not oppose the goal of delivering renewable energy, it is fighting the specific location of the proposed study corridor.

MCA recommended forming a reference working group representing private landholders from the Merriwa plateau, agriculture, Transgrid, and Department of Planning Industry and Environment.

They also wished to extend the 'study corridor refined' and consultation period by 12 months to mid-late 2022.

"We haven't had the opportunity for a two way conversation up until now so we hope going forward this will happen," MCA president Peter Campbell said.

"We want to work with Transgrid and government. MCA await their response."

Transgrid's executive manager Sean McGoldrick stated at the end of the meeting Transgrid would respond to MCA's recommendations from the meeting.