The position of a powerline has threatened to divide the small communities of Adelong, Tumut and Batlow and the localities that surround them, with new route options putting some landholders in the clear at the expense of others.
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The powerline in question is the proposed HumeLink 500kV transmission line, a project managed by TansGrid to transfer electricity from the Snowy 2.0 expansion to the rest of the state.
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TransGrid announced the new route options for HumeLink on March 18 after the energy transmission operator faced opposition from stakeholders impacted by the original route.
TransGrid said one of the new routes would run through the Green Hills State Forest, moving the transmission line onto public land and away from privately owned farmland, as much as possible.
The other new route, running east of Batlow and north of the Blowering Reservoir, aims to avoid Tumut Airport, with stakeholders raising concerns that the transmission line could impact expansion and operation of the airport, especially during bushfire season.
However, some community members argue the new routes simply impact a new group of landholders.
HumeLink Project Action Group committee co-chair Jen Dumbrell said it wasn't the outcome they had advocated for - the committee hoping TransGrid would run the line in parallel to the "02" Option 2F from Maragle through to Yass to minimise impact to landholders and use public land as a priority.
"They've taken the burden from one set of landholders and put it on another group of landholders.
"For TransGrid to do this and not expect a similar backlash is absurd."
HumeLink Project Action Group held a meeting on Sunday with close to 70 people in attendance.
Impacted landholders were encouraged to unite as one community group, cease individual interaction with TransGrid and deny access on to their properties.
"We expect this will send a clear message to TransGrid ... and they will be forced to come back to the committee and discuss other options rather than cherry pick individual landholders," Ms Dumbrell said.
Mount View Orchards Batlow manager Ian Robson said it was the lack of communication and consultation by TransGrid that had caused angst in the community.
He also argued impacted landholders should be offered an annual payment by TransGrid instead of a once-off payment for the land used for an easement.
"At the end of the day this is for people on the East Coast to have electricity but the farmers are the ones that have to put up with it.
"TransGrid will be making money out of these powerlines for the next 99 years so why can't the landholders who have it on their property get some share of that?"
Yaven Creek landholder Matt Pearce, who had previously campaigned for the route to be changed, said it was a positive outcome for them individually and TransGrid had listened in regards to using public land where possible. However, he acknowledged there would be others now impacted.
"This does not rest easy with me, we are small tight community and division is the last thing we need."
A statement from TransGrid said they are currently looking at a number of route options and where possible they would propose new transmission on public land, or in parallel to existing infrastructure.
They stated consultation with the 65 landowners impacted began immediately following announcement of the new route option.
TransGrid said they are aiming to give other HumeLink landowners certainty by publishing the final proposed route in mid-2021.
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