LANDHOLDERS fighting to protect their farms from a 180 kilometre electricity network proposed to run through prime agricultural land have doubled down on their efforts and joined forces earlier this year.
The Merriwa-Cassilis Alliance was formed in February after producers were informed their properties would be part of a corridor of power lines connecting the state government's proposed Orana-Central West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) to the existing grid.
Since then, the alliance has lobbied politicians and the proponent tasked with carrying out the corridor works, TransGrid, to have it shifted.
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After stakeholders met with TransGrid representatives last month, the group has been busy identifying alternative routes including on public land, mining land and expanding existing infrastructure.
"We didn't just want to complain about the route and not offer any solutions," said Merriwa-Cassilis Alliance president Peter Campbell.
"Our group wants to work with TransGrid to try and achieve the best outcome for the state government, which has made it clear this project is happening, and for landholders who don't want a massive corridor of powerlines going through their prime agricultural land."
When first considering the route for the proposed corridor, Mr Campbell said prime agricultural land was not considered in the same way as culturally significant sites and environmentally significant sites.
"To be honest, I thought that was pretty rude at the time," he said.
"That's why we have come up with four alternative options for TransGrid's investigation which use existing infrastructure, mining country and public land.
"We think these suggestions have real potential because it is a more direct link between the REZ and has far less of an impact on prime agricultural land.
"The current COVID-19 situation has delayed our next scheduled meeting with TransGrid, but we have submitted these suggestions to them and we're hopeful they will investigate them and will be ready to discuss them at our next in-person meeting."
Fellow alliance member and Merriwa mixed cropping and cattle producer Heidi Inder said the group was also pushing for agriculture to be more greatly considered in the planning process for infrastructure projects.
"The majority of the Merriwa Plateau is uniquely identified as biophysical strategic agricultural land (BSAL) and BSAL makes up only 3.49 per cent of NSW land," Mrs Inder said.
"I think it makes good sense to prioritise agriculture when making these sorts of land-use decisions."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
