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EnergyCo UpdateA New Route, the Same Old Problems
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Most in our community will now have heard the news.
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On 1st October, EnergyCo quietly announced a new transmission route heading up through the Walcha LGA. The line from Bayswater to Walcha’s so-called Central South Hub has been shifted eastward — with no warning to landholders, Council, or the Community Reference Group.
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What Happened?
This sudden change came without justification and looks to be a knee-jerk reaction to pressure from a community group near Dungowan — an area under the original route.
The way this was handled was deeply disappointing. Landholders found out through poor communication, and many felt blindsided. After promising to “do better,” EnergyCo has managed to do worse.
Their much-touted “social licence” effort? It’s gone missing in action.
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Council Objection
Importantly, our Walcha Council has made an emphatic statement of objection to this new corridor in a well supported Extraordinary Meeting, held on the 8th October. The Council resolution, supported unanimously, was a strong show of objection to Energy Co’s new route. Unity between Walcha Council and the community is essential to achieving a good outcome for Walcha.
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Who’s Affected
This new route impacts more than 100 additional landholders between Bayswater and Central South, including many across Walcha who had previously not been affected.
Meanwhile, those north of the Central South Hub remain in the firing line.
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Why This Route Makes No Sense
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We’ve raised — and will continue to raise — serious concerns about this plan:
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- A Waste of Money: The route connects to a redundant hub. There are no projects in the NSW Planning Portal that would use it.
- Snow Risk: The line crosses snow-prone, high-altitude terrain from Nundle to Niangala, with 15 km above 1315 m elevation — 140 m higher than the old route. Remember the lines that came down east of Bendemeer in the last snowstorm?
- Fire Risk: It passes through 8 km of pine forest and another 8 km of steep, heavily timbered country. The old route avoided this kind of terrain entirely.
- No Co-location: The old route ran alongside 65 km of existing corridor, reducing cost, access issues, biodiversity loss, and landholder impact. The new route? Zero co-location.
- No Redundancy: The old design had a split line for backup — something EnergyCo engineers once said was “absolutely necessary.” Now, in more dangerous country, that redundancy has simply vanished.
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In short: this new design is a rushed reaction, not a reasoned plan.
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Walcha High Country Guardians
A new and determined group of affected landholders have come together — the Walcha High Country Guardians — and they’re wasting no time. They’ve already gained strong media coverage and are fighting hard to protect our region.
Voice for Walcha stands firmly with them.
We encourage everyone in the community to get behind the Guardians and their campaign.
Follow them on Facebook: Walcha High Country Guardians
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Our Position, consistent for the last 2 years, Remains Clear
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The Central South Hub is redundant — a relic of old, unrealistic expressions of interest.
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Walcha Energy’s fantasy of 4GW was never supported by landholders, the community, or investors. It has since vanished.
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With no projects, there is no justification for this line through our LGA.
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EnergyCo must explain: What are we missing? Before spending $14 million per kilometre across 220 km of transmission, they owe us real answers.
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The sensible alternative is to follow the existing New England Highway corridor.
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No Projects = No Hub = No Transmission Line.
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Energy Co are holding a Community Information Session
When: 28th October, 10 am – 2 pm
Where: Walcha Veterinary Supplies
The Walcha High Country Guardians are asking landholders to meet at 12 pm to make a collective statement of objection.
If you can, please come along — even for a short while — to show your support.
Every voice counts, and every presence matters
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How can you help?
If you haven't done this yet please click below to sign up, even if you are also a subscriber and tick the box stating ..
"I support the actions of Voice for Walcha, in their communications and activity, through my membership"
To show your support, and to strengthen our influence.
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