Why was there ever a plan to build the Central South Hub, and why is it no longer justified?
In Q4 2022, EnergyCo called for expressions of interest from Generators in the New England REZ, to assist hub layout and transmission design of the New England REZ.
They got a response from Walcha Energy that included multiple projects on the Walcha Plateau.
It was overly ambitious and was not realistic. This group of projects did not have community awareness, let alone support. They did not even have host landholder support. Walcha Energy were not a generator, they were a $2 company with the ambition of accumulating contracts to sell to a developer.
And yet, this Walcha Energy thought bubble became the genesis of the Central South Hub design, being currently promoted by Energy Co. It is not supported by generator interest and has no justification for being built.
The vanishing of all projects and project finance (CIP withdrawal from Winterbourne Wind being another example) is evidence of the lack of economic viability of Wind development around Walcha. All that remains, is a shell of a project in Skye Ridge Wind, a project that Origin have shown little interest in progressing. Skye Ridge Wind is the only flimsy justification for Central South Hub. Even if Skye Ridge gets landowner support and proceeds – it could connect to Central hub at Kentucky.
Central South Hub is redundant infrastructure!
Without Central South hub there is no justification for 2 x 500kV transmission lines to be built though our beautiful LGA.
Other supporting documents and information:
Note : After this was questioned by an impacted neighbour the timeline was pushed back by 5 years and republished.
