ALLA
As an Awabakal Traditional Owner, I want to draw your attention to a project that has recently kicked off in the Hunter Valley called the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP).
https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/projects/hunter-transmission-projectÂ
The Proposal
This project proposes a major power transmission line corridor to carry 500 (kv) lines from Bayswater to Eraring power stations.
The Proposed Route of the Corridor
The route chosen by the N.S.W. Government department, Energy Co, for this corridor runs predominately through a number of N.S.W. State Forests such as Pokolbin, Corrabare and Watagan (Onley) in the Lower Hunter.
Our Cultural Sites and environment will be impacted drastically if his proposed corridor is realised.
View the route here with an interactive map:
https://caportal.com.au/energyco
The Scale of the Transmission Lines and Towers
These Transmission lines will be supported by transmission towers that are 70 metres (230 feet) high.
The area cleared for each tower will amount to an area of about 100 x 100 metres with a concrete pad of 50 x 50 metres.
There will need to be roads cleared into every tower, and easements cleared under the power lines so as to lessen the chance of causing bush-fires.
Impact on Aboriginal Cultural Sites
If this plan eventuates, it will impact possibly hundreds of our significant Aboriginal Cultural sites, destroying many in the process.
It will also destroy vast swathes of beautiful native forest habitat in which quolls and koalas amongst many other flora and fauna make their homes.
Our People have been visiting these areas for generations over millennia.
If this proposed corridor is allowed to be utilized for the building of this transmission line, it will be devastating for our People, as it will cut us off from more of our Cultural Heritage.
Destruction of Cultural Landscape & Sites
We have lost so much since the invasion of our Traditional Country over 200 years ago.
Aboriginal Cultural sites have been destroyed at an alarming rate, without any thought for what this does to our community.
Very little heritage will be left for our descendants to visit and learn from in the future.
This landscape is vital for the continuation of our Cultural practices, and this project stands to destroy this continued Cultural connection due to the lack of understanding, foresight and consultation.
An Appeal to the Community
We are appealing to the community at large to review the draft documents online because it stands to impact everyone who visits these beautiful areas and cares about the environment as a whole.
How can this be a “green energy project” when it destroys substantial areas of native forest and habitat in the process?
Community Consultation Period
The community consultation began with a submission period on the 20 November 2023 and the submission period ends on the 18 December 2023.
This is why it is imperative for those concerned, to review and reply ASAP so as to have a voice to help protect what is so important to us and those to come in the future.
Please follow the links below to read the draft and to find the options to complete submissions https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/projects/hunter-transmission-project
Survey Link
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HTPsubmission
Thanks for Your Consideration,
Shane Frost
Awabakal Traditional Owner.