Review of the transmission route for the New England Renewable Energy Zone

In response to community feedback, EnergyCo has carried out a review of the transmission route for the New England Renewable Energy Zone network infrastructure project around the Dungowan and Woolomin areas.

The review looked at using the existing Aberbaldie-Niangala travelling stock reserve to the east of EnergyCo’s revised study corridor announced in March 2024. 

It was suggested the alternate option would increase the use of public land and reduce impacts on private landowners from the transmission lines. 

Our assessment found the alternate option actually increases the impact on private landowners and, on balance, is not an improvement to the current study corridor. 

Of the two detailed options assessed, there would be an increase in private landholders by 18 and 25 respectively. Of the land area required, around 40% of the land is privately owned and 60% is government owned.

There would be at least five times as many dwellings within 250m of the alternative corridors than there will be along EnergyCo’s proposed route (and the alternatives also bring in more dwellings within 500m, 1km, and 2km as well).  

The proposed route would also increase the length of transmission line needed by at least 20 per cent, or more than 40 kilometres. The travelling stock reserve option is much more expensive, adding more than 20% in costs to the relevant section of the project.

EnergyCo recognises that this is a difficult process for affected landowners and is committed to ongoing engagement as we finalise the corridor.

Our key priority now is working with each individual landowner to determine the most suitable route within the preferred study corridor. This is important to understand their individual land use and to help us design the project in a way that avoids, mitigates and manages potential impacts to their property wherever possible. 

We will be holding our third round of drop-in sessions over the next two weeks for the community to speak to our team and ask questions. 

Sessions will be held in Tamworth, Uralla, Armidale, Woolomin, Murrurundi and Muswellbrook and all the details can be found here.

Report - Assessment of the Aberbaldie-Niangala travelling stock reserve route