Hunter Transmission Project

Treading lightly to minimise environmental impacts

Investigations and feedback from key stakeholders, including local councils, have helped us to avoid important environmental areas. 

This includes:

• avoiding the Watagans National Park near Cooranbong
• minimising the clearing of scarce valley floor vegetation, such as the critically endangered Central Hunter Valley Eucalyptus Forest Woodland and Warkworth Sands Woodland
• minimising the removal of critical habitat for key threatened species, such as the Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot
• protecting scenic landscapes and culturally sensitive areas.

We're working with the community, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Forestry Corporation to avoid and minimise potential impacts on plants and animals, and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Read more: Finding a suitable route

EnergyCo is committed to genuine community engagement

That means working closely with all stakeholders to minimise the impacts of the HTP on people and the environment and to maximise the benefits of the project for the Hunter community.

We're talking to affected individuals and groups. We value their opinions and try to address their concerns.

We're engaging with the local Aboriginal community to make sure the HTP doesn’t affect any sensitive cultural areas.

We're consulting with environment groups to minimise impacts on endangered ecological communities and threatened species, and to deliver strategic offsets that improve biodiversity values in the Hunter.

We're also seeking input from recreation groups, making every effort to align or realign the transmission line to minimise any disruption to recreation activities in the State forests.

With the community’s help, we want to get the details right as we refine the preliminary corridor over the next 18 months. 

Working with potentially affected landholders

We have a dedicated local team available to work with potentially affected landowners. We’re available to meet, provide information and support, and answer questions. 

During the planning phase, we are talking with landowners to understand how land is used and identify other possible property impacts or concerns. This will inform potential improvements to the design of the project. This could include avoiding dwellings and high value land, minimising fragmentation of blocks, limiting construction access and other amenity issues.

Hunter first to maximise benefits for our community

In addition to providing clean and reliable electricity, the HTP will support economic growth in the Hunter to leave a positive legacy.

We’ll harness and build on the region’s diverse economic skill base and provide opportunities for the Hunter community to share in the benefits of the project. That means:

• working with councils and the community to fund local projects
• providing strategic benefit payments to private landowners hosting transmission infrastructure on top of any compensation for easements
• increasing income and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal communities in line with the First Nations Guidelines
• employing as many locals as possible
• prioritising the purchase of goods and services from Hunter businesses
• creating education and training opportunities for the local community
• delivering strategic offsets to improve biodiversity values in the region
• enhancing recreational facilities in the state forests.

These initiatives will take a Hunter first approach with suggestions from the community.

Time to work through the detail

We’re still in the early stages of the project and have 18 months to work through the details.

That means taking the time to work with affected landowners, local communities, Aboriginal groups and other key stakeholders to identify and address concerns, and to create a positive legacy.

We have a local team who’ll be out in the community to answer questions and understand concerns.

We use online and in-person engagement methods so you can participate at a time that is convenient for you.

Hunter Transmission Project regional reference group

A Regional Reference Group for the HTP held its first meeting on 5 February 2024.

The reference group plays a significant role in facilitating strategic discussions between EnergyCo and the Hunter region community. Early engagement for the HTP continues ahead of an extensive approval pathway during 2024/2025.  

The group consists of:  

• An independent chairperson
  • Former Cessnock Mayor and Hunter Join Organisation Chair Bob Pynsent
• 3 representatives from the relevant local government areas, one each from each council:
  • Mayor Sue Moore (Singleton City Council)
  • Mayor Jay Suvaal (Cessnock City Council)
  • Mayor Kay Fraser (Lake Macquarie City Council)
• 3 regional representatives from peak business, Aboriginal and environment sectors
  • Samantha Martin-Williams (Business)
  • Nathan Towney (Aboriginal)
  • Craig Anderson (environment)
• 3 community representatives, one from each of the above local government areas  
  • John Sullivan (Singleton)
  • Prof Phillip O’Neill (Cessnock)
  • Dianne Crosdale (Lake Macquarie)

The reference group will provide a platform for collaborative discussions on crucial aspects of the HTP including the project design, community views, minimising impacts on landowners and the environment, and maximising benefits for the Hunter community.

Read the media release.