Hills of Gold Wind Farm

As a resident of Nundle and Crawney rd I object to this proposal in its entirety due to the destruction of habitat, inappropriate use of crown land, increased traffic, noise, industrialisation of natural environment, damage to waterways and endangered fauna.

Integrated Veterinary Rehabilitation
ABN 48 654 127 269
As a veterinarian I am concerned with the destruction of Flora and Fauna and disruption of animal habitat this project will cause. The amended proposal does not address the many concerns raised in the submissions to the original DA and I feel the destruction of Koala habitat and the proximity of the project to Ben Halls Nature Reserve which also contains the Sphagnum moss cool temperate rainforest that is listed as critically endangered, are sufficient reasons for the project not to be approved. Building these types of industrial developments in highly sensitive ecosystems does not solve any of the climate change issues our world in currently facing

My property in Nundle will be heavily impacted by traffic with every construction vehicle coming past my block. I am also concerned about the impact I will receive from the proposed private road/bypass that will be built across the land behind The Peel Inn. This will be used to transport large turbine components. The Peel Inn land is in the flood zone. The developer proposes to construct a solid road, designed to take heavy loads, rising from the intersection of Oakenville St and Herring St, to the intersection of Innes St and Jenkins st. There is considerable difference in height between those intersections, possibly 9-10 meters, so the road will be effectively a ramp blocking the natural flow of the flood water.
My property is located near the river and is flood affected. If this new road/ramp/levee bank causes the flood water to back up, my property will be additionally impacted. Where is their flood study?
The road will also be a bloody eyesore at the entrance of the town, which is required for the life of the project.
What makes them think they can come along and cut down street trees, not to mention hectares of native vegetation, for a project that will last less time than those trees took to grow?
If the turbine component transporting vehicle has any mechanical issues (ie flat steer tyre) and cannot make the turn from Oakenville St onto that “ramp” then the main road into Nundle will be blocked to all vehicles including any emergency services vehicle such as Ambulance and Police. Emergency services can access Nundle via another road but to turn around and use that road would add another 40min to an emergency situation, potentially costing a life.
This project will be a disgusting eyesore along the ridge line. I can't believe the arrogance of the proponents, who believe they have a natural right to impact communities purely to line their pockets. This project should not proceed. There are easier places available.

My submission is attached

JWS Property Trust ABN 17330346041
The Amended Proposal for Hills Of Gold Wind Farm does not address the major concerns regarding this project raised in the submissions to the original DA January 2021. This project has huge environmental implications, does not have a viable transport route and is not supported by the majority of the local community and the Tamworth Regional Council. The documents provided by the proponent lack important detail and contain a large number of inaccuracies the project should not be approved

The Nundle Pony Club objects to the amended proposal Hills of Gold Wind Farm. The running of Pony Club events will be affected by the use of Crawney Road as the major Transport route for construction of the project and we have safety concerns for our members travelling with horse floats and horses on Crawney Road as the number of traffic movements especially trucks and large vehicles will increase. We are also concerned for the increasing division that is occurring within the Nundle Community caused by this project and that the proponent is making donations to local clubs and organisations to win support. We do not think this project will benefit the local community as it will change the character and fabric of Nundle in a negative way.

I object to this proposed wind farm. I live on Crawney Road and I am a full time musician, if this proposal were to go ahead, it would significantly effect me and my business, as I am constantly recording and playing which would mean the noise from the trucks would effect every aspect of my job. There has been no noise assessment for this area, nor proper consultation from Engie. I am a Kamilaroi man and the known disruption Engie will be doing to the land will effect me mentally due to the connection I have within the Nundle and Hanging Rock region. I support no aspect of this proposal at all. The proposed crossings over Wombramurra creek that will eventually flow through our property is likely to have a major impact upon our water ways. Wombramurra creek is home to highly endangered amphibians. The area is also very special to me as I have worked on it whilst filming cultural pieces for other artists. The proposed industrialisation of this near pristine area is abhorrent.

I am a business owner with significant long term interests in the town of Nundle and believe apart from Myriad other issues but mainly the visual and environmental impact on this town will significantly affect tourism in this region . The benefits seem short sighted when contrasted against the opportunity the region has to celebrate the unique natural beauty that will be lost if this project goes ahead .

I am a passionate supporter of renewable energy as a means of helping the environment. But as a regular visitor to Nundle, with a number of relatives and friends in the area, I completely understand the objections being expressed by so many residents. The proposed Hills of Gold Wind farm is an utterly inappropriate industrial development in a very special and fragile area. It threatens the environment more than it would contribute to benefitting it. There are many other locations where wind turbines could be built that would involve far less disruption, visual pollution and degradation. Nundle is a heritage town surrounded by exceptionally beautiful terrain. It is worth preserving, even at the cost of higher construction costs elsewhere.

The roads at this point in time are atrocious, what will they be like with the added traffic? Nundle/ hanging rock are some of the most picturesque countryside in the country, I fear for the local wildlife and also for the land/ environment if this wind farm goes ahead. The township of Nundle is one that has a tourist appeal . Bringing this wind farm to The surrounds will have a negative impact on this as well

Sylvester Pastoral Trust
ABN 94 318 979 683

Wombramurra Station
504 Head of Peel Road
Nundle NSW 2340
[email protected]
Ph 0427468125

11th December 2022

The Secretary
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
12 Darcy Street,
PARRAMATTA
Dear Sir/Madam,
HILLS OF GOLD WIND FARM – SSD 9679
Dear Sir/Madam
We wish to object to the amended State Significant Development application Hills of Gold Wind Farm. We would like to note the concerns raised in our previous response to the original Development Application have not been addressed adequately in the Proponents response to submissions.
We have similar concerns to the nine points raised in our original submission dated 27th January 2021 and additional reasons as stated below.
1. Insufficient economic benefit.
The figures on job creation both in the construction phase and operational phase of the project are incorrect and misleading for the Nundle Community and Tamworth area.
The cost of the project is not outlined clearly and is accounted for in domestic expenditure which again is misleading.
2. Access Issues
The new proposed private road behind the Peel Inn will totally change the entrance to the township of Nundle result in the removal of many trees and create changes in water flow during flood events. It is also proposed to be built on an area that is presently used as a wastewater disposal area so inappropriate to turn this into a road.
The use of Crawney Road will affect many residents through increased traffic movement noise, visual and safety aspects. The need for earth works is clearly understated in the amended proposal and construction of eight new bridges will mean these works will extend for a prolonged period and there is no indication of who will pay for these upgrades.
The roads within the project have no design or engineering information associated
with the construction except it is noted due to the steep and difficult terrain measures will need to be put in place to control erosion etc and this could include stabilising structures up to 10m high. This type of industrial development with no detailed planning is unacceptable.
3. Impact of Agricultural Activities
Our concerns have not been addressed and the proponent continues to tell rural landholders this will not be a problem.
4. Bushfire Risk
Our concerns have not been addressed and added to by the fact fire fighting aircraft will be unable to access water from some dams which have previously been used due to location of turbines. Also, the added requirement for 10 Megalitres of water for dust suppression at quarries and on transport roads will impact the water supplies in the state Forrest that could be used for fire fighting
5. Land clearing and ecological issues.
Land clearing has continued by the major landholder over the past 12 months and this area will now be used for Windfarm infrastructure such as batching plants, laydown areas and works areas. This totally underestimates the amount of environmental destruction the project will cause as clearing has already been conducted. Some turbines have changed slightly in positioning although they remain in close proximity to Ben Halls Nature Reserve and the removal of Turbine 41 has limited positive affect on birds and animals as unfortunately, they do not understand the rules of pedestrian crossings. The Proponent has failed to recognise the importance of Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest and its listing as Critically endangered.
6. Rehabilitation and Remediation
Our concerns remain and increase as there is a possibility this project if approved will be too expensive to build and thus never be constructed. This leaves the Nundle Community hanging in the balance whilst a large multinational company retains this project on their books and uses it to attract potential investors naive to the truth of the project.
7. Offences against Amenity.
Tamworth Regional Council do not support the project, 70 % of the local Community do not support this project and the Aboriginal Lands Council do not support this project. Therefore, the project has no Social License and should not be approved.
8. Loss of capital value of Rural Assets.
The proponent fails to recognise properties with building entitlements and preliminary DA in place. This affects subdivision potential and return on investment for neighbouring land holders and with very few neighbourhood agreements in place this shows the dissatisfaction of neighbouring landholders when dealing with the proponent.
The proponent did not contact many of the affected landholders including ourselves to discuss details of the amended proposal and did not consult with associated landholders who will now be increasingly affected by the proposed changes
9. Acquisition Condition
Our previous request for an acquisition condition remains and this should be
Extended to other landholder in similar situations.

Yours Sincerely
John and Selena Sylvester
Directors Sylvester Cattle Company AFT Sylvester Pastoral Trust

I strongly objected to this project when it was first presented and nothing about the amendments to the project by the proponent makes me feel that we are in good hands.

The significant amount of native flora and fauna that has already been removed in preparation for this State Significant project (prior to any kind of approval process) is beyond a concern. The level of additional disturbance to prepare the project site (at this altitude and soil classification) lends itself to total disregard and negligence in land custodianship.

If this project is allowed to go ahead it will be the worst thing that has ever happened to the area and no amount of money generated from this project could OFF-SET the visual and auditory impacts it will have.

Please see below additional comments and concerns:
Appendix A-Updated Project Description, Obstacle lighting, Page A15

After 4 years of deliberation, why has the proponent not determined the use of Obstacle Lights with this project, when CASA "may" require lighting requirements where turbines exceed 150m (which every WTG would exceed this height in this project)? Not having determined a decision, in this regards, is unacceptable.

Wind Farm obstacle lighting is a contentious issue for community members at every project site in Australia and should be pre-determined before any kind of approval process, in order for proper community consultation.

This far into the process the Nundle/Crawney residents deserve an outcome in this specific area during the proponents application process.

It is deceptive of the proponent to be vague about this important visual impact when it is highly likely that the community would be living with 2 x 28 steady red 200 Candella lights on the range, so 56 lights where they currently experience a dark night sky.

I can just imagine some community members saying, “I didn’t know that was going to happen.” And they would be correct, because the proponent is avoiding the truth.
LOCATION G, FIGURE 3 Noise and Vibration assessment

What 4 dwellings will "potentially" be effected by temporary concrete batching and what 6 locations will be effected by concrete pouring?

Having a batching station on the North West corridor of this project is going to naturally promote a high level of heavy truck movements through Nundle township. This should be avoided at all costs.
The suggestion that excessive noise from the Concrete Batching Plant can be mitigated by only operating during the day is an urban centric proposal. Country people work from home during the day. Excessive noise from the concrete batching plant will be a source of annoyance for neighbours who work from home on farms, gardens and houses.

APPENDIX C UPDATED MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES LANDSCAPE+VISUAL,PAGE C11
PUBLIC ROAD MODIFICATIONS AND DILAPIDATION C15

...Where road upgrades are expected to require the removal of vegetation........The Proponent will repair or pay the costs of any damage to public infrastructure....

No mention of replacing significant/Mature road side vegetation that has been removed due to the widening of public roads, clearing access routes, creating hard stands or making Layby zones for the project. The use of 50/75 litre tree stock to replace a fully mature native or ornamental tree will not cut it!

Regards,
Treva Stone

I didn’t move to Nundle and buy a place in Nundle to look at the wind farms. I recently moved here because it is a beautiful and quiet little town.
What they are proposing to do with the transport through Nundle is absolutely unacceptable and will cause delays and additional damage to our roads.
The promise of the local jobs is a joke, there might be a couple of positions to mow the grass and maintain tracks but that about all. The rest will be drive in/drive out specialists jobs.
When it comes to the renewable technology, I would prefer the solar farms to wind farms, they are far less impactful visually.
There are better locations for the wind farms in remote location where they would be surrounded by large rural holdings.

The other issue would be the impact on the natural world, birds in particular. Wind farms are known for the bird and bat strikes. I quite enjoy the bird life here around Nundle and I think this location is rich with species.

Engie does not have a very good track record or reputation internationally with breaches related to other projects. This project would be very challenging for any engineering company to undertake. The terrain of this ridge would result in massive soil disturbance to carve the roads of the necessary widths into the slopes. This will create the visual impact and would result in erosion. They don't seem to provide any details of the steepness of the terrain or engineering details for the roads.

My family have lived in the Hanging Rock community for over 40 years and I grew up there as a child. Now that I live elsewhere when I return to the area its always great to feel the isolated, untouched feel of the local area and the sheer scale of the proposed development would completely destroy this which many locals and tourists love about this area.
Further to this, I have great concerns that a project of this size and scale is not suited to the landscape of very steep terrain and also the local native fauna that will be severely impacted by this project. It doesn't make sense to build such huge turbines in a almost completely untouched environment. This size project seems best suited to a ocean location or similar where there will be less impact on the surrounding environment and locals that have lived there for decades and generations. I'm supportive of green energy and innovation however there seems a lot about this project that is not at all green and very destructive to the local area. I object to this project going ahead.

My parents own lot 22 which shares a border with the proposed site, my reasons for objecting are as follows:

- The amendments have failed to address any of the concerns previously noted by fellow objectors.
- The destruction of the natural environment. There surely are more suitable sites.
- The dangers to residents and visitors, Fauna and flora, endangered species.
- The proposal again hasn’t addressed the visual impact or the excessive noise pollution.
- Lot 22 is referred to as part of the Landowners group 6, it is unclear what group 6 represents. Clarification is required for transparency purposes.

To whom it may concern
Re: HILLS OF GOLD WIND FARM AMENDMENT REPORT No. SSD9679

Please see my submission to the above mentioned development application during Public Exhibition of Amendment Report, November 2022
I hereby declare that I object to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm proposal ID No. SSD.9679
I would like my personal detail withheld
I have not made any reportable political donations in the previous 2 years
I acknowledge and accept the Department disclaimer and declaration.

I hereby object to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm proposal ID. No.SSD.9679 for the following reasons:
This is the 2nd time I have submitted my objection to this proposal.
1. I have witness the divsion of the small community of Nundle which sadends me.
2. The serious impact it will have on fauna and flora.
3. I know people who live near and around other turbine projects and have stressed to me about how majority of the town do not like living with them. They are not going to attract tourism is my belief.
4. The large amount of traffic that will be passing through Nundle during construction is distressing.
5. The natural land scape being destroyed by these ugly monstrosities.
6. They need to be built elsewhere not here in Nundle.

I am writing this submission to express my objection to the proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm at Hanging Rock.
I am a local resident that has lived at Hanging Rock for the past 13 years. I have several concerns about having a Wind Farm in the area.
Firstly, it is the disturbance and destruction to the pre-existing biodiversity that the wind farm will cause which concerns me. The earth works required to instal the turbines will have devastating effects on the natural environment. Plants, animals, riverine creatures, and insects will have their habitats changed. Exposure of the underlying sandstone which the earth works will reveal, and the highly unstable overburden created, will lead to siltation of the tributaries which run from the wind farm location. The ecology of the area will be negatively impacted.
Secondly, the significant quantity of natural resources including steel, copper, sand, gravel, oil based energy, to be used in the construction of the turbines and turbines towers and generators, which have a relatively short lifespan and require replacing after 25 years, is of concern. The cost of replacing these components may potentially be inequitable to the benefits gained.
Lastly, the increased heavy vehicle traffic that will be generated during construction stages of the project on Barry Road, Nundle Road and Lindsey’s Gap Road is a major issue of concern. Not only do the roads become unsafe with a high volume of heavy vehicle movements but they also slow traffic for local people commuting for work. Work travel times will be increased further, and dust pollution will become a problem in residents’ home environments, leading to possible dust related health issues.
Hanging Rock is a unique natural environment which should be preserved and protected. It is not an appropriate site placement of a renewable energy project. Please Preserve the Hills of Gold.

I object to the hills of gold wind farm proposal ID no 9679.
I have not made any political donations.
The issues from my last submission have not been addressed.
This proposal has been going on for to long.
I have been to many meetings, both public and private with WEP/engie over the last 5 years and can not see any reason for this project to go ahead.

Nundle is a beautiful place and does not need to be destroyed my massive trucks coming through both the creeks and the town itself. I have nothing against renewable energy, however this is not the place. I am a local resident and I love the beautiful scenic view of the hills, massive turbines would ruin this view. The land is sacred and is of valuable nature, especially with native flora and fauna all throughout the hills. The earth itself is already in danger and in order to put these turbines up so much will be destroyed and the habitat changed. Indigenous land especially too should be preserved, not changed and damaged. Currently the roads to and from nundle and in the town itself are not very good, imagine how further damaged they will be from the massive trucks coming through for the project. People’s safety will be at extreme risk and tourists will simply stop coming out here if the roads are non accessible and damaged, causing economic damage to the town especially as most shop owners rely on tourists in order to make a living.

On a further note, Tamworth Regional Council has rejected this proposal on two occasions on the advice of their Engineering Department. It should not be allowed to proceed.

I object to proposed project Hills of gold wind farm ID no. 9679.
I have not made any political donations.
I have not signed neighbour agreement with engie.
Previous issues from my last submission have not been addressed & turbines have not been removed as I & many neighbouring landowners have requested.
The new transport routes include taking out more trees and maybe buildings in nundle village plus huge amounts of road works. In nundle as well as all the way along Crawney Rd to the top of the range, some through flood plains, private and crown lands. Engie has said in the past that they would not use this route for over mass & over size transport due to biodiversity impacts.