Hills of Gold Wind Farm

Regretfully, I am once again writing to object and continue to fight against The Hills of Gold Wind Farm.
The amended transport route is terrible. The oversized vehicles alone on the proposed transport route through the village, the bridges and roads are totally unacceptable and "extreme". Visual impacts with turbines on range, the light required at night is ridiculous especially when the turbines sits on a range towering over the village and nothing has changed there. Let alone the clearing of vegetation, building sub stations ad power lines is totally not viable . The beauty of Nundle and Hanging Rock will be forever changed and detrimental to our water and ecosystem if this proposal goes ahead. It doesn't matter what ENGIE changes in the EIS or any future changes to the EIS, the answer from me is NO now and NO forever.

I totally object to this disgusting Hills of Gold Wind ELECTRICITY GENERATING WORKS for the following reasons - merely stating a few of the millions of reasons why this plan is a brainless part of the imaginary gobbledegook, hocus pocus, fake green, rip-off energy scheme that will NEVER work!
It's actually an unconscionably cruel joke & obviously very stupid that anyone would believe that 70 weather dependent, inefficient, intermittent & contaminating Wind Turbines - shedding toxic Bispheol A from their blades & filthy, incapable, hapless, fire/smoke hazardous BESS - with their short life spans & energy intensive, toxic polluting life-cycles would do a thing to benefit the environment, change the climate or reduce emissions - let alone provide essential, reliable, efficient power. They will never be reliable base-load power!
These 70 Wind Turbines are totally useless when there are wind droughts!

Australia needs FOOD SECURITY, INDEPENDENT ENERGY SECURITY = NATIONAL SECURITY.
With global hostilities it is glaringly obvious that Australia must be energy independent to protect our sovereign risk.
With our plentiful COAL, GAS & URANIUM resources - the envy of the world - our priority must be the health & welfare of Australians, not reliance on & support of Slave Labour product & our most hostile adversary - the Chinese Communist Party.

Instead of pretending that Wind Turbines reduce harmful greenhouse gases, a far bigger priority to focus on is providing reliable efficient Coal, Gas & a genuinely clean, safe Nuclear energy future in order to reduce indoor pollution from the burning of cow dung & wood indoors - which kills 20 million people globally per year. What are NSW DPE & the Feds doing about that vital issue?
That is at least a worthy pursuit!
What about all the potent SF6 leaking from Wind Turbines, increased RE switch gear & circuit breakers?
Where is the obviously damaging man made Sulphur Hexafluoride mentioned - which is 23,500 tomes more warming than CO2?

The NSW DPE has a moral imperative to reject this proposal & all renewaBULL proposals that include any Slave Labour components - which is the majority - as this is a shamefully unethical industry that is reliant on cruel torture, enslavement & the exploitation of children as young as 6 years old!

I object to our public funds being scandalously & outrageously wasted on anti-Australian propaganda that is against our best interests & so harmful to Nundle, NSW & Australia - feeding the subsidy sucking, fake green gravy train & supporting Chinese manufacturing.

I object to the FALSE , misrepresentation of this ugly, unhealthy, irritating, environmentally destructive, ecologically ruinous proposal being called a 'farm.' It is against the NSW DPE's own written guidelines to use this incorrect term - which is intentionally being used to present a false impression & make what is genuinely obnoxious palatable to unaware people who have swallowed the fake green cool aide!

70 of these obnoxious monstrosities blighting the pretty iconic landscape & precious ecological habitat is a national disgrace!
It is State Significant because of the intentional State Significant ruination of Australia planned by off-shore, money hungry wreckers of our beautiful Australian landscape - for no Australian benefit whatsoever!
It is State Significant also regarding the State Significant Waste & fudgery ingrained in this renewaBULL scandal!

Wind Turbine monstrosities are like the shameful & perverted Tower of Babel - written about in the Old Testament.
We now have the renewaBULL religion catastrophising fossil fuels which are the basis of our modern life, demonising human beings, industry & prosperity & worshipping these repulsive, unhealthy means for energy poverty - designed to harm & weaken Australia.

The Amended EIS lodged by ENGIE for Hills of Gold Windfarm has again failed acknowledge MAJORITY opposition in the community. ENGIE have spent the last 22 months engaged in publicity campaigns within the region, offered community grants and misleading the community into believing that this project will begin construction in 2023. To date, this project still faces majority opposition within the local community and DOES NOT have a Social Licence to proceed. Furthermore, ENGIE has not engaged the community effectively over the past 22 months to explained their EIS amendments to the public or listen to community concerns. A community Hub has been set up in Nundle which was not properly manned and ENGIE did not attend the recent Public Meeting held at Nundle Memorial Hall despite ENGIE representatives being in town at the time.

The transport route proposed in the amended EIS is NOT acceptable. It causes more disruptions, affects more residents, requires road upgrades and tree removal in town that takes away the character of Nundle. It has again failed to considered the safety to local residents and tourists in Nundle. Increase traffic flows remain a concern and the proponent have failed to provide a solution acceptable to the local community. New road upgrades, bridges and constructions of traverse track lack support from detailed Engineering reports - how does ENGIE assess accurate footprint and destruction to existing ecosystem and costs to the project without these analysis? The reality is that there is simply NO acceptable transport route for this project.

Biodiversity issues are still not adequately addressed. Why are there still turbines being proposed within close proximity to Ben Halls Gap Nature Reserve? The community are aware that the Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest located at Ben Halls Gap Nature Reserve have just been listed as Critically Endangered in Oct 2022 in the EPBC Act. Why is there no mention of this in the Amended EIS? The concerns for Bird and Bat strikes remains unresolved and there is over 46ha of Koala habitat being cleared.

High Visual Impact remains a problem. There are no amended photomontages to show the change in Mountainous topography for the flattening of the range in order to build the 64 wind turbines , installation of substations, Battery storage etc. along the range. These turbines remain highly visible at all aspects of Nundle and Hanging Rock - Tree screening is not a solution because no tress will grow tall enough to screen these turbines built on an elevated range with close proximity to Nundle and Hanging Rock residents and businesses.

As I have mentioned in my previous objection, Nundle and Hanging Rock is unique. There is no place like it.
The topography for the proposed project location is extremely unique. There are no other wind farms constructed or proposed in an area similar to Nundle and Hanging Rock. The development corridor and footprint includes conservation areas, heritage items and a unique ecological system. Any land clearing will have a great affect to this area. There are endangered and threatened flora and fauna located in the area that should not be disturbed; mitigation is just not effective enough. I love the uniqueness of this environment and believe that this place would never recover from the destruction that will be caused from the development of this project.

Wind farms are invasive and more so on top of a ridge with an elevation between 1,200m -1,400m surrounding a village that sits in the beautiful green valley just below it. This project is intrusive to residents and the thousands of tourists it attracts today. Wind farms should be sensitively sited and place in an area with no objections from the local community. This is not the right location for this project.

After dragging their feet, ENGIE have been granted countless extensions from DPIE to submit this amended EIS. This amendment to the EIS is sub-standard, lacks detail and have not addressed the numerous concerns raise by majority objections from the EIS lodgement in 2020. I sincerely hope that moving forward, the DPIE can give consideration to ending this process NOW. It has been nearly 5 years since the first issue of SEARS. The community needs to move on and try to mend the division this project has caused in hope of becoming the happy cohesive community it once was. This proposal should not be granted more amendments and wasting DPIE's time. ENGIE has demonstrated that they simply cannot provide professional, extensive and transparent EIS that addresses all the extremely difficult issues associated with the Hills of Gold Windfarm proposal - because it is simply impossible to build this project in Nundle and Hanging Rock. The destruction to the environment and its negative affects to our ecosystem is far too costly especially when the aim of generating renewable energy is to save our environment in the first place.

I operate a small Tourism Business with a key objective to promote Nundle as a Tourism destination for Groups & Events, both corporate and leisure. Visitors come to Nundle for the nature, the history, the serenity and getting out of their urban jungles. This project will destroy the feel of the historic village and will also deter groups and touring coaches during the project development phase with so much planned traffic and heavy vehicles obstructing major routes in and out of Nundle.
The impact of the natural hills and mountains and removal of so many trees around the Village and the Hills has a huge significant impact, not only on the environment, but again will destroy the feel of the Village and escaping to a rural landscape.
This project will destroy my business and the key reasons visitors choose Nundle. Nature, History, Serenity.

I do not believe that this project is in the best interest of the community and local residents of the area. This is a rural country area that does not need an industrial stain on the land. Weather that be a coal mine, solar farm or wind farm. I think the money spent on this should be spent elsewhere and away from the public eye. If this is to be an attempt for a permanent alternate renewable energy solution i think it needs to go back to the drawing board and reassessed.

We wholeheartedly object to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm. As primary producers in this region, and custodians of the land, we are very concerned about the potential catastrophic impact on the biodiversity and sustainability of this beautiful region posed by this project. Furthermore, the failure of the proponent to provide evidence and data regarding the risks to soils and water, and the impact on our local roads of proposed traffic movements, raise major concerns.

I object to the project for several reasons.
1. TRANSPORT ROUTE
The transport route from the New England Highway to the project is not fit for this purpose. Our roads are already an absolute disgrace and very unsafe, due to the recent years of wet weather and volume of heavy logging trucks which use these roads daily. The potholes and sink holes that appear are dangerous for all traffic. Extra heavy transport on our roads will just accelerate the dangerous state of our roads.
2. MOVEMENTS THROUGH NUNDLE
I am deeply concerned about the proposed route coming through Nundle. I do not want an extra 156 daily truck movements through our town. The extensive removal of trees along this route is distressing. There is so much history linked to the beautiful trees that are planted along entrances/streets of Nundle. Members of our family, were part of the garden club that initiated and planted these beautiful trees. I use the river walk regularly, often with my young grandson, and I am concerned about his safety as he grows, with the extra proposed traffic movement in the town. Depending on the final route decided upon, there could be no parking zones introduced along Oakenville and Jenkins Streets. This is very unfair and unsafe on the elderly and young mothers who need to park close to the facilities they need to visit. Residents of Nundle need to park in Oakenville St to access the Post Office and as Jenkins Street is our main street, this houses businesses such as the Supermarket, School, Pool, Pre School, Medical Centre just to name a few.
3.BUSH FIRES
I am worried the wind turbines on the range will seriously compromise any aerial firefighting needed if any bush fires are to break out in the area. Nundle & Hanging Rock were under threat during the terrible 2019/2020 bush fires where several aircraft were used to try to extinguish this huge fire.
4. INFRASTRUCTURE
I am concerned about the clearing and soil disturbance on the steep country required for the proposed wind farm. This will cause increased runoff and risk of flash flooding. There are 8 potential waterways between the New England Highway and the proposed project which would need to carry these over sized and over weight vehicles. These will need new bridges to allow for these vehicles to pass. There are four bridges that have not been assessed for carrying capacity, Pearly Gates, Nundle Creek and two Oakenville Creek bridges.
5. VISABILITY
I have always been troubled by the high visual impact the turbines will have on the ridge. Our family farm is in the valley below this ridge, so yes, we will see these turbines day and night. Not only will we see them in the sunlight but we will see the red obstacle lights that will be illuminating the ridgeline at night. Gone will be the stunning clear night sky we can currently enjoy viewing.
I am not against wind farms, but I am against it being built at the proposed site.

I oppose the Hills of Gold Wind Farm project because of the environmental, social and economic impacts on this beautiful region.

I object to the Hills of Gold wind farm proposal, see attachment for the many reasons that this project is unsuitable and destructive.

This submission relates to our second property in the Timor Crawney region, and reiterates our objection to the proposed Hills of Gold Wind farm. I entirely object on the basis that this is a completely unsuitable site for a major infrastructure project for environmental, social and practical reasons, and that any benefit to the state's renewable energy goals is entirely and significantly offset by the catastrophic costs to the biodiversity, sustainability and integrity of this beautiful region.

I entirely object to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm application, on the basis that this is an entirely unsuitable site for a major infrastructure project for environmental, social and practical reasons, and that any benefit to the state's renewable energy goals is entirely and significantly offset by the catastrophic costs to the biodiversity, sustainability and integrity of this beautiful region.

The project will bring lots of tourists to nundle and help the little town be something again. Because at the minute it’s gone to crap. 100% support it.

Dear Sir/Madam, I strongly object to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm being built in the proposed Nundle/Hanging Rock area. I strongly object to any proposal such as this to be built in any area that interferes in people's lifestyle, environmental and nature reserves. This proposal, if approved, will affect all residents and is an attempt to take over an entire town by altering and blocking access, removal of memorial trees in the main street, parking restrictions and access to emergency vehicles when needed urgently. Put simply, this project is NOT in a suitable location. Australia is a big country and there are so many better locations available that won't impact anything. It is not in a designated Renewable Energy Zone.
Regards Kerry Fitts

The Hills of Gold Wind Farm proposal significantly under represents the true environmental impacts of this project - many of which have been undertaken in recent years with substantial alleged illegal land clearing completed on a significant portion of the project site and location of the proposed turbines. This has continued recently with clearing of access roads through Crown Reserves near Teamsters Rest - which coincidentally aligns with the amended proposed access routes. These activities have been undertaken by the landholder who will be the primary beneficiary of the project and these activities are not addressed in the project proposal in terms of the environmental impact. I cannot support a project application that is fundamentally flawed and constitutes a wilful deceit and neglect of the responsibilities associated with a State Significant Development.

I object to the Amended DA for Hills of Gold wind farm as it contains the same problems as the previous DA which proposed the inappropriate placement of a large wind farm on the same, very steep terrain. The plans for Morrison Gap Rd - page 30, App G LVIA - lack detail. We are not confident in the half hearted approach as to what changes are required for the oversized trucks that will use the road. There are dangerous corners creating blind spots and on the southern side the road drops away steeply. I can’t see how use of the existing road can be used without major changes of removing vegetation and cutting into the bank.

The project transforms a heritage and valuable natural environmental area into an industrial power plant containing 64 gigantic turbines, each towering 230 metres (higher than the average height of the Sydney CBD skyline). All the concrete for foundations, the cabling, connecting roads and transmission lines will have a major impact on a highly sensitive area neighbouring the project site; Ben Halls Gap and Crawney nature reserves. The huge machinery needed to construct this wind farm will damage all the surrounding roads. Nundle will be scared by such huge changes to allow the extra long blades to be transported through the village. The disruption and removal of vegetation and buildings will change Nundle, Hanging Rock, Timor and Crawney forever. There is a sufficient supply of wind farms proposed in the neighbouring regions; Bowman’s Creek near Liddell, Winterbourne near Walcha and Thunderbolt near Kentucky. Why ruin our beautiful historic mountain range? Why displace lots of native animals from their habitat? There is an abundant supply of renewable energy projects currently on offer to the NSW government. There is simply no need for the Hills of Gold wind farm. The real future of wind farms is offshore at sea. Of course wind farms are a necessary part of our renewable energy future. However this particular wind farm is an example of the right idea in the wrong location.

Proponents for the Hills of Gold Wind Farm have been given too much leeway to make this pie-in-the-sky proposal viable.
The latest suggestion of bringing components and machinery through the centre of Nundle is ludicrous. The disruption of life to residents, the inconvenience to tourists, the damage to the beauty of this quiet little village should not be permitted.
The Engineering Department of Tamworth Regional Council has submitted a comprehensive and scathing report on the scheme and the latest submission by the proponents has taken their suggestions to ridiculous lengths in an endeavour to get approval.
The proposed project has split what was a peaceful community. Tamworth Regional Council has twice voted it down. It’s time to stop the excessive lenience given to the proponents in their desperate scramble to present an acceptable plan. Put an end to the whole thing. No more time given.

There is absolutely no viable route to this project.
Roads and intersections alterations will cause disruption to the peaceful life of Nundle. Oversize and over mass vehicles and components have no business being brought through the CBD and residential district of Nundle with resultant disruption and damage that will be caused.
This is hilly country with very steep areas – the foothills and peaks of the Great Dividing Range with resultant runoff into waterways. Any earth moving may well be disastrous, particularly in heavy rain fall.
The disruption to traffic and people going about their every day lives and getting to work in Tamworth and Quirindi will be horrendous.
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 write to express my objection to the proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm development. I was born and raised in Nundle, the 7th generation of my family to live and farm in the town, and have recently moved back to Nundle to settle and raise my family.
I am deeply concerned about the environmental impacts of the land clearing in relation to Nundle Creek, the water source feeding our family farming land on Nundle Creek Road. As evidenced in the maps provided in the environmental impact study, a number of the turbines are proposed to be built extremely close to the head of Nundle Creek and all of the development is placed in the catchment which feeds this creek. I am concerned of the impact of the required land clearing on Nundle Creek with the potential increased sediment flows down stream resulting in increased turbidity of the water and reduced water flow impacting both native and primary production animals as a result. I also am concerned about the potential for pollution entering Nundle creek and further more the Peel River with such large scale development in the upper catchment zone. I appreciate proposed mitigation efforts however these are never fool proof.
The destruction of native flora and habitat for native animals particularly those identified endangered species listed in the environmental impact report is also of concern. I want my son to grow up seeing the diversity of native species in their natural habitat as I did, just as my father and his father did. To decimate a natural area, reduce plant and animal species, create erosion and sediment flow issues and ultimately change the entire landscape for the sake of 20 years of sustainable energy seems completely backwards and counter productive.
As a mother, I am deeply concerned about the increase in heavy traffic through Nundle. I often walk my child around town to the park and feel our safety may be compromised with the vast increase in traffic, particularly such large vehicles required to cart the turbines and equipment. I work in Tamworth so commute multiple times a week, the roads around Nundle are already deteriorating at a rate faster than the council can fix so feel that the huge increase in traffic particularly large trucks will cause the roads to be even more dangerous than they are today. I am also frustrated as a shift worker that my ability to get to work on time may be impacted and commute time will increase due to this traffic as well as the required road upgrades and road closures to allow the turbines to be transported.
I am also deeply troubled by the mental health impacts which this development has caused and will further cause around Nundle. As a health practitioner I know the high rates of mental health issues in rural areas particularly amongst farming communities and feel that the large divide propagated around Nundle by the development will have a huge negative impact on the town and people. The development has pitted neighbour against neighbour and friend against friend reducing social contacts and community spirit. The use of pro wind farm signage on private houses around the town in my opinion increases this divide hugely. I am concerned about future drought times, when primary producers and their families need their friends and community to lift their spirits and foster resilience through extremely stressful times. The existing emotional support system in the town is fragmented beyond repair. Many local people have outlined the severe loss of income and productivity as a direct result of the wind farm and I fear the new financial stress created will increase rates of depression, anxiety, alcoholism and ultimately suicide in an area which has very limited access to already over run mental health services.
I appreciate the need for sustainable energy sources for the future, but urge stakeholders to investigate more appropriate locations away from Nundle.
Sincerely,
Jaynie Ryan.

Director –Energy Assessments
Development Assessment
Department of Planning and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124

Ref: Hills of Gold Wind Farm Amended Application (SSD-9679)


YOUR NAME: Gregory McDermott
ADDRESS: 7 Union St, Arncliffe. 2205 NSW.

I am objecting to the Hills of Gold Wind Farm Application (SSD – 9679).

I acknowledge and accept the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s disclaimer and declaration.

REASONS FOR OBJECTION:

KOALA HABITAT

• It is unfathomable that we are even considering Engie’s Project that knowingly will destroy koala habitat. Tamworth Regional Landcare is creating 45 ha of new koala habitat in Gunnedah, meanwhile Engie’s HOG Wind Farm will be clearing 46.2 ha of Koala habitat as part of this project.

• Koalas are now an officially endangered species. NSW Government states that if we don’t stop clearing their habitat the koala is at high risk of extinction by 2050.

• The Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) in their Significant Impact Assessment on Engie’s project amendment in Jan 2022 stated, that for the vulnerable Koala “…the proposed works have the potential for a significant impact on the species, due to the removal of greater than 20 hectares of habitat… The removal of 36.44 hectares of native vegetation…has the potential to impact the species due to the removal of habitat available to the local population”. So here will are 10 months later and with an even larger clearing of koala habitat of 46.2 ha (10 hectares more!) – I hope and trust that MNES will reject this unacceptable project outright.

• NSW Government has set the ambitious goal of doubling koala numbers in NSW by 2050, which is the year, if actions are not undertaken it is feared koalas could be extinct in NSW.


• The NSW Government needs to uphold its stated Pillars for its NSW Koala Strategy (see nsw.gov.au under Threatened Species), most relevantly, Pillar 1 Koala Habitat Conservation.

• This NSW Koala Strategy boasts it is the biggest commitment by any government to secure koalas in the wild. It is supporting a range of conservation actions that will provide more habitat for koalas, support local community action, improve koala safety and health and build our knowledge to improve koala conservation.

• Of the range of threats the NSW Government notes, all of them apply to the koalas in the Project area for the HOG Wind Farm – habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, climate change, disease, declining genetic diversity, vehicle strike, bushfire and dog attack.


Required action:

• Call on the MNES to reject this unacceptable project outright, given its significant threat to koalas.

• This is the time to put words into action – call on the NSW Government to reject the HOG Wind Farm, which will put at serious and irreversible threat, 46.2 ha of koala habitat and is in opposition to their own NSW Koala Strategy.

I wish to make the following submissions to Hills of Gold Wind Farm Amended Development Application (November 2022):-
1. Aerial Firefighting - local experienced Rural Fire Service Volunteers have grave concerns that the aerial firefighting which was lifesaving during the 2019-2020 bushfires will be seriously comprised by the presence of very high wind turbines on the range. Rural firefighting has changed in that aerial has become essential with on the ground mopping up as opposed to actual fighting. Aerial fighting near wind turbines is at the pilot’s discretion, water source for refilling helicopters will not be available due to siting of infrastructure. The further the helicopter has to travel for refilling and altitude climbing will require a longer turnaround time, which could be crucial……
2. Biodiversity – The high risk of some 447hectares of vegetation being disturbed including some 180 plus ha. Of native vegetation and approximately 40 plus hectares of endangered species koala habitat survival. What studies have been done to ensure that koalas can hear then koala call over the noise of the wind turbines, particularly when the noise carries down into the valley.
Further, impacts to habitat for Barking Owl, Booroolong Frog, Border Thick-tailed Gecko, Eastern Cave Bat, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Greater Glider Large-eared Pied Bat, Powerful Owl, Southern Myotis, Spotted Tailed Quoll, Squirrel Glider Masked Owl – how will habitat be protected? All of these are in decline.
3. Infrastructure – The size and weight of wind turbines on soil disturbed cleared steep country has a very high potential to cause massive land slips. With the extreme wet period weare/have just going/gone through there has seen soaks open up in the ground and land slips with large bolders rolling down hills and mountains on a regular basis. Clearing will only increase this and cause a very high risk of a turbine crashing down a cleared slope endangering animals and humans.
4. Noise and Infrasound – the bigger these turbines get the louder they become and the greater health risk to humans and animals.