Concerns are being raised by landholders in the Upper Hunter over a proposed new transmission line route through the Gundy region, with some residents calling for the project to be paused.
EnergyCo NSW has said it has consulted with affected landholders and believes the newly proposed route is the best option moving forward. However, property owners have voiced fears about land devaluation and long‑term impacts on farming operations.
Energy sector representatives argue the project is urgent, pointing to the declining reliability of ageing coal‑fired power stations.
“Our coal power stations, which have kept the lights on for decades, are increasingly becoming unreliable and reaching their end of life,” said Stephanie Bashir, Founder and CEO of Nexa Advisory.
“Every year of delay means we’re relying on expensive gas and facing higher wholesale prices.”
Analysis referenced during the discussion suggests delays to transmission and replacement generation could cost consumers billions by 2050, with impacts felt most strongly in regional communities during unplanned outages.
While acknowledging the disruption for landholders, the energy sector says compensation and broader community benefits are essential.
