🛑 Walcha Rises Against New Transmission Line Corridor

A groundswell of local concern has led to an open petition being submitted to the NSW State Parliament, firmly rejecting EnergyCo's recently proposed transmission line corridor that would cut through the Walcha Local Government Area (LGA).

The petition, garnering signatures from residents across the region, highlights widespread opposition to the new route, which was shifted into the New England via Walcha LGA in October 2025, from an earlier planned path. The proposed infrastructure is part of the broader New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), an initiative by the NSW Government aimed at delivering an additional 8,000 megawatts of renewable electricity to the state grid by connecting projects to existing infrastructure like the Bayswater Power Station near Muswellbrook.

Key Concerns for Walcha Community

Signatories to the petition argue that the "New Route" is deeply flawed for several critical reasons:

• It is set to traverse over 100 privately owned, working farms and prime agricultural land in Walcha, raising significant concerns about its impact on farming operations and land values.
• The corridor is proposed to run through known habitat for Koalas and numerous other threatened species. The New England region, including Walcha, is recognised for its koala populations, with ongoing efforts by various groups to restore and protect their habitat.
• The petition claims the project is economically irresponsible, lacks social licence from affected communities, and has seen no meaningful community consultation.
• Opponents point out that a similar route was deemed unviable by the NSW Government as recently as 2024, with only minor amendments made to this new proposal.
• Concerns have also been raised regarding the increased difficulty in fighting bushfires within the area if the lines proceed.
• The community believes the chosen path will lead to higher construction costs and project delays.
• Furthermore, the petition questions the necessity of the route, stating that the Central South 'Hub' it is designed to connect to is currently redundant, with no approved or planned projects.

EnergyCo has stated that the wider 3km study corridor, identified between Bayswater Power Station in Muswellbrook and a central south energy hub near Walcha, is intended to allow for more detailed consultation and minimise impacts. However, the communities impacted by this revised route, including those in Walcha, collectively reject and oppose the project in its entirety.

Petition's Call to Action

The undersigned petitioners are calling on the Legislative Assembly to officially reject this "New Route." They urge the Government to instruct EnergyCo to develop an alternate route that utilises pre-existing infrastructure, Crown land, or other public land. The aim is to avoid negatively impacting privately owned prime agricultural land, critical environments, and regional communities like Walcha.

For an e-petition to be debated in the NSW Legislative Assembly, it typically requires 20,000 signatures, highlighting the importance of public engagement in this process. Residents wishing to support the petition can find it on the NSW Parliament website.