transmission lines – National Parks Association of NSW

Our case against the Snowy 2.0 transmission lines through Kosciuszko National Park.

Posted by NPA NSWon February 29, 2024February 29, 2024in Autumn 2024Leave a comment

It was the last working day before Christmas 2023, and I got the call that the Land and Environment Court was ready to hand down its judgement on NPA’s appeal against the Snowy 2.0 amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management. Four-thirty pm, moments before the court closed for the year, the Chief Justice announced that he was dismissing NPA’s case. The Minister’s decision to remove the prohibition on the construction of new transmission lines through Kosciuszko, just for Snowy 2.0, was upheld.

NPA takes court action against the Snowy 2.0 transmission connection

Posted by NPA NSWon August 1, 2023August 1, 2023in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

The Land and Environment Court will hear the case by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) against the previous NSW Government’s decision to allow new overhead transmission lines through Kosciuszko National Park as part of the Snowy 2.0 project. The case will be heard Thursday 3 August.

Inquiry into undergrounding transmission welcomed but must include Snowy 2.0

Posted by NPA NSWon June 22, 2023June 22, 2023in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) has welcomed NSW Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe launching an inquiry into the feasibility of using underground transmission connections for renewable energy projects.

NPA CEO Gary Dunnett stated ‘Undergrounding transmission connections offer the best way of avoiding the devastating environmental damage that overhead lines cause to natural landscapes, including national parks.

‘The last major rollout of transmission works in NSW was more half a century ago, at a time when overhead transmission was the standard. Global best practice has moved to less environmentally damaging underground transmission options. NSW must shift to that best practice standard to avoid inflicting unnecessary damage to environmental and community assets.

‘NPA is calling on the committee to also review underground options for the Snowy 2.0 transmission connection through Kosciuszko National Park. The previous government’s decision to push forward with outdated, damaging overhead transmission through the national park was yet another assault on the irreplaceable alpine environment.’

NPA will continue to pursue all options to overturn the ill-advised overhead transmission lines through Kosciuszko, including our ongoing legal action’. Mr Dunnett concluded.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

NPA CEO, Gary Dunnett. NPA Executive Member, Ted Woodley (02) 9299 0000

Environmental vandalism – NSW Government approves massive Snowy 2.0 transmission lines through Kosciuszko National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon December 1, 2022December 1, 2022in Summer 2022Leave a comment

Ted Woodley, NPA Executive Committee member

In a staggering act of environmental vandalism of epic proportions, the Commonwealth and NSW Governments have just approved the construction of new overhead electricity transmission lines through Australia’s iconic Kosciuszko National Park to connect the Snowy 2.0 pumped storage project.

This reprehensible decision overturns a long-standing ban on new overhead transmission lines. The last overhead transmission line built in a NSW national park was in 1976.

The Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management is being amended to allow overhead transmission lines

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2021August 31, 2021in Spring 2021Leave a comment

Ted Woodley, Member of NPANSW Executive

The Main Works for the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro station has been approved and work commenced a year ago. But the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the transmission connection was deliberately held back, presumably so it couldn’t be refused (as Snowy 2.0 would otherwise be stranded).

Protections for Kosciuszko National Park stripped away for Snowy 2.0

Posted by NPA NSWon February 18, 2021in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) has expressed outrage that the NSW Government plans to overturn the Plan of Management for Kosciuszko National Park. A newly exhibited amendment to the Plan of Management exempts Snowy 2.0 from the legal requirement that new electricity transmission circuits must be placed underground rather than on environmentally damaging overhead towers¹.