Crucial $4.8B Power Line Approved Despite Local Opposition
The $4.8 billion HumeLink project in NSW has received federal approval, facing pushback from local communities and environmental groups.
Wagga Wagga, NSW, HumeLink, Renewable Energy, Transgrid
Wagga Wagga: So, there’s this big $4.8 billion project that just got the green light. It’s called HumeLink, and it’s all about boosting renewable energy in Australia.
This overhead power line is set to connect southern NSW to Sydney, which sounds great, right? But not everyone is on board. Farmers and local communities are pretty upset about it.
They’re worried about the impact on their land and the environment. The project will stretch over 365 kilometers and is meant to help with energy transfer, especially for the Snowy Hydro project.
It’s like adding a huge battery to the grid, giving us more on-demand energy. But the government has put some strict rules in place to protect nature, like limiting land clearing.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek took the chance to criticize the opposition’s nuclear energy plans, saying they’re risky and could hurt renewable investments.
She’s been busy approving renewable projects, claiming they could power millions of homes. But there’s still a lot of debate about whether these overhead lines are the best way to go.
Some folks think underground lines would be better, especially with bushfire risks in the area. But Transgrid says going underground would cost way more and take too long.