Controversial HumeLink Power Line Project Faces Land Disputes and Approval Delays
A billion-dollar power line project in New South Wales, Australia, is encountering obstacles due to ongoing disputes and delays in securing permission for land access. The HumeLink transmission line, intended to connect Sydney to the state’s south, is a critical component of the National Electricity Market. However, it has faced criticism from farmers, local communities, and environmental groups.
The controversial project involves running wires through bush and prime farmland, which has led to calls for the transmission lines to be laid underground. Initially estimated to cost $3.3 billion, the Transgrid project’s price has now escalated to nearly $4.9 billion. A parliamentary inquiry is currently examining the feasibility of burying the lines, despite Transgrid’s concerns about potential project delays and cost overruns.
To proceed with the HumeLink project, Transgrid has been negotiating with landowners to gain consent for accessing their properties and surveying the land. While three-quarters of landowners in the proposed pathway, totaling just under 250km of the 328km project, have provided their agreement, approximately one-quarter of the affected landowners have not yet granted approval for surveyors to enter their properties.
Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and infrastructure spokesperson, argues that Transgrid lacks the necessary social license to proceed with the project as planned. She emphasizes that landholders are willing to allow access to their properties if the transmission lines are buried underground. Faehrmann urges the New South Wales government to intervene and prevent the installation of overhead lines, warning of resistance from landholders.
Transgrid has estimated the cost of undergrounding the entire project to be as high as $17 billion. Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has stated that alternative options are being considered to minimize the project’s impact without adding to its cost and timeline.
Wendy Tuckerman, a Liberal MP whose electorate lies in the project’s pathway, expresses concern about the proposed route’s impact on properties. Tuckerman highlights the significant size of the towers and their intended crossing of prime agricultural land. While acknowledging the necessity of the infrastructure, she insists that it cannot be imposed on communities and landholders without proper consultation.
Transgrid remains committed to completing the HumeLink project by 2026. The company continues to negotiate access with landowners and retains the option of compulsory acquisition as a last resort.
In conclusion, the HumeLink Power Line Project in New South Wales faces land disputes and approval delays, with ongoing disagreements over the use of overhead transmission lines and calls for the lines to be buried underground. The project’s progress hinges on gaining access to land for surveying purposes, with agreement secured from three-quarters of landowners in the proposed pathway. However, approximately one-quarter of affected landowners have yet to grant their approval. The debate surrounding the project reflects differing perspectives on the need for infrastructure development and the potential impact on communities and agricultural land. Transgrid maintains its commitment to completing the project within the specified timeline but faces obstacles in achieving consensus among all stakeholders involved.
