Ann: Bowdens Silver Project Update, page-44

I have a few thoughts on the route of the 66kv transmission line.

The information available from the Optimisation Study states:

“The preferred power supply option is by a 66kV combined overhead/underground powerline connected to the Endeavour Energy 66kV feeder 839 between Kandos and Bylong. The final route is yet to be determined as various route options, along with landowner discussions, are still in progress.”

If the transmission line runs through privately owned land there will be long delays and expense when landowners refuse consent. Everyone knows that. So the ideal solution would be to find land which is not privately owned or existing easements.

This has been done before.

In 2016, the KEPCO Bylong Coal project lodged an application on behalf of Endeavour Energy. Amongst other things this application proposed some upgrades the Kandos feeder 839, some replacement of timber power poles through Kandos to a disused railway corridor.

The transmission line would continue down the rail corridor 7km to Rylstone and then to an existing 66kV transmission line which would be upgraded by Endeavour Energy (and paid for by KEPCO) to Bylong.

The EPBC application for this proposal was approved and determined not to be a controlled action because the route passed over existing easements and government owned land (State Rail Authority) - no private landowners.

The other irony is that it was approved by the predecessor to the IPC under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act as off-site enabling infrastructure.

Of course, it didn’t happen as the mine didn’t happen. An interesting point, though, is that the disused rail corridor travels through Lue and on to Gulgong.