EnergyCo contractors caught ‘unintentionally’ trespassing to survey for power lines
Government contractors were caught trespassing on a private property in Cessnock in a bid to forcibly acquire land for renewable energy transmission lines. They claim it was an accident.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Government contractors have been caught trespassing on private property in a bid to forcibly acquire land for renewable energy transmission lines.
A top EnergyCo executive made the bombshell admission in a parliamentary inquiry examining the impact Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) are having on local communities, amid fury from farmers who argue high-voltage transmission lines will cripple their livelihoods and create fire risks.
One landowner in the path of the Hunter Transmission Project now claims that a section of the 100 kilometre, 500 kilovolt power line impacting his property will prevent firefighters scooping up water from his dam to fight nearby bushfires.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that EnergyCo contractors “accidentally” trespassed on landowner Ben Still’s property near Cessnock last year while conducting an ecological survey.
That was despite Mr Still refusing to give EnergyCo permission to enter his land.
Mr Still said EnergyCo had requested “unfettered access” to his land over a two-year period, something which would have created concerns around diseases.
“We run goats and cattle on the property … when you’re running animals, it’s your responsibility to manage your biosecurity.”
Mr Still said he told EnergyCo to give him “times and dates” when they wanted access to his land, but never heard back. He said that on March 6 last year, he was told by a neighbour that contractors were on his land, claiming they had permission to be there.
In a statement, EnergyCo said the incident was an accident for which the agency had apologised.
A spokeswoman said the agency has investigated “a small number of issues relating to alleged unauthorised access by contractors”.
“We have made changes to reduce the risk of EnergyCo representatives accidentally crossing unmarked boundaries,” a spokeswoman said.
EnergyCo claimed there had been no reports of contractors knowingly entering a property without permission.
Local police investigated the matter but determined the unauthorised access was unintentional.
EnergyCo’s Executive Director for Planning and Communities Ash Albury conceded contractors had entered landowners’ property without permission.
“Where that has happened, on those occasions we’ve found out that that has been accidental,” he told the REZ parliamentary inquiry.
“We have apologised to the owners and we’ve also spoken to those contractors about how they should be better managers of those things.”
He said EnergyCo “would never ask someone to trespass on someone else’s property”. The parliament inquiry heard from multiple witnesses who alleged EnergyCo workers had trespassed on their land.
Inquiry chair Mark Banasiak said Mr Albury’s explanation was “disconnected from reality”. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP said EnergyCo contractors need to stop “skulking around the back door” when doing surveys for new transmission lines.
“If you want to come to someone’s property, you come and knock on the front door,” he said.
Mr Still told the Telegraph that under EnergyCo’s current plans, transmission lines would impede access to a dam on his property used by waterbombing aircraft to fight bushfires.
He said he is “pro renewables” but said his attempts to negotiate with EnergyCo about a different route have fallen on deaf ears.
On Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the EnergyCo worker found trespassing on property, saying similar incidents happen from “time to time”.
Mr Minns said the incident was a “mistake” and he did not believe it would hurt the renewable rollout, despite opposition from farmers.
”It was inadvertent. The police did investigate it, and they found that was a mistake, and particularly on rural properties that can happen if you’re not particularly aware of where a boundary fence is,” he said.
“I think most people will be prepared to cut them some slack.
“You’re talking about committed public servants that want to do their best and provide renewable energy as well as security for people… they have just got a job to do.”
More Coverage
Originally published as EnergyCo contractors caught ‘unintentionally’ trespassing to survey for power lines
‘Gruesome’: Cyclist dead after collision with bus outside Taronga Zoo
A man has died after the bicycle he was riding collided with a bus outside the busy tourist attraction on Sydney’s north shore.
Read more
Masterchef ‘Dessert King’s’ empire on shaky ground amid pay claims
Companies linked to Reynold Poernomo have been accused of failing to pay staff their super entitlements and wages, with creditors owed around $500,000 following the collapse of one of his family companies.
Read more