The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is seeking feedback from the community on the Snowy 2.0 Main Works.
Executive Director of Resource Assessments, David Kitto, said community input is a vital part of the planning process and encouraged everyone to have their say on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposal.
“If approved, the Snowy 2.0 Main Works would involve the construction of an underground power station with a generating capacity of around 2000MW and approximately 27km of power waterways linking the existing Tantangara and Talbingo Reservoirs.
“It could increase the generation capacity of the existing Snowy Scheme by almost 50 per cent and provide 350,000MWh of large-scale storage capacity for the National Energy Market.
“Our role is to assess the infrastructure application and work towards the best outcome for the community and State of NSW, in consultation with all stakeholders.
“We appreciate the level of community interest in this project, and we want to give the community sufficient time to have their say. This is why we are exhibiting the EIS for the project for six weeks, which is two weeks longer than the normal exhibition period,” Mr Kitto said.
The Department is also holding a public information session to assist the community to better understand the assessment process and to listen to the community’s views on the project.
After exhibition closes, the Department will consider all community submissions received, along with feedback from other government agencies and councils, as part of its rigorous assessment process.
A separate application for the development of a Segment Factory in Polo Flat to provide concrete tunnel linings for the Main Works will also be submitted by Snowy Hydro in the coming months.
An application to connect the proposed underground power station with the national electricity grid will be submitted separately by TransGrid in early 2020.
Each application requires a separate approval and an EIS, which will be publicly exhibited to provide the community an opportunity to comment on each stage.
The community is invited to have their say on the Snowy 2.0 Main Works by Wednesday 6 November on the Department’s Major Projects website.
