Part of a 900-kilometre electricity transmission line passing through the Riverina has received planning approval from the New South Wales government.
Developer Transgrid welcomed the approval for the eastern section of its $1.8-billion EnergyConnect project, which will ultimately link Wagga Wagga with South Australia.
Plans for the section, which will run from Wagga Wagga to Buronga, near Mildura, still require approval from the federal government.
Construction of the larger project, which will traverse three states and has already being approved by the energy regulator, has already begun in some parts.
"We are building the energy super highway," Transgrid chief executive Brett Redman said.
"The interconnector will enable sharing of energy between NSW and South Australia and Victoria for the first time, enable the integration of renewable generation and help the federal government achieve its climate change targets."
The EnergyConnect project is claimed to be capable of supplying 8.5 per cent of NSW's average maximum daily electricity demand.
Mr Redman said the project would save NSW consumers $180 million per year and contribute $4 billion in net benefits.
Project opposed by locals
Compensation negotiations with landholders were already underway, prior to planning approval being granted.
But Transgrid has faced opposition from Riverina landholders and community members concerned by the visual impact, reduced farm productivity and damage to the environment.
More than 50 submissions on EnergyConnect's eastern section were lodged with the NSW Department of Planning earlier this year, and included 42 objections to the project.
Farmer Charlie Webb lives on the edge of Lake Cullivel, a wetland area between Boree Creek and Urana that hosts waterbirds such as brolgas and endangered Australasian bitterns.
Mr Webb submitted an objection to the transmission line, which was initially planned to run through his property and the wetland area.
"We continued to put submissions in and now it's been moved to the southern side of these wetlands, which is a great relief," Mr Webb said.
"They should be producing power where needed, not putting all these expensive powerlines all over the state."
A mixed bag for councils
Named a Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) project, EnergyConnect is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs in regional NSW.
Lockhart Shire Council general manager Peter Veneris said the project offered both "opportunities and challenges" for the local area.
"Obviously a project of this scale will provide opportunities for local contractors, tradesmen, other local businesses," he said.
But he said the council had made submissions in relation to its road network, ensuring Transgrid repaired any damage incurred in a reasonable time frame, especially given the reliance on the network by the local grain industry.
He said an accommodation camp housing up to 250 construction workers was also proposed for the Lockhart Shire.
"That's an area that we'll be looking to work closely with the developers on," Mr Veneris said.
Along with the EnergyConnect project, the NSW government also gave planning approval to nine kilometres of transmission lines from the Snowy 2.0 hydropower project to the electricity grid.
