Media Release: Clancy Calls for Transparency as Wymah Pumped Hydro Investigations Continue

CLANCY CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AS WYMAH PUMPED HYDRO INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE

Member for Albury Justin Clancy has called for greater transparency and early community engagement following a briefing with WaterNSW and Greater Hume Council on preliminary investigations into a potential pumped hydro energy opportunity in the Wymah Valley.

Mr Clancy sought the briefing after residents raised concerns about WaterNSW's investigations and the limited public information available regarding the project.

The briefing confirmed that WaterNSW is currently undertaking a desktop pre-feasibility assessment to determine whether the Wymah Valley represents a suitable opportunity for future pumped hydro development.

Mr Clancy said it was important for the community to understand that no decision had been made to proceed with a project.

"This is not a development proposal," Mr Clancy said.

"The work currently underway is a preliminary assessment to determine whether the site represents an opportunity that could ultimately be taken to the market.

"If the site is considered suitable, it would then be up to an interested developer to decide whether to pursue the opportunity and, if so, prepare a proposal that would be subject to the planning and environmental approval process."

Mr Clancy said while the briefing had provided greater clarity about the process, it had also highlighted issues that reinforced why local communities needed to remain engaged from the outset.

"One of the most significant issues discussed was that any future pumped hydro project would require connection to the electricity transmission network.

"While no transmission corridor has been identified, the likely connection point would be the existing Jindera Substation.

"That immediately raises important questions for our community.

"A connection of that nature could potentially extend for more than 30 kilometres across private land and affect numerous landholders. While this remains hypothetical at this stage, it demonstrates that the potential impacts of any future proposal could extend well beyond the immediate pumped hydro site."

Mr Clancy said the recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of Renewable Energy Zones had reinforced the importance of considering transmission infrastructure from the outset.

"That inquiry heard extensive evidence from rural communities about the impacts transmission infrastructure can have on landholders, farming businesses and regional communities.

"We should learn from those experiences. Transmission infrastructure cannot become an afterthought once a project is well advanced."

Mr Clancy said there also remained significant questions around the long-term technical and economic feasibility of any proposal.

"Residents will quite reasonably want to understand how issues such as fluctuating water levels in Lake Hume, sedimentation, environmental impacts and the overall viability of the project are being assessed."

Mr Clancy said the briefing had also changed the conversation about the proposal.

"Until now, many people would have assumed this investigation related only to the Wymah Valley. The prospect of transmission infrastructure means the potential area of impact could be considerably broader.

"People living between Jindera and Wymah deserve to understand that, if this opportunity ever progresses, transmission infrastructure may also become part of the discussion.

"The community should not first learn about those potential impacts after an opportunity has been taken to market or a developer has begun preparing a proposal."

Mr Clancy said the lessons from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry were clear.

"The inquiry documented the uncertainty, anxiety and division that can arise when communities feel major energy infrastructure is being planned around them rather than with them.

"Affected communities need to be identified and engaged early. Landholders should not be left dealing with uncertainty while decisions are being developed elsewhere."

"To proceed beyond this stage, any proposal would need to demonstrate not only that it is technically, environmentally and economically viable, but that the broader impacts—including transmission infrastructure can be managed without imposing an unacceptable burden on local residents, farming businesses and landholders."

Greater Hume Mayor Lea Parker said Council welcomed the opportunity to receive an early briefing from WaterNSW.

"Council appreciates the opportunity to hear directly from WaterNSW at this early stage," Cr Parker said.

"While these investigations remain preliminary, the potential implications could extend beyond the immediate project area. Residents deserve clear information about what is being investigated, what the process involves and how the community will be engaged if the investigations continue.

"Council will continue to work to ensure the interests of our communities remain front and centre."

Mr Clancy said the current pre-feasibility work and structured market sounding investigations were expected to continue until the end of 2026.

"Communities deserve to understand not only the opportunity being investigated, but the potential footprint of any future proposal and what that could mean for local landholders and residents.

"Social licence isn't something that can be created at the end of a planning process. It is built through early engagement, transparency and respect for the people and communities who may ultimately be affected."