To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales.

The petition of Friends of Kentucky Action Group, citizens of New South Wales and the broader community, brings to the attention of the House the following grievance.

We have serious concerns about large industrial-scale renewable energy developments, being proposed in our area by global corporates. Specifically, our group is concerned about the serious impacts that will be created by the Thunderbolt Energy Hub Wind Farm proposed by Neoen Australia.

This industrial-scaled ‘mine’ or 'factory' for renewable energy, proposes 70 or more 260 m high wind turbines that will cause the following serious impacts in the Kentucky, Wollun and Balala areas of the New England region of NSW, Australia:

1. Our inability to undertake aerial firefighting increasing out of control bushfire risk to farms, villages and important biodiversity assets containing numerous threatened ecological communities and species
2. Negative impacts on biodiversity and catchment hydrology via industrial-scale infrastructure
3. Negative cumulative impacts on local rural, and rural-lifestyle landscape beauty and amenity as part of an estimated 460 or more 260 m towers (same as Sydney's Barangaroo Crown Skyscraper) is across the New England landscape between Walcha Bendemeer and Uralla as part of the New England REZ.
4. Negative impacts on land values of neighbouring properties
5. Significant noise and mental health impacts on occupants of surrounding dwellings in our more densely populated district
6. Significant division among normally close-knit community members
7. Significant negative impacts on rural landscapes and landfill sites when decommissioned in ~25 years.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to place a moratorium on all state significant renewable energy developments until:

1. State-wide land use planning and mapping for major renewable energy developments is completed in proper consultation with rural and regional communities, AND
2. All affected local communities have been engaged in respectful, facilitated dialogue, AND
3. New Regulations under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 No 44 have been developed and approved, so that merit-based assessments are possible AND
4. Alternative, less intrusive and damaging forms of renewable energy implementation that are more suited to our situation are properly investigated.

By showing this leadership, the NSW Government will ensure renewable energy developments are located appropriately, and provide sound and acceptable economic, social and environmental benefits to local and regional agricultural communities.

The undersigned thank you for your support.