New South Wales Farmers has called a parliamentary inquiry into undergrounding powerlines a win for common sense and community safety.
Traditional above ground powerlines can be a contributor to causing fires while also complicating firefighting efforts according to Reg Kidd from New South Wales Farmers Energy Transition Working Group. Kidd cited fire safety as one of three major reasons to move powerlines underground.
"Aerial firefighting, thinking about if you do have bushfires and so forth, helicopters and planes getting in to where you've got high voltage transmission lines going through... We've got detailed evidence now that of some of the huge bushfires that we've had in Australia, high power transmission lines have been part of the cause of exacerbating the fires."
Bushfires is one issue of safety referenced by Kidd, who also claimed there is always a risk of towers and electrical wires falling. He also believes above ground powerlines have a negative effect on the productivity of farming country while also creating a bad aesthetic on otherwise beautiful farm country.
"It can detract from the productivity because certainly you wouldn't be able to operate certain sorts of equipment or application methods when you've got towers right through your property."
Increased safety, reduced bushfire risk, better aesthetics and more productive farming land sounds like a flawless set of reasons to move power lines underground, but doing so would come at a greater cost than the current use of above ground powerlines in New South Wales.
However, New South Wales Farmers believe this is a short term issue and undergrounding power lines would be financially beneficial in the long run. Kidd claims the benefits of fire prevention and increased farm productivity are contributors to underground powerlines being more cost effective in the long run.
"They are more expensive initially but in the long term, it's better. The cost benefit analysis is there if you look at it in 5, 10, 15, 20 years and beyond, not just what's cost now."
New South Wales Farmers are unsure when the inquiry will reach a conclusion, but they are of the expectation that the inquiry will mirror their thoughts and suggestions. The upcoming New South Wales Farmers annual conference will be their opportunity to share their thoughts, opinions and data on the issue with politicians.
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