The Betts family of “Cowridge”, Yass v TransGrid

As the renewable energy roll-out takes place across the country an increasing number of stories are appearing concerning the impact of the construction of the infrastructure associated with the roll-out upon the natural environment, indigenous culture, sites of early colonial settlement and agricultural industry. How much of our environment, our culturally sensitive areas, our historic colonial sites and our agricultural industry do we need to destroy in the pursuit of supposedly ‘saving the planet’?

Sadly, far too often, conflict is now emerging between the proponents and implementers of the renewable energy roll-out and the owners and custodians, and their neighbours, of the land upon which the renewable energy projects are proposed to be built and the pathways through which the connecting transmission lines are proposed to be constructed.

One such instance is that of the Betts family in Yass and their attempts to obtain a re-siting of the HumeLink transmission line by TransGrid – so far, without success. The Betts/Barbour/Hume family’s 157-year-old agricultural and biodiversity conservation property is at a critical point. It may not survive this latest challenge to its viability. If it fails, it will take with it decades of labour and investment expended on protecting an extremely environmentally, historically, agriculturally and culturally important area.

Since 2020, the Betts family have suggested a minor route re-alignment of just 250 metres to the north of the currently proposed line. The benefits for TransGrid are a shorter and topographically easier line which would have far less ecological impact and which contains already a gazetted Crown road which could be used for access and servicing of the transmission line.

The minor re-alignment would cross the corners of three properties where there is no infrastructure and where far less ecological and environmental damage would be caused as the re-alignment would:

• Avoid the 110ha biodiversity conservation habitat which has been funded by projects for the protection of the environment and for re-vegetation of the connecting areas between the closely linked Derringullen and Bowning Creeks and the Yass River;
• Mitigate the impact on the Betts’s agricultural infrastructure and animal husbandry practices;
• Respectfully avoid indigenous and colonial culturally sensitive areas;
• Avoid the Derringullen Falls conservation area;
• Avoid the steep terrain which is a very active wildlife corridor and a hunting ground for raptor birdlife;
• Avoid the Wedge-tailed Eagles nest situated on the edge of the 70m easement where the flight path under and through the 76m high four-tiered power line will present a devastating, sad end to these magnificent raptor birds;
• Avoid impacting the Little Eagle which is on the vulnerable species list;
• Avoid the Betts’s conservation land, which is in addition to an existing 65ha of Yass River country with over 5km of fenced off waterway, providing connectivity between waterways and wildlife corridors. The Betts’s private conservation land totals nearly 30 per cent of their property;
• Avoid clearing over 300 established trees which protect the lambing paddocks;
• Avoid clearing additional tree lines for brake and winch pulleys for the bend in the line located at the site of the sheep yards;
• Avoid impeding helicopter operations for the purpose of water tank supply (average 20-30 loads take-off and landing within 125m of tower and lines) and for the important ecological purpose of annual weed control in steep inaccessible country.
• Avoid clearing multiple ancient paddock trees, critical for livestock and pasture shade and protection, including Yellow Box and Blakely Red Box eucalypti.

Amongst the groups which have provided funding to the Betts family to assist them with developing their property, including the 110ha ‘conservation land’ (which the Betts family purchased as a separate block of land in 2018 specifically for the purpose of conservation) are Rivers of Carbon – Australian River Restoration Center, Landcare and Greening Australia.

Members of Parliament trying to assist

The Betts family have approached also a number of politicians to assist them in their cause, including   The Hon Wes Fang MLC,  who stated in an email which he sent to Australian Rural & Regional News on 20 November 2024:

“I’ve obviously been speaking with the Betts family, about the issues with Transgrid. After speaking with Mary-Jane, I reached out to Transgrid directly, on a number of occasions, in relation to the issues with consultation, route and heritage issues.

“I’ve encouraged Transgrid to reconsider their position and to re-engage with the family to once again try to negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome. Unfortunately, I understand they’ve commenced the processes required to ultimately compulsory acquire the easements and the land, in lieu of further negotiation.”

Questions to TransGrid

Australian Rural & Regional News posed the following questions to TransGrid:

1. Why has TransGrid refused the request of the Betts family to move the HumeLink transmission line approximately 250 metres to the north of the current projected line which is more in line with TransGrid’s original line, and which would:

(a) avoid interference with the Betts’s 110ha biodiversity conservation habitat (an area supported by funding from Rivers of Carbon – ARRC https://riversofcarbon.org.au/, Landcare and Greening Australia), 
(b) mitigate the impacts on the Betts’s agricultural infrastructure and animal husbandry practices, 
(c) respectfully avoid the Ngunnawal Women’s Area and,
(d) judging from the precipitous typography, provide for a far easier build?

2. What proactive steps has TransGrid taken to consult with the Ngunnawal people and relevant government agencies in regard to the culturally sensitive areas through which TransGrid intends to run the transmission line and what steps is TransGrid taking to ensure that these areas are not damaged?

3. What proactive steps has TransGrid taken to consult with the Betts family, other local families and relevant government agencies in regard to the areas of culturally sensitive European and early settler heritage through which TransGrid intends to run the transmission line and what steps is TransGrid taking to ensure that these areas are not damaged?

4. Why were the impacts of the road system sought under the proposed Road Access Easement agreement with the Betts family not included in the Environmental Impact Statement associated with this project?

5. Why were the Deringullen Falls not included in the Environmental Impact Statement associated with this project?

6. Has anyone from TransGrid with any knowledge of farming practices been involved in the decision making process in regard to the Betts’s property? This is of particular relevance when issues such as the location of sheep yards, water tanks, access to land at lambing times, helicopter access, etc are being made.

7. What steps has TransGrid taken to ensure the protection and preservation of the Wedge-tailed Eagles nest situated on the edge of the escarpment in the path of the transmission line and on the site of a proposed transmission tower?

8. What will be the carbon footprint of the transmission tower which TransGrid intends to place on the side of the steep escarpment above the Deringullen Falls and on the site of the Wedge-tailed Eagles’ nest? Please include details of materials such as steel for the tower, concrete for the footings, use of cranes, bulldozers, creation of roads, etc. The complete environmental impact of this single tower needs to be made apparent along with TransGrid’s plans to provide carbon off-sets and remediation.

9. What steps has TransGrid taken to ensure that anyone who is involved in the final decisions in regard to the Betts’s property has actually visited the property?

10. Why is TransGrid apparently actively avoiding engaging with politicians, such as the Hon. Wes Fang MLC, in regard to the Betts’s property?

11. In what ways does TransGrid believe that its methodology in dealing with the Betts family has improved its social licence in its dealings with the wider rural and regional community?

12. What are the next steps, from TransGrid’s viewpoint, in its negotiations with the Betts family?

TransGrid’s response:

“Transgrid has engaged with the Betts family since 2020 including considerations that would have the least impact on their property from a cultural, environmental and visual perspective.

“Transgrid continues to engage with the Betts family on options for the transmission line easement and access track options at their property.
We hope to reach agreement by negotiation in the near future.”

Comment sought from Rivers of Carbon and Greening Australia

Australian Rural & Regional News sought comment also from two of the entities which have provided funding to the Betts family to help them to protect their property:

Rivers of Carbon

Australian Rural & Regional News spoke to Lori Gould, Project Manager, Rivers of Carbon, about the situation confronting the Betts family.

“It blows my mind”, said Lori.

“I have been working with the Betts family for many years, commencing with Nan’s husband, the late John Betts starting in around the year 2000. In conjunction with many other landholders, the Betts family and Rivers of Carbon (the on-ground component of the Australian River Restoration Centre) have worked over a period of years to protect many kilometres of the Yass River Valley. So much work has been done. So much money spent. Two decades of investment. The ironic thing is that TransGrid were an early supporter, along with Greening Australia, of this project and now, the hardest part of the valley to be worked on with its steep terrain and many gorges, with the culturally sensitive indigenous area, with the highest biodiversity, with the native kangaroo grasses, with its copses of extremely old eucalyptus yellow box trees, with the nesting places in ancient trees for birds of prey, has been selected to be part of the pathway for TransGrid’s transmission lines. It astounds me. Especially when, after the controversy and legal proceedings associated with land clearing by TransGrid in the northern Kosciuszko region in April and May of 2001, TransGrid focussed on rebuilding its reputation by working with Greening Australia and over 500 landholders across South-East Australia to regenerate their properties and to protect native flora and fauna. It appears that the corporate memory of TransGrid has forgotten this.”

Greening Australia

Greening Australia did respond by saying that they would not make any comment. They did hope that some of the plantings could be saved and that if the Betts family needed assistance with valuing the plantings which were to be destroyed then they could assist with that.

Interview with Nan and Mary-Jane Betts

James Harker-Mortlock with Fiona Fox, Managing Editor, from Australian Rural & Regional News, interview with Mary-Jane and Nan Betts, ‘Cowridge‘, Yass, 21st October 2024. Listen to them tell their own story:

(Approximate times only)
0.00 Introduction
00.30 History of the discussions with TransGrid, Mary-Jane Betts
01.00.00 Alternative route
02.00.00 Conservation area
03.00.00 Weed and fire control issues
05.00.00 Access roads
07.00.00 Family history with the property
08.00.00 John Betts and Landcare
10:30:00 Environmental and Indigenous areas
11:00:00 Problems with the EIS
12:00:00 Indigenous area
14:00:00 A better line
14:25:00 Wedge Tailed Eagles’ nest and raptor bird life
16:00:00 Favourable view of renewables – offering to help with the project – own home off-grid – roof-top solar most obvious
18:00:00 Large projects seem to lose the point as more environment is being destroyed than saved
19:00:00 Yellow Box protected area – TransGrid proposing to put line right through ancient trees
20:00:00 TransGrid staff have no concept of natural landform – do not look above iPads at the land – ever changing staff members
21:30:00 TransGrid cannot cope with anything without a GPS – landform seems irrelevant
22:30:00 TransGrid staff did not speak when visited property – refused on ground consultation with construction company and offered Knight Frank land valuers instead
24:00:00 Jeremy Roberts the manager responsible at TransGrid would not answer question as to why no on the ground consultation regarding the siting of the line
25:00:00 PAN
26:00:00 Propose to go through the middle of the culturally sensitive area
28:00:00 Construction people claimed not to know anything of any discussions regarding the line – Theresa the engineer said she had just started
28:50:00 Culturally sensitive area issue
30:00:00 Politicians unable to make progress with TransGrid – Wendy Tuckermann [M.P. for the state seat of Goulburn].
30:38:00 Kristy [McBain, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories of Australia, and the Bett’s local federal M.P.] has not replied once to the Bett’s letters to her despite Nan meeting her three times. Wes Fang [Member of the Legislative Council NSW] has tried to help also.
31:35:00 Betts are offering a route through their property – but one which avoids the sensitive area
32:00:00 Three alternative access roads in a small area – TransGrid not interested
33:00:00 Crown Road option for access
34:20:00 Ignorant responses from TransGrid by decision makers based a long way away with no knowledge of the local environment and with the attitude that rural people can be brushed off.
35:00:00 TransGrid employee stated that TransGrid would not follow other power line easement path as it was a terrorist target
36:00:00 Unwillingness to take advice from locals regarding a better terrain to follow. Undergrounding. A thousand kilometres of damage.
37:30:00 Transmission lines are not renewables. Enormous carbon footprint. All for just Snowy 2 – itself questionable.
38:00:00 Government guarantees to industry. This line being built only for Snowy 2. No other power available to run through it.
39:30:00 Mental torture for many people. Medical conditions impacted. Despite support groups, it is very isolating.
40:40:00 Undergrounding
41:11:00 Our kids will be cleaning up this mess for years to come. Transmission lines come down and they come down hard.
42:40:00 The next steps. Anxiety enormous. TransGrid causing huge damage. Undergrounding would have received far greater acceptance.
44:48:00 Three kilometres, six towers is a significant impact on us.
46:00:00 Big visual impact across the length of the entire property
47:00:00 Moving the line north would save TransGrid the cost of replacing sheep yards, tree lines (300 trees will have been cleared), helicopter landing pads, etc.
49:00:00 Cut off from seven paddocks. Where do we put the sheep?
50:55:00 Do we stop production during the course of the construction?
51:48:00 The compensation money does not cover the logistics of changes to animal husbandry practices, lambing losses and the sheer scale of rebuilding farm infrastructure, regrowing trees. TransGrid does not care.
52:40:00 It has taken fifty years to establish it all. We cannot start again. Sheep manager’s job would be eliminated due to the probably need to reduce stock.
53:47:00 We will be out of business if we cut down [sheep] numbers.
54:10:00 Engineering work required for the tower on the escarpment.
56:22:00 They are very, very smart at what they don’t tell you.
57:40:00 ‘You will be taking out trees in our woodland that’s protected’ ‘Yeah, well, we need a road’.
57:00:00 Remediation not discussed.
58:35:00 TransGrid will hand Acciona, the construction company, the map – ‘put it there’. No discussion at all between Acciona and the landowners.
59:00:00 We have been asking for the involvement of the construction company from the start in 2017. Did not happen.
59:54:00 What are your plans for the property in the future if the transmission lines were not to go through?

All photos and video: Australian Rural & Regional News
See tag: Transmission line
Some useful links:
Rivers of Carbon: https://riversofcarbon.org.au/
Australian River Restoration Centre: https://arrc.au/

The creation of this story has been supported by the LINA Environmental Reporting Fund –https://lina.org.au/grants/environmental-reporting-fund/.
Australian Rural & Regional News thanks LINA for its ongoing support and for all its work for local and independent news in Australia.