Residents speak to the government inquiry into the impact of renewable developments in Dubbo.
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00:00We feel ignored, dismissed and under attack by multinational developers and our own government.
00:07After watching Tuesday's proceedings, we saw numerous departments and organisations admitting only now that there were errors made in the CWO res.
00:15Why have the residents and landowners of the CWO res been treated as test subjects and second classes?
00:21We see the same spin being used here, now, tied into the NSW Farmers' Renewable Landholder Guide.
00:27The story has been pushed that all the farmers are now happy and projects can go ahead.
00:32Nothing can be heard from the truth.
00:34After experiencing almost three years of developer and government department's spin that this wrong route is for the greater good, we are angry.
00:41We have tried to tell them that they were going about things the wrong way, that they weren't consulting, that there were real problems.
00:48What we face is not unique. These problems are affecting landholders right across the zones.
00:54We are not opposed to modernising the energy sector.
00:58But the way this rollout is being managed on the ground is deeply flawed and in some cases indefensible.
01:05EnergyCo has shown a consistent lack of transparency, empathy and procedural fairness.
01:12Our dealings began to change.
01:15Items like the voluntary planning agreement and associated community funding agreements get taken off the CC table and are discussed behind closed doors between councils and the proponent.
01:28Lack of transparency and disregard for community input through the CCC leaves the community members with a feeling that we only are there to allow the proponents to tick a block.
01:41A project with international developers, operators, regulators, consultants etc. all clawing to gain profit, which in turn will make the electricity very expensive.
01:53material consumption and CO2 emissions.
01:56The cost estimate has escalated from sub $1 billion in 2019 to over $5 billion now and so far only some dirt has been pushed about.
02:03The final cost will be immense. Financially, socially, environmentally and in land loss to primary production.
02:10We the citizens of New South Wales underwrite all of this and if it goes ahead it's envisage to lock our children and their children in perpetual debt and high power bills to benefit mostly foreign corporations.
02:20It's like having to pay the carpenter to build your own gallows.
02:24Over the last few years we have experienced a constant change in our faces that have come and consult with us.
02:29From proponent staff, department staff, energy code staff, HRS staff and independent planning commissioners.
02:36None of this consultation has resulted in our key concerns being acknowledged, significant changes made to or cancellation of a project.
02:44Few, if any of these people will be there during or after construction to police their conditions.
02:49None will be around for the decommissioning but we and our children will be left with the consequences.
02:55Thank you very much.