The NSW electricity grid operator TransGrid has made changes to the planned route for its $2.1 billion power line between Wagga and the Snowy Hydro scheme.
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Some landowners have cautiously welcomed the news that their area is no longer earmarked for a row of new towers up to 65 metres high with a 500-kilovolt transmission line.
Other landowners are furious that TransGrid announced the plans before another round of community meetings this month, claiming it has not taken their suggested changes on board.
One of the major changes was to remove an entire transmission line between Book Book and Gobarralong.
TransGrid said the proposed section, which would have formed part of a triangle-shaped network between Wagga and Blowering Dam via Tumut and Batlow, was "no longer required".
Book Book cattle, sheep and grain farmer Melody McMeekin said she was "really pleased" that the Kyeamba region would likely no longer have a HumeLink line built through it.
"This is one step closer to having this set in stone, but I still haven't received confirmation in writing from TransGrid," she said.
"They seem to have eventually listened to our reasons why a power line should not be built here.
"I'm very aware of the many other landowners who are still on the planned route and I hope they are also fortunate enough to be listened to".
TransGrid executive manager of delivery Craig Stallan said the changes release some landowners from the HumeLink route's study corridor, but would include others in the new areas being studied.
"In coming months, we will continue to speak with landowners and communities to examine ways to reduce the overall impact on them," he said.
"These changes to the HumeLink corridor have been made to deliver the best overall network reliability, capacity and value-for-money.
"HumeLink is a once in a generation investment in Australia's energy future [and] will reinforce the backbone of the east coast's transmission network, delivering a cheaper, more reliable and more sustainable grid."
HumeLink Action Group co-chairman and Adjungbilly landowner Bill Kingwill said TransGrid had been "arrogant" by disregarding community input.
"We're not very impressed at all because we are no further ahead in defining the route than we were 18 months ago," Mr Kingwill said.
"They have this new route out but not with the option that we had put up that goes to the east of Tumut out in the forest with minimal community disturbance."
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