Proponents of the controversial Nundle Wind Farm have received an overwhelming no from the public, with a strong majority of submissions into the project's DA opposing the plan.
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An enormous 632 ordinary people formally gave their two cents worth on the power project. Their submissions were made public this week.
Some 67 per cent told the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) they opposed it.
Just 36 per cent backed the idea.
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One supporter was Belinda Robinson, who told DPIE the project would create environmental benefits by displacing coal-generated electricity with green energy.
"The community of Nundle and Hanging Rock should feel proud about doing something for climate change for our future generations," she said.
Scott Robinson said the project would create much-needed jobs in a town he's lived in or visited for decades.
"Since I have come to Nundle I have watched it slowly go backwards," he said.
"The town used to have a butcher, a baker, a bank, a doctor three days a week, now all these services are gone."
Robert Schofield, who has owned Nundle's Peel Inn Hotel for 54 years, said the project's $175,000 community enhancement fund would help finance local community groups and projects and "make it into a vibrant town, like it used to be 30 years ago".
Opponents were equally committed to their perspective.
Nundle resident Colin Cummins told DPIE the project would generate too much traffic during its construction phase.
Local business owner Megan Trousdale, a member of opposition group Hills of Gold Preservation Inc, said it would ruin her view of the town's hills.
"We are concerned that wind turbines on the range would reduce the demand for our house and land should we ever sell, consequently lowering the market price," she said.
Ian Worley told DPIE the project would have a "significant financial impact" on his farm, just 300 metres from the nearest turbine.
"As an Aboriginal person, I object to the industrialisation of a landscape that is my home and that of my people," he said.
"It is another slap in the face of Aboriginal people to have more land desecrated for industrial purposes."
French multinational ENGIE, which announced they had purchased the project in early November last year, plans to build as many as 70 turbines on the Hills of Gold about 5km south of Hanging Rock, near Nundle.
If approved and built the project would produce as much as 420 megawatts of battery-firmed clean power, enough electricity to juice 185,000 homes.
The project is expected to create 216 direct and 430 indirect jobs during a two-and-a-half year construction period.
Renewable energy advocacy organisation RE-Alliance, which supports the project, said "the level of vocal support for this project is stronger than any project we have seen in NSW", noting that backers and opponents both display corflute signs on their home fences.
Both the Muswellbrook Shire Council and Tamworth Regional Council opposed the development.
Because there was so much community opposition, the project will likely be judged by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), which takes control over the planning process for projects which receive over 50 objections.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
