Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question and her ongoing diligent and hard work for the people of regional Victoria. I am delighted to remind the Senate that it was only a fortnight ago that the Prime Minister announced that the Turnbull-Joyce government will start work on a $2 billion electricity game changer—the plan for Snowy Mountains 2.0. The unprecedented expansion will help make renewables reliable, filling in holes caused by intermittent supply and generator outages. It will enable greater energy efficiency and help stabilise electricity supply into the future. This project could boost electricity production capacity by up to 2,000 megawatts, enough to power an additional 500,000 homes—an additional 50 per cent of its current capacity.

The proposal builds on the original Snowy Mountains Scheme completed in 1974, which was a visionary nation-building project, which people across this country understand. In one hour, it could produce 20 times the 100-megawatt hours expected from the battery proposed by the South Australian government. It will deliver it constantly—I say 'constantly'—for almost a week. The coalition will ensure that the feasibility study into this historic expansion considers any potential impacts on rural communities and irrigators. The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year and, as somebody living in a regional community and very focused on water, I know that will be welcomed across those areas of irrigation. In terms of those water users, the farmers and irrigators, I am very pleased to advise that Snowy Hydro has indicated that it will not be requesting changes to its water licence as part of its proposal, so there should not be any impact on water users downstream.