Michael Gray, principal of Yass Real Estate, says the area, also stretching to Gunning and Jerrawa, is on the cusp of major growth.

“I strongly believe it is a very undiscovered, untapped area for people from Canberra and Sydney who aren’t caught up in the Gundaroo hype where prices are skyrocketing,” he said.

“It has huge potential for people seeking 200-acre type properties, but really, this has thrown a spanner in the works...It’s absolutely crazy and I think Dalton and Gunning have been badly let down.”

Mr Gray was referring to the State’s 2012 approval of AGL’s $1.5 billion station, 3km north of Dalton, producing up to 100 megawatts of electricity. The project has been in abeyance since October, 2012 but the company announced last week it was investigating its start-up, citing recent changes in the energy market. AGL has applied to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to extend the approval for two years to July, 2019 while it decides.

The move has again whipped up strong opposition among Dalton and Gunning residents.

Mr Gray said he was assured by locals the project was “dead and buried” when he bought 200 acres on the Jerrawa Road, 3km from Dalton, two years ago. He conceded he should have done his research.

He runs a farming enterprise and recently started plans to build a house, near another home on the property.

“I’ve cancelled the builders,” he told The Post. 

“We were going to invest $600,000 but I’m not prepared to take that risk. It is not about the pollution and other environmental factors but the uncertainty and whether we can re-sell in the future.

“With the stigma of a gas fired power station and people being very au fait with health effects and the ‘not in my backyard’ attitude, it is too much to risk.”

The agent said he had four properties for sale in the area and potential buyers had to be advised of the plant’s possibility under disclosure laws.

Meantime, the Upper Lachlan Environment Association is calling for a time extension on public submissions for AGL’s application, which close on March 31.

Dalton-based president Phil Waine said two weeks was insufficient for people to get around the detail.

“We’ve been completely taken by surprise. A lot of people have moved into the area and have plans to build but didn’t know about the project, so that is causing angst,” he said. 

The group is hosting a public meeting to disseminate information at St Matthew’s hall, Dalton, at 7pm Thursday, March 23.

Mr Waine said the company had not consulted the community over the past five years and it was “unreasonable” to keep the development “hanging over people’s head.”

He has written to the Department and AGL requesting the time extension. A Departmental spokesman initially said the modification application was only being exhibited for two weeks due to “the administrative nature of the proposal.”

But on Thursday, the Department’s director of resource assessments, Mike Young, said he’d listened to concerns and the request was “reasonable.”

Public submissions will now close on April 13.

“The application makes no changes to the approved Dalton Power project and therefore no additional environmental assessment is needed,” a spokeswoman said.

“Once the Department finalises its assessment including consideration of public submissions, it will forward the application to the NSW Planning Assessment Commission for determination.”

An AGL spokesman said the company was “proactively engaging with members of the community in the Dalton and Gunning areas and Upper Lachlan Shire Council.”

It had also continued air quality monitoring in the Dalton region since 2012.

“AGL is committed to ensuring a secure, reliable and competitive energy supply for our customers,” the spokesman said.

“In recent years AGL has invested in solar and wind generation in NSW, and is now looking at further opportunities that will provide energy security and reliability for customers.

“The proposed Dalton power station has been designed as a peaking power station, meaning it can be operated when more energy supply is needed to meet customer demand.”

He said since 2012 the State’s energy generation portfolio requirements had changed and the need to ensure reliable and affordably energy supply for customers and the community had become an increasing priority for AGL.

“The project is designed to contribute to ensuring secure supply of electricity during times of peak demand in NSW, and to help keep downward pressure on prices,” he said.

“AGL is re-examining the proposed Dalton Power Station in this context.

“It is important to note that the application to extend the project approval period does not include any changes to the project detail that was approved in 2012 following extensive community and stakeholder consultation.”

The company directed questions about the exhibition period to the Department of Planning and Environment.