Residents of the sleepy, picturesque village of Dalton have pitted themselves against multinational energy giant AGL over plans to build a $1.5 billion gas-fired power plant on their doorstep.
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Many of those living in the small settlement an hour to the ACT's north have united against the proposal which is before NSW planning authorities.
They fear it would destroy the village's serenity and pollute its environment, while offering piecemeal compensation and few employment opportunities in return.
The huge natural gas fired plant, which would have a maximum capacity of 1500 megawatts, is designed to provide power across NSW during periods of peak electricity use.
AGL says the plant would only operate at most for 20 days a year, and argues the environmental impact will be negligible.
But a number of the town's 100 or so residents believe the company has failed to properly consult with those living next to the proposed site.
Like many, Chris Morgan has been living in Dalton and working in Canberra for years.
He is concerned exhaust fumes from the plant's turbines would contaminate his tank drinking water.
''I'm not opposed to the use of gas turbines for producing electricity,'' Mr Morgan said.
''But there's no need for something of this magnitude to be built within 3km of a rural town.''
Possible noise pollution has also raised concerns, as has the potential impact on the local water supply.
Locals fear the plant would be a blemish on an otherwise undisturbed rural landscape, and there are concerns convoys of trucks will roll through the village during construction, destroying roads and creating dangerous traffic conditions.
But the company has argued that many of those concerns raised are myths.
AGL head of corporate communications Nathan Vass said the plant, if approved, would be subject to stringent environmental regulations.
The company had put in place traffic management plans, and given a guarantee to maintain local road infrastructure to a similar or improved state.
''Let's look at this in a sensible way … the plant won't even operate 20 days of the year, it will be switched off for more than 340 days of the year, so there's no emissions,'' Mr Vass said.
''You have to understand that there's no way that a project like this can go ahead unless the [Environmental Protection Authority] is satisfied that we're not doing anything that would harm communities, or health, or the environment.''
Phil Waine has been living in Dalton for 12 years, but fears he may be forced to leave the town if the plant goes ahead.
He is one of a small leadership group championing the fight against AGL, and says he is ''disturbed'' by the lack of detail about the plant.
''There's just so much risk involved in it, and we haven't been given any information,'' he said.
''Basically with the noise, the traffic, the air quality, there's really not going to be any long-term jobs for locals, there's just no benefit really for the majority of people in town.''
AGL sparked outrage by offering just $40,000 in local community investment as compensation for the project. Upper Lachlan Shire Council Mayor John Shaw described that money as ''chicken feed'', and is demanding the company hand over 1 per cent of the $1.5 billion cost of the plant for local investment.
''One of the problems is, they are such a multinational, big corporate giant, that they think they can walk in and walk all over people,'' Mr Shaw said.
''They've got to work with the community and not just tell the community what they're going to do.''
Mr Shaw said there would be some short-term benefits for local businesses, including the pub and catering companies.
A similar gas power plant proposed for Canberra by ActewAGL fell over after strong opposition from residents about exhaust emissions.
