The Black Snake Mine, dug in 1876, will be significantly affected by a new road constructed to service the project, according to the scheme's Historical Heritage Assessment.

Proponent ENGIE is considering constructing the new road to get their massive turbine blades around the extremely steep Devil's Elbow on the route up the mountain.

Nundle was founded after the discovery of the mineral in surrounding hills now called the Hills of Gold, in a smaller version of the Victorian goldrush.

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Project opponent Megan Trousdale said the new road was "disrespectful" to the town's gold mining history.

"You think about Black Snake Gold Mine. The importance of that heritage continues today. Nundle is on the Fossickers way. We're called the Hills of Gold.

"A few years ago one of our resident musicians wrote a musical Yankee Jack all about the gold mining heritage. We have a Go for Gold festival.

"Even my own business was once a place people exchanged gold for goods. The gold mining heritage is woven into our daily lives. And you've got gold panners and fossickers who are still coming up on a weekly basis to find gold.

"To propose damaging one of the most significant parts of the Nundle goldfields is very disrespectful."

Mrs Trousdale, a member of opposition group Hills of Gold Preservation Inc, said the project has the potential to affect the century-old archaeological remains. They are listed as part of the national estate and the local environment plan, she said.

Destroying the heritage could even affect the attractiveness of the tourism-dependent community.

"Nundle has a massive stakeholder community of fossickers and gold panners. These are people who definitely have the gold fever. They are emotionally attached to Nundle. This is their haven. They respect and they honour the gold mining history of the area. I think it would really upset our local people who are descended from those gold mining findings and also our visitors who have that deep connection."

The potential heritage impact was revealed after the release of the project's DA and Environmental Impact Statement this week.

The new road is one option under consideration for gaining road access for the enormous wind turbines.

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A spokesperson of the project said surveys undertaken for the renewable scheme identified a specific mine entrance, which they have avoided.

"Potential impact has been assessed and the project has committed to undertake further geophysical surveys upon detailed design to determine if any underground mines exist," he said.

"The upgraded "devils elbow" road will reduce congestion by diverting over-sized loads on the road network onto this road upgrade and allowing public traffic to use the existing road reducing any travel delays."

The Black Snake Mine is one of just ten surrounding the town.

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The project's Historical Heritage Assessment shows the project's proposed transport route will have "major direct impacts" to the mine.

"The proposal would result in major impact to the listed heritage item," it says.

"Although no objects associated with the former mine have been identified along the proposed route, the proposed route will impact on the [local environment plan] listed curtilage of the Black Snake Gold Mine."

French multinational ENGIE, which announced they had purchased the project in early November, plans to build as many as 70 turbines on the Hills of Gold about 5km south of Hanging Rock, near Nundle.

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