A regional council is concerned that a new powerline could put water bomber pilots’ lives at risk.

Powerline operator Transgrid wants to reinforce a southern NSW transmission line in a project known as HumeLink, so that it can deliver new electricity generated under the Snowy 2.0 project.

The proposed path of the new powerlines passes through the Snowy Valleys Council area and near Tumut Airport, leaving local Deputy Mayor John Larter worried.

“It's a major airport firefighting base for the Rural Fire Service and also acts as an emergency services outlet for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and for the air ambulance,” he told the ABC this week.

“When you're operating aeroplanes and helicopters in a fire season, men and women pilots are putting their lives at risk flying at low level in reduced visibility conditions.

“It's just absolutely ridiculous to think we're going to put them at further risk by putting powerlines all over the landscape.”

Transgrid has issued a statement saying its HumeLink design team is working with Snowy Valleys Council engineers on issues relating to the upgrade, with local consultations set to start this month.

Transgrid also says it will set up an independent stakeholder monitoring committee to protect the interests of the community.

But Cr Larter is questioning the need to build a new powerline at all.

“In my view, it's been very clear the last three fires that we've experienced in this region have, in some way, been contributed to by the lack of maintenance of the undergrowth underneath the powerlines,” he said.

“To think we're going to duplicate that in another space really does concern me.”