PUBLIC hearings were held in Dubbo and Sydney last week as part of an Upper House inquiry into the impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on rural and regional communities and industries in New South Wales.
The Sydney hearing featured a number of NSW Government agencies involved in REZs, including independent agencies such as the Net Zero Commission, landowners, environmental groups, and peak organisations such as NSW Farmers, the Minerals Council and Business NSW.
The regional hearing in Dubbo heard from local landowners, community members, renewable energy providers and councils about the development of large-scale renewable projects in the region.
“We want to hear first-hand about the real and potential impacts of REZs and associated projects on farmers, residents and local businesses,” inquiry chair Mark Banasiak MLC said.
“The hearings are an opportunity to provide a complete story of what has happened and is happening on the ground.
“At the same time, we will also hear from renewable energy providers and the government about how they have implemented their projects and how they are working with the community to deliver the social and economic benefits they have argued will be realised by the transition to energy.”
The state’s peak body for agricultural producers, NSW Farmers, appeared at the inquiry on Tuesday.
“Our members are telling us that consultation with farming regions around these projects is still dysfunctional, and this must change if we are to sustain our farming communities,” NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said.
“Farmland we need is being taken away without proper engagement or compensation, and then there’s the huge pressure that these renewable projects are putting on local roads and towns during their construction.”
Mr Martin said the NSW Government also had work to do to ensure farmers and communities weren’t unfairly footing the bill for direct and indirect costs and risks associated with renewable developments.
“At the moment, it seems any farmers will have to decommission these renewable installations once they reach the end of their lifespan, and anyone neighbouring a project isn’t guaranteed any compensation for the impact it has on their farm and its value,” Mr Martin said.
“Transmission lines also pose a real fire risk, and there aren’t any proper protocols in place to manage this.
“These are just some of the issues we must see fixed, so the race to renewables does not come at the cost of our food and fibre, or the farm communities that produce it.”
EnergyCo is in the early stages of planning a REZ in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Augsgrid is providing information sessions on the Hunter-Central Coast REZ proposal at the following locations:
Muswellbrook Library: Wednesday 21 May 2025 – 4pm – 6pm
Branxton Community Hall: Thursday 22 May 2025 – 4pm – 6pm
Valley Markets Singleton: Sunday 25 May 2025 – 9pm – 12pm
Online webinars will also be held on Monday 19 May from 6:30pm – 7:15pm and
Tuesday 20 May from 12:30pm – 1:15pm.
Register via yoursay.ausgrid.com.au/HCCREZ.
