NSW Government accused of hiding renewable energy zone impacts from community
A "looming disaster" threatens western NSW as the government approves renewable energy projects without completing studies that could reveal their true community impact.
Residents in the state’s first renewable energy zone say they have been kept in the dark about the massive construction impacts looming over their western NSW community, arguing long-promised government studies are now well overdue.
A rural community advocate has accused the NSW Government and EnergyCo of stonewalling risk measurement assessments in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone first promised more than two years ago.
In a letter to Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, Sally Edwards, a former REZ community representative, said residents and local councillors were being blindsided while “construction and destruction” pushed ahead.
Approvals were “being waved through” despite the fact that “there are still no cumulative impact studies on the table,” Ms Edwards said.
Ms Edwards said residents in EnergyCo’s own Community Reference Group had been asking about these studies since 2023.
She said they had called for studies to examine the combined environmental, social and infrastructure impacts of multiple renewable energy projects to be shared with communities and councils.
Her comments, outlined in a letter to Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, follow those of Mid-Western Regional Council general manager Brad Cam.
Mr Cam spoke of a “looming disaster” associated with the Central-West Orana REZ.
He said there were nearly 40 renewable energy projects happening in his region, four times the 10 REZ projects quoted by EnergyCo.
He said his council spent $165,000 on its own cumulative impact study published in January 2024 with funding help from a NSW Government grant.
“No immediate actions were taken by the government and we are yet to see mitigation solutions to many of the issues raised,” Mr Cam said.
Ms Edwards, who runs a small district family farm, pointed to the recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the impacts of Renewable Energy Zones.
In an interim report in August it recommended “that the NSW Government urgently conduct an independent cumulative impact study on the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone and ensure identified impacts are addressed”.
Minister Sharpe has told Budget Estimates the studies were being finalised.
“We have been working closely with the councils and the councils have seen some of this information,” Ms Sharpe said.
Another local council has also called out the lack of easily available information on REZ construction impacts.
In a letter seen by The Telegraph, Warrumbungle Shire Council general manager Lindsay Mason said a whole-of-government study into renewable energy zone impacts had not been completed.
Mr Mason said the government indicated more than 12 months ago it was committed to undertaking studies in three renewable energy zones.
The studies would identify “specific actions and plans required to alleviate impacts on local regional infrastructure and services”.
“Council has been chasing this information for months but the work is yet to be completed, with no indication as to when they will be completed,” Mr Mason said in a letter in September.
“Council understands REZ projects are being approved regardless of the lack of critical information.
“We are focused on knowing what key actions the State Government will take to address such matters as police, fire services, paramedics, ambulances, doctors, hospital beds and to address the influx of workers during the construction phase of the REZ.”
Part of the Warrumbungle Shire area includes the CWO REZ, including the severely impacted farming community of Dunedoo.
In answer to a Question on Notice, Minister Sharpe confirmed studies related to workforce, population, waste and water had been shared with Warrumbungle, Mid-Western, Dubbo and Upper Hunter councils, but not with local councillors.
Ms Edwards said if elected representatives and the community were not involved, “how can EnergyCo possibly be listening and considerate of community concerns as you have so confidently assured?”
She also asked what had been “left out” of the reports, saying “there is a lot at stake here”.
As of Friday, Ms Edwards said she had received no reply from the Minister, only a letter of acknowledgment from EnergyCo.
Ms Edwards resigned from the CWOR REZ community reference committee after 18 months because she said it was too difficult to get information.
She has announced she will stand for the Libertarian Party in the Federal seat of Parkes.
In response to questions from The Telegraph, a NSW Government spokesperson said cumulative impact studies will be published online “soon”.
In a written statement the spokesperson said: “The NSW Government has undertaken regional major infrastructure studies which consider the potential impacts of major infrastructure projects from a range of sectors within the geographical area of the Central-West Orana and New England Renewable Energy Zones.
“Multiple projects, including energy, mining, manufacturing and the Federal Government’s Inland Rail are proposed in and around the REZs.
“The studies take a cumulative approach, which assumes all proposed projects will proceed.
“The studies are part of our commitment to deliver the renewable energy transition in a coordinated way.
“They are the result of consultation with councils, government agencies and industry to assess existing and potential impacts.
“The studies have considered the impacts of potential projects as well as the opportunities that may arise from improved sequencing, resource sharing and the significant investment in regional NSW.”
Originally published as NSW Government accused of hiding renewable energy zone impacts from community
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