New report finds REZs have ‘negative impact’ on regions

A new report has found country communities have been negatively affected by renewable energy zones.

The report was the first to be handed down by the NSW Upper House inquiry into the impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) on rural and regional communities and industries across the state. The report focuses on the Central-West Orana REZ (CWO). It makes findings and recommendations to address the unfolding impacts in the CWO region and to help ensure the same mistakes do not occur in other REZs as they progress.

The committee found that a significant proportion of the CWO community believe its REZ has negatively impacted the region. It has also found that there has been inadequate consultation between the NSW Government, renewable energy developers and the CWO community.

The Hon Mark Banasiak MLC, chair of the committee, stated: “It is clear from the evidence put to the committee that there is frustration and angst in the CWO community about the growing size and scale of the REZ. The government’s lack of central planning has left rural and regional communities, like the Central-West facing significant cumulative impacts on local infrastructure and social services. This is a problem requiring urgent attention.”

Mr Banasiak continued: “While one of the recommendations called for an urgent cumulative impact study on the CWO REZ and ensure identified impacts are addressed, I am disappointed that this did not go far enough to make sure that the real and pressing concerns raised by the CWO community are properly addressed. Instead, I called for an urgent moratorium on further renewable energy projects in the CWO REZ until an independent cumulative impact study on the region is complete and any identified impacts have been addressed.”

“Nonetheless, the work of the committee continues as the final report will address other concerns raised in other REZs, including the New England community which we visited recently. Further, the committee will explore all other REZs and their impact on local communities.’ added Mr Banasiak.

Mr Banasiak concluded: ‘I want to thank the large number of CWO community members who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in this inquiry so far. In particular, the committee would like to thank the landowners who generously hosted the committee on their properties so we could see the impacts of the CWO REZ first-hand.’