Renewable Energy Zone approved for first time in Australia

Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone has become the first REZ in Australia to receive key planning consent.

The state government has approved construction of more than 200 kilometres of transmission lines to connect numerous renewable energy projects in the region, which stretches to the eastern edge of the Western Plains.

It is the first REZ in Australia to achieve this key milestone, paving the way for the construction of the necessary transmission infrastructure that will enable large-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects to be connected to the electricity grid across the region.

“This is the first renewable energy transmission project in the country to receive planning consent, paving the way for a significant increase in renewable energy generation to replace ageing coal-fired power stations,” said Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe.

“It’s not just about clean energy. This project will deliver long-term financial benefits to both NSW electricity consumers and the local communities that will host the Central-West Orana REZ.”

Penny Sharpe. Photo: Wikipedia.

The decision follows extensive technical planning and ongoing public consultation, including the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in late 2023.

The consortium responsible for production includes ACCIONA, Cobra and Endeavour Energy.

The project is expected to attract up to $20 billion in private investment in solar, wind and energy storage projects, creating approximately 5,000 jobs during peak construction.

Warrumbungle Shire Council has announced that it has provided feedback on the Liverpool Range Wind Farm RTS report on Temporary Worker Accommodation (TWA).

“Council’s concerns relate to the impact on road infrastructure, cumulative impacts and deviations from the original development application,” said Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire Council, Councillor Ambrose Doolan.

Mayor Ambrose Doolan. Photo: Supplied.

The council said it had been actively involved in meetings with the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) regarding the Birriwa Solar Farm, including addressing a public meeting on 5 June 2024 at Jubilee Hall in Dunedoo.

“Council has called on the IPC to defer a final decision on the Birriwa Solar Farm until comprehensive assessments of the cumulative impacts of over 40 major wind, solar and transmission projects within or near the REZ have been undertaken and appropriate compensation for environmental, social and economic costs has been provided,” explained Councillor Doolan

The Central-West Orana REZ is a key initiative within the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which aims to deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy to homes and businesses across the state. The project will deliver at least 4.5 gigawatts of transmitted electricity, equivalent to 1.8 million homes.

To ensure the community has access to information at all times, Warrumbungle Council has included “Latest News from the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Council” banner on the home page.

This will provide up-to-date information on REZ developments from the EnergyCo website and enable members of the public to view detailed Council comments on these projects.