NSW landholders will have a greater voice on the energy transition after a three-way partnership was struck in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between NSW Farmers, the state's peak farming body, EnergyCo, the statutory authority responsible for leading delivery of REZs, and ACEREZ, which is the preferred network operator to design, construct and maintain new transition infrastructure in the Central-West Orana REZ.
The MOU will support clearer communication with landholders throughout the transition to renewable energy for the region. The intention is to develop codes of conduct around accessing property that will host infrastructure.
The three organisations will collaborate to produce landholder guidance material that outlines rights and responsibilities of all involved, including during construction and operation of the new transmission towers and lines.
The first phase of this relationship is already paying dividends with a draft landholder guide launched at the NSW Farmers 2024 Annual Conference for consultation. The landholder guide, adapted by NSW Farmers and supported by EnergyCo, will contain valuable information for landholders and clear answers to frequently asked questions. The guide will be regularly updated to capture new information as the roll-out of the Central-West Orana REZ continues, and other REZs continue their progress across NSW.
The MOU for the Central-West Orana region is effective immediately and is expected to lay the groundwork for better engagement with farmers and communities in all five REZs across NSW.
