Working with the community

EnergyCo is committed to working closely with the community as we plan and deliver the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project. You can contact us at any time if you have questions or feedback.

Community and Employment Benefit Program

Communities in the Central-West Orana REZ will receive $128 million over the next four years to deliver community projects and employment opportunities. This will leave a positive legacy for the communities hosting renewable energy projects.

We have been working closely with local councils, community and First Nations organisations, renewable energy companies and other stakeholders to identify and fund community priorities. We recently consulted with the community through a survey, workshops and local information sessions from 5 February to 10 March 2024. Stakeholders and community members were asked to give feedback on the types of benefits that should be delivered in the community.

The program, shaped by community feedback was launched in June 2024 and you can learn more about it by clicking the button below.

Learn more here

Community feedback

EnergyCo invited community feedback on a revised study corridor for the REZ transmission project in early 2022. This built on previous consultation carried out by Transgrid on a preliminary study corridor in 2021. The feedback received during this consultation is outlined in our June 2022 community feedback report.

In September 2022, EnergyCo submitted a scoping report to the Department of Planning and Environment which included a refined study corridor for the REZ transmission project. We held community information sessions in the Central-West Orana region to support the release of the scoping report.

We carried out engagement with the community in early 2023 to inform how impacts and benefits will be coordinated in the REZ. Read our June 2023 community feedback report to view the feedback received and next steps.

The Environmental Impact Statement for the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project was placed on public exhibition between Thursday 28 September and Wednesday 8 November. EnergyCo developed a response to submissions and amendment report responding to the issues raised from submissions,. Community feedback informed a number of key changes to the project, which are described and assessed in an amendment report, which can be read here.    

The Central-West Orana REZ transmission project has now secured State and Commonwealth planning approvals and will now move into the delivery phase.  Read the media release here.

EnergyCo held pop-up events in October 2023 October pop-up events to support the public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project can be viewed here.

Consultation on the Community and Employment Benefit Program was held between February and March 2024. EnergyCo hosted a series of consultation events across the region to inform program design and ensure the funding is allocated to reflect community priorities, building on previous consultation work.

Read the consultation feedback report in the Community and Employment Benefit Program Consultation Feedback Report.

To stay informed about future opportunities to provide feedback, please contact us to register for email updates. 

Pop-up events for Central-West Orana REZ

Our team regularly hold pop-up events and information stalls in the region. Stay up-to-date on when they will be in a town near you, by registering to receive email updates.

Community reference group (2024 - 2026)

EnergyCo has established a Community Reference Group (CRG) for the Central-West Orana REZ which aims to provide an open forum for discussion between EnergyCo, the community and key stakeholders about the REZ transmission project and broader REZ issues. The CRG was established in August 2022.

Recruitment for the 2024-2026 CRG took place in June 2024, following an Expressions of Interest process between 28 May and 18 June 2024. New members were appointed in early July. 

The CRG (2024-2026) includes the following members:

Regional Reference Group 

The Regional Reference Group was formed as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to engage with the community, landowners and other interested stakeholders about the development of the REZ. It was established in advance of securing any generation projects or defining the transmission route and provided input into the design and development of the REZ as well as ways to maximise and share benefits for regional communities from the project.

The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone Regional Reference Group preceded EnergyCo’s role as Infrastructure Planner for Renewable Energy Zones. The forum ran from October 2020 to April 2022.

Membership of the Regional Reference Group was as below: 

In addition to the above, stakeholders were also invited to attend as appropriate, including:  

Business chambers, NSW Farmers, Regional Development Australia, Landcare, Agriculture Commissioner, Community and Indigenous representatives.  

Meeting occurrences  

• 29 October 2020
• 22 February 2021
• 2 June 2021
• 14 October 2021
• 5 April 2022