Closing 6 August 2026: Have your say on the draft New England REZ Access Scheme

We're currently developing an access scheme for the New England Renewable Energy Zone.

Learn more and have your say

Closing 18 September 2026: Have your say on the Community Employment Benefit Program

We're inviting feedback to help shape the design of the New England REZ Community and Employment Benefit Program which will deliver local infrastructure, services and employment opportunities to support long-term regional prosperity.

Complete the community survey

Learn more and have your say
 

Keeping you informed

We're committed to working closely with landholders and the community as we design the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). Local community input is important and helps to ensure our planning for the project balances project objectives with community needs and priorities.

We use a range of channels to engage with communities, including: 

  • regular e-newsletters 
  • mobile offices and community events in the region
  • community information sessions
  • hardcopy project updates delivered to letterboxes in the project area
  • a dedicated phone number and email address
  • surveys
  • webinars
  • community reference groups.

Learn more
New England REZ

  1. Early community consultation

    EnergyCo begins thorough and ongoing consultation with landholders, community and stakeholders – all critical to planning and shaping NSW’s energy network. 

  2. Consultation as we refine the corridor

    EnergyCo is on the ground carrying out technical and environmental assessments, and engaging with landholders and the community to refine the new study area to 1km wide. We've completed this refinement to a 250m wide corridor for the environmental impact statement (EIS).

  3. Consultation on the environmental impact statement (EIS)

    The EIS for the New England REZ Network Infrastructure Project will be placed on public exhibition in the second half of 2026. During the EIS exhibition period, communities and stakeholders will be able to make formal submissions, which we'll respond to in a submission report. 

  4. Project delivery

    Community engagement will continue during project approvals, detailed design and construction.

Refining the corridor to minimise community and environmental impacts

Shaped by community and stakeholder feedback, alongside detailed field investigations and technical assessments, we have refined the proposed transmission corridor to a 1 kilometre-wide corridor connecting the New England REZ to the existing electricity grid at Bayswater Power Station.

You can explore the refined corridor on our interactive map or watch the video.

View our interactive map

Shaping the corridor through community feedback and ongoing refinement

20251110_042835019_iOS (1) New England_Uralla
20251110_042835019_iOS (1) New England_Uralla. 
What we’ve improved through corridor refinement

We've refined the corridor to better avoid impacts and reflect local priorities through community feedback and technical assessment.

You can find more detail in the corridor refinement landholder fact sheet.

20251110_040220061_iOS (1) New England_Uralla CIS
20251110_040220061_iOS (1) New England_Uralla CIS. 
Your feedback and next steps

In October 2025, we consulted on a 3 kilometre-wide study area between Muswellbrook and Walcha for the proposed 500 kV transmission corridor and received 481 submissions.

The feedback report is now available (April 2026), summarising community input and how it is informing planning. Click the link below to read the feedback report

Upcoming events - Community information sessions, mobile offices and webinars

Community events

We attend regular community events across the region so you can speak to the team, ask questions and provide feedback. You will find our community engagement team at the following upcoming events:

EventDateTimeAddress
AgQuipTuesday 18 August8:30am - 4:30pm134 Black Jack Road, Gunnedah NSW 2380
AgQuipWednesday 19 August8:30am - 4:30pm134 Black Jack Road, Gunnedah NSW 2380
AgQuipThursday 20 August8:30am - 4:30pm134 Black Jack Road, Gunnedah NSW 2380

Register for future updates

For updates about upcoming events, visit our engagement portal or sign up for our newsletter.

New England REZ regional steering committee

The New England REZ Regional Steering Committee was established in June 2026. The Committee provides a regionally-based government forum for collaboration and coordination to support the development of the REZ.

The Committee includes senior representatives from local councils, EnergyCo and other state government agencies to help identify and coordinate actions to successfully deliver the REZ. 

The New England REZ Regional Steering Committee meets quarterly to ensure regional outcomes are effectively managed with input from government at all levels.

Several working groups are being established under the Regional Steering Committee to provide a detailed, technical forum across key priority areas. The working groups include representatives from councils, state government agencies relevant to each priority area, and EnergyCo.

The Regional Steering Committe is separate from community reference groups for the REZ.

We'll provide an update when the working groups are established.

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new-england-rez-SteerCo meeting 170626-2
Regional Steering Committee participants
  • Armidale Regional Council
  • Uralla Shire Council
  • Walcha Council
  • Tamworth Regional Council
  • Upper Hunter Shire Council
  • Muswellbrook Shire Council
  • Glen Innes Severn Shire Council
  • Tenterfield Shire Council
  • Inverell Shire Council
  • EnergyCo
  • NSW Premier’s Department
  • Department of Education
  • Investment NSW
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
  • Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Transport for NSW
  • TAFE NSW.

Additional stakeholders
Additional stakeholders beyond the core participants may be invited on an as needed basis to provide specific updates relevant to the topic(s) being discussed by the Committee.

Minutes from previous Steering Committee meetings

Get qualified, confidential support

Call 1300 089 551 to speak to qualified psychologists and social workers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You do not need a referral. 

This service is available to property owners, their families, tenants, commercial property and business owners, and employees directly affected by property acquisition and other EnergyCo property discussions, like access agreements. 

Explore the New England REZ engagement portal

Learn more about the project, provide feedback to help shape our plans and stay informed on upcoming events near you. 

Explore the portal
New England Engagement Portal Mockup 260501- Edited
New England Engagement Portal Mockup 260501- Edited. 

More information

Community benefits

Learn how we’re delivering lasting benefits for local communities as we plan and build new energy infrastructure in the New England regions.

Community reference groups

Learn more about Community Reference Groups and their role in helping to shape our project.

Frequently asked questions

Find key information and answers to frequently asked questions about the project.

Project documents and resources

View project documents and resources, including updates, fact sheets, work notifications and reports.

Learn more about the New England REZ

Project information
Community
Resources
General resources

Contact the New England REZ team

Call us

1800 061 114 (toll free), Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Email us

nerez@energyco.nsw.gov.au

Explore the REZ engagement portal

Learn more, see upcoming events and provide feedback

Register for updates

Sign up for the New England REZ e-newsletter