Tour de (Central-West Orana) REZ

This morning turned out to be just one of six glorious days I spent getting in touch with the people and places hosting NSW’s first Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Central-West Orana region.

Spending my annual leave exploring the REZ might seem like ‘living to work’, but it was truly wonderful spending ‘slow’ time in the region that is the focus of so much of my work. Not to mention, a lot of fun discovering my newfound love of off-road cycling!

The trail took us through canola fields, vineyards, grazing land, state forests, the one pub towns of Dunedoo, Mendooran and Ballimore, and past solar and wind farms near Gulgong, Dubbo and Wellington.

We were lucky to experience the region after much-needed rain – making the muddy creek crossings even more interesting! Spring was definitely in the air with the wattle in full bloom and new lambs and calves on many of the farms.

I loved chatting to the locals along the way, including a guy I met in a pub who told me that “people who are against renewables are against progress”, before adding that while the region needs the investment, it would be good if more locals got jobs. I also heard from a farmer who wanted to host solar on her farm but was told there weren’t enough power lines in the area.

I feel privileged to be working on the NSW REZ program and if anything, my experience has only made me more determined to deliver these projects in a way that genuinely benefits regional communities and respects the unique beauty, culture and history of these places.

I look forward to spending more time in our regions over the coming years and continuing to work with many of you to foster the community support needed to make our REZ vision a reality!

Originally published on LinkedIn, 21 September 2020.

Chloe Hicks is Executive Director, Strategy and Policy. Chloe is responsible for driving EnergyCo’s corporate and business strategy, strategic policy and advice, and regulatory processes.