Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has announced a new Regional Reference Group to design and guide the development of the $12.7 billion New England Renewable Energy Zone. The groups meets for the first time tomorrow in Armidale.
Tuesday, 27 April 2021
New reference group formed, first meeting tomorrow
THE views of locals will be front and centre in the development of the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) with a new REZ Regional Reference Group launched by Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today.
Mr Marshall said the forum would be the key channel to ensure the REZ delivered meaningful long-term benefits for the community and guaranteed renewable energy projects were developed with public support, in the right locations in the region.
“We are bringing representatives from our region’s local councils, Aboriginal Land Councils and the relevant State Government agencies to the table as part of the Regional Reference Group,” Mr Marshall said.
“With a predicted $12.7 billion direct investment in our region over the next decade and more than 1,000 new ongoing jobs, this REZ has the potential to underwrite our community’s prosperity for generations to come.
“I want to make sure we secure every possible economic and employment benefit for our community in a way that supports existing land uses and local landholders.
“We warmly welcome renewables in our region, but it must not come at the cost of any of our existing industries or amenity.
“This is about working with the local community from day-dot to make sure the REZ is delivered in a way that boosts the benefits without compromising the assets that make our region so unique.”
The first meeting of the group will take place tomorrow in Armidale, with a call for registrations of interest in the New England REZ to follow.
“I’m looking forward to bringing everyone to the table tomorrow and getting cracking on planning and designing the incredibly exciting future that awaits us,” Mr Marshall said.
The New England REZ is a key component of the NSW Government’s Energy Infrastructure Roadmap – a co-ordinated plan to deliver the cheap, reliable and modern grid that will power our State into the future and do it in a way that creates jobs, drives investment and supports our regions.
For more information on the New England REZ and the new Regional Reference Group, please visit www.energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/electricity-infrastructure-roadmap
Members of the New England REZ Regional Reference Group:
Local councils
- Armidale Regional
- Clarence Valley
- Glen Innes Severn
- Inverell Shire
- Naomi Unlimited (Namoi Regional Organisation of Councils)
- New England Joint Organisation
- Tamworth Regional
- Tenterfield Shire
- Uralla Shire
- Walcha
NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- Northern Region, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
- Ashford Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Anaiwan Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council
NSW Government Agencies
- Department of Regional NSW
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
- Department of Primary Industries
- Department of Premier and Cabinet