An elected Nationals Government will scrap the Minns Labor Government’s proposed construction of 500kv transmission lines from Walcha to Bayswater.
The Nationals will cap the over-budget and delayed New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) at its current level and prioritise upgrades to existing infrastructure if necessary.
Nationals Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said the New England REZ is a sinking ship of a project.
“There are no takers for future wind and solar projects in the New England area and the New England transmission project would have been left as a white elephant. It is time to put an end to the lines on a map that are tormenting people’s lives,” Mr Layzell said.
“The cost of this project has spiralled totally out of control, and the Minns Labor Government seems content to burden future generations with the enormous repayments.
“The business case for large scale renewable projects on our farmland has fallen through the floor due to the lack of community support. It is time to reset the pathway forward and make better use of the latest technology to encourage energy generation closer to locations where the power is required.”
Mr Layzell thanked the Upper Hunter Responsible Infrastructure Group, Rouchel Brook Action Group, and the Walcha High Country Guardians for their tireless advocacy and efforts in getting more than 22,000 signatures on their petition which will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.
Under Labor, families and businesses are struggling, energy costs continue to rise, and confidence in the state’s energy transition continues to weaken.
The Nationals will diversify the state’s energy mix by unlocking energy generation, storage, and distribution closer to where people live and businesses operate.
The centrepiece of the plan is the creation of City Renewable Energy Zones across Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.
These city REZs will unlock the state’s largest untapped energy resource by supporting industrial precincts, commercial buildings, apartment complexes, and local communities, to better utilise solar and battery technology, generating and storing power closer to where it is consumed.
Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said under Labor, the state’s energy roadmap is becoming increasingly concentrated.
“Our plan will see the city share the load. We should be producing energy where we use it,” Mr Singh said.
“Supporting new energy generation should not come at the expense of some of our most productive farmland. We have listened to local communities and are putting forward a practical plan that delivers energy security while reducing unnecessary impacts on landholders and the environment.”
The plan will also see the establishment of the Outback Renewable Energy Zone.
The Far West region possesses some of the state’s strongest solar resources and significant potential for renewable generation and storage. Importantly, the Outback REZ has the capacity to unlock substantial new energy generation while supporting regional jobs, investment, and economic development.
Mr Singh said unlike other parts of the state, the Far West offers an opportunity to expand generation in an area with lower population density and fewer land-use conflicts, helping diversify NSW’s energy supply and reduce reliance on a small number of Renewable Energy Zones.
“The Nationals support the energy transition, but it must be cheaper, better, fairer, and carried out in partnership with local communities. That means listening when legitimate concerns are raised and being prepared to adjust the plan,” Mr Singh said.
