Regional NSW shoulders the burden of NSW’s renewable policy which exists in the form of wind and solar panel farms over the breadth of our State.

Decommissioning renewables infrastructure is a risk for all landholders. The Labor Government failed to provide proper protections for landholders when they released their Wind Energy Guideline.

The NSW Labor Government have released guidelines for decommissioning, but this does not go far enough. There are NO legislative protections for landholders from the risk of renewables-developers going into default. Landholders would incur the full cost of decommissioning renewable energy infrastructure. This is a considerable risk to regional landholders, communities, and NSW taxpayers.

Your Nationals legislators are developing legislation that will try to address this issue. Your views are important in the development of this policy.

To do it we need your help!

Make a submission below.

Your views are important in the development of this policy.

We’ve found these issues so far…

Four key challenges

1. Landholder liability
   • Developers may default, leaving landholders with the burden of decommissioning renewable energy infrastructure
2. Lack of legislative protection
   • Current NSW Government guidelines do not enforce legal obligations for developers to secure decommissioning funds
3. Environmental and financial risks
   • Cost of turbine decommissioning can equal landholders revenue for 25 years
   • Risks of land degradation, erosion, and contamination during dismantling
4. Opaque agreements
   • commercial terms are often confidential, limiting transparency and accountability

We have also identified some critical gaps…

Our goal is to lead the development of a robust policy brief and potential Opposition Bill to bring decommissioning safeguards to the NSW Parliament…

Legislative objectives:

• Establish minimum standards for decommissioning:
  • Scope: removal of all turbines, batteries, and supporting infrastructure
  • Cost coverage: clear allocation of financial responsibility to developers
  • Security: implementation of sinking funds, bonds, or escrow accounts for decommissioning costs
• Introduce a “Fit and Proper Person” text:
  • Ensure developers meet financial and ethical standards before project approval
  • require state approval for project sales or ownership transfers

After more information?

For more information, please contact any of the following NSW Nationals representatives:

Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter

upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Steph Cooke MP

Member for Cootamundra

cootamundra@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Brendan Moylan MP

Member for Northern Tablelands

northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Paul Toole MP

Member for Bathurst

bathurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au