Working with the community

EnergyCo is committed to working closely with the community as we plan and deliver the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project. You can contact us at any time if you have questions or feedback.

Community and Employment Benefit Program

Communities in the Central-West Orana REZ will receive $128 million over the next four years to deliver community projects and employment opportunities. This will leave a positive legacy for the communities hosting renewable energy projects.

We have been working closely with local councils, community and First Nations organisations, renewable energy companies and other stakeholders to identify and fund community priorities. We recently consulted with the community through a survey, workshops and local information sessions from 5 February to 10 March 2024. Stakeholders and community members were asked to give feedback on the types of benefits that should be delivered in the community.

The types of projects that could be funded through the Program include:

• public infrastructure upgrades
• housing and accommodation
• training and employment programs
• health and education programs
• support for energy efficiency and local rooftop solar, and
• initiatives for First Nations people.

The outcomes from this consultation will be published on the website shortly. 

Over time, this program will be expanded to the other four REZs in NSW; New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra.

Community reference group – Expressions of Interest 2024-2026 now closed

Expressions of interest to join the Central-West Orana Community Reference Group (CRG) are now closed.

Applications are now being assessed and applicants will be notified of the outcome in early July. We are renewing the CRG membership and looking for a range of people who can represent the views and interests of their members, groups or organisations. This includes but is not limited to representatives from Aboriginal Land Councils, First Nations organisations, environmental groups, community development associations and industry groups.

A position in the CRG gives you the opportunity to keep informed about project activities, key milestones, and advocate for the interests of your community.

Community feedback

EnergyCo invited community feedback on a revised study corridor for the REZ transmission project in early 2022. This built on previous consultation carried out by Transgrid on a preliminary study corridor in 2021. The feedback received during this consultation is outlined in our June 2022 community feedback report.

In September 2022, EnergyCo submitted a scoping report to the Department of Planning and Environment which included a refined study corridor for the REZ transmission project. We held community information sessions in the Central-West Orana region to support the release of the scoping report.

We carried out engagement with the community in early 2023 to inform how impacts and benefits will be coordinated in the REZ. Read our June 2023 community feedback report to view the feedback received and next steps.

The Environmental Impact Statement for the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project was placed on public exhibition between Thursday 28 September and Wednesday 8 November. EnergyCo has developed a response to submissions and amendment report responding to the issues raised from submissions, which can be read here.

EnergyCo’s held pop-up events in October 2023 October pop-up events to support the public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project can be viewed here.

To stay informed about future opportunities to provide feedback, please contact us to register for email updates.

Pop-up events for Central-West Orana REZ

Our team regularly hold pop-up events and information stalls in the region. Stay up-to-date on when they will be in a town near you, by registering to receive our email updates.

Community reference group

EnergyCo has established a CRG for the Central-West Orana REZ which aims to provide an open forum for discussion between EnergyCo, the community and key stakeholders about the REZ transmission project and broader REZ issues. The CRG was established in August 2022.

The CRG (2022-2024) includes the following members: