Working with the community - New England Renewable Energy Zone

We are holding a series of information sessions at local venues so you can speak with our team, ask questions and share your feedback about the new study area. We want to hear your views on potential opportunities and constraints within the new study area. All comments received will be considered as we refine to a 1km-wide corridor.

You can send your feedback by email to [email protected]. Alternatively, give our team a call on 1800 061 114 (toll free). We can also make arrangements to receive your feedback in person or via post.

After the engagement period, we will publish a feedback report outlining the key topics raised by the community and EnergyCo’s responses. We will share the report with the community once finalised.

At our presentations planned in Gundy and Walcha, members of EnergyCo’s senior leadership team will be in attendance to give a short update and answer questions between 5pm and 7pm. Members of our team will be available earlier to speak with you before the presentation starts. Other scheduled sessions will remain as a drop-in style format to allow landowners to have individual discussions with project team members.

Keeping you informed

We are committed to working closely with landowners and the community as we design the New England REZ. Local community input is important and helps to ensure our planning for the project balances project objectives with community needs and priorities.

We understand different communication methods suit different people, which is why we use a range of channels to engage with communities, including:

• Regular e-newsletters – click here to subscribe
• Pop-up information stalls and community information sessions in the region
• Hardcopy project updates delivered to letterboxes in the project area
• A dedicated phone number and email address
• Surveys

We’ve established two community reference groups (CRG) for the New England REZ to provide an open forum of discussion between EnergyCo, the community and key stakeholders:

• The north community reference group represents communities within the REZ
• The south community reference group represents communities between the REZ and Bayswater in the south, near Muswellbrook

Meetings will be held quarterly and are facilitated by Independent Chair Margaret Harvie. 

Recruitment for the 2025-2026 community reference groups took place in late 2024 following an expressions of interest period throughout September, October and November.