Working with the community - New England Renewable Energy Zone

Since early October, we have been talking to landowners and holding information sessions in the region to discuss the new study area for dual 500kV transmission lines between Muswellbrook and the central south hub near Walcha.

We held 12 information sessions across 10 local townships, including additional sessions at Timor and Nundle in response to local feedback. These sessions totalled over 40 hours of engagement and were attended by more than 840 people, including many landowners in the new study area.

On 25 November we hosted a webinar to share some key findings of the Bulk Corridor Design Refinement Report, including how we assessed firefighting constraints and construction challenges in the previous corridor. The session also covered what this means for the next stage of corridor refinement and how landowners and the community can continue to provide input as planning progresses. You can view a recording of the webinar on the video below.

View our community information session summary for a summary of the key topics raised by the community during the sessions. 

Feedback report now available

In late 2025, we invited community feedback on an update to the transmission corridor between Muswellbrook and the central south hub near Walcha as part of our ‘have your say’ period.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with our team and provide submissions. We received a wide range of valuable insights and local knowledge, which continues to shape the planning of the New England REZ.

We have carefully reviewed all feedback and grouped the key issues raised into common themes. These themes have helped guide our response, ensuring community input is clearly reflected in how the project is being refined.

You can read about what we heard and our response to the key issues raised in our feedback report.

Click here to read the report

Social impact assessment survey

As part of the current planning and assessment of the New England Renewable Energy Zone network infrastructure project, EnergyCo has engaged Umwelt to undertake the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The SIA in particular aims to understand community views, interests, and concerns to be able to understand the potential impacts of the project, to be able to minimise any negative effects and to enhance the opportunities and social benefits.

We are seeking feedback from across the community to understand the social impacts which may be experienced as a result of the project from your perspectives. For this reason, we invite you to take part in an online survey.  All feedback will be treated confidently, de-identified and only used in the SIA Report, which will be publicly available as part of the EIS. An Umwelt SIA Ethics & Participation Information Sheet is available for participant information. 

Complete the survey
 

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 are generally held quarterly and are facilitated by an Independent Chair, Margaret Harvie.