– Thomasen Knight, RE-Alliance Regional Programs Manager.
Addressing the cumulative impacts of renewable energy development will require strong regional collaboration. This was on full display in Armidale NSW last week, at the New England Renewable Energy Zone (NE REZ) Forum.
The New England region faces a number of potential future impacts, outlined in a set of cumulative‑impact studies that were recently published by EnergyCo, in ‘Regional Major Infrastructure Studies (RMIS) for the New England REZ’.
Rather than sitting back and waiting for someone to solve these challenges, representatives from the University of New England and Uralla Shire Council led this event, to draw on local experience and knowledge and build the necessary connections and momentum to see solutions delivered in their region.
The forum brought together researchers and people from local government, state government and industry. Around 100 key stakeholders in total gathered over two days to better understand the cumulative impacts the region is likely to face, share solutions already underway, and workshop new ideas for moving forward.
Topics discussed included water security, workforce accommodation and housing, waste and circular economy, skills and training and local supply chains. The forum’s five central themes reflect the same five themes outlined in the RMIS.
For councils across the region, it was no surprise that water emerged as the critical gateway issue in New England. Progress on renewable energy development here depends on getting water security and wastewater management right. Water for REZ activity will require significantly more than what is currently available in the region. Thankfully, one of the local councils has a proposal for a regional water solution, a big part of the answer.
Bringing stakeholders together around a shared understanding of priority issues like this was a real strength of the forum.
Encouragingly, there was a strong sense of everyone pulling together to work out how best to manage impacts, driven by genuine excitement about the benefits renewable energy development could bring to the region through effective impact management, mitigation, and long‑term legacy outcomes. For example, infrastructure from worker accommodation sites could provide the foundation for legacy affordable housing in New England townships.
The forum was a strong demonstration of local leadership. When local councils and communities have staff capacity and funding available, we are seeing them facilitate regional collaboration and propose solutions to cumulative impact issues, brokering deals with industry and government to make it happen.
