The New South Wales Government is currently reviewing its transmission planning arrangements and options for reforms, in the 'Transmission Planning Review 2025 Options Paper'.
The Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-Alliance) recognises the importance of transmission infrastructure across Australia, including in NSW. This infrastructure will help ensure consistent power from new renewable sources as coal plants retire.
RE-Alliance welcomes the opportunity to respond to this Options Paper – but rather than comment on the specific options profiled, our submission focuses on the outcomes we believe should be delivered by those options taken forward to the proposed Interim Report.
In our view, the current NSW framework is insufficient in some areas. We therefore welcome the clear recognition in the Options Paper that: “Local communities and consumers should be treated as trusted partners that are consulted on the inevitable trade-offs involved in planning large transmission projects, but the importance of this consultation is not recognised in the current NSW regulatory framework and the effectiveness of consultation varies in practice.”
Some of our key recommendations are:
- Ensure that – for any option – the following outcomes are set as clear objectives:
- Local communities and consumers are treated as trusted partners.
- Local communities and consumers are consulted on and have influence on decision-making regarding the inevitable trade-offs involved in planning large transmission projects.
- The importance of effective and responsive consultation is recognised in the NSW regulatory framework.
- Proactively emphasise the importance of key principles to underpin transmission development in NSW, such as:
- Local jobs and a skilled workforce – Collaboration between sectors is vital to meet the demand for workers in renewable energy industries by 2050.
- Regions at the centre – Government-community partnership is crucial for regional influence in decision-making, ensuring lasting benefits for communities.
- Informed consent with First Nations people – Free, prior and informed consent from First Nations communities is essential to protect culturally significant sites in renewable energy projects and ensure First Nations economic empowerment.
- Grids and thriving nature – Prioritise biodiversity protection and cultural respect in grid projects to ensure sustainable development.