Community leaders from the New England and Hunter Renewable Energy Zones have travelled to NSW Parliament House to urge politicians from all parties to get behind the renewable energy transition and to ensure it benefits both communities and nature.
Representatives of community groups in the New England and Hunter Renewable Energy Zones joined Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC) to call for stronger planning laws, environmental protections, and local engagement to ensure clean energy development safeguards wildlife, restores degraded landscapes, and creates long-term prosperity for the regions.
“Climate change is one of the biggest threats to nature, and with almost 1,000 threatened species in New South Wales, we can’t afford more delays to climate action and the renewable energy transition”, said Eve Altman, NCC Clean Energy Campaigner.
“What we need is to continue the rollout of renewable energy but to do it in a way that fully takes advantage of the opportunity to do planning and infrastructure right – to build in stronger nature protection, enforce best practice and include nature restoration and protection into the assessment process.”
“Renewable energy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our regions, with significant investment underway. That’s why we’re working with communities in the Renewable Energy Zones to make sure they benefit, and that nature is protected and restored through the rollout.”
Heidi McElnea, Regional Partnerships Co-ordinator, Community Power Agency says in the New England region alone we have 20 renewable energy projects in the pipeline.
“This represents an exciting opportunity to wean our country off harmful fossil fuels and limit the damage of climate change, while shoring up our country’s energy supply. But we need projects to be clever about site design and placement, so we are protecting what’s important while enhancing and restoring damage to landscapes.” said McElnea.
“We want the change to renewable energy to happen with communities, not to them.”
“Now is the time to make sure we have the right laws and guidelines in place to protect nature.”
Annette Kilarr, Convenor of Climate Action Armidale of Sustainable Living Armidale, and Member of the Community Reference Group (CRG) of the New England REZ North, says the rollout of the New England Renewable Energy Zone represents a significant land-use change for our region and is central to national climate action.
“I have travelled to NSW Parliament to ensure that the renewables transition is good for both the environment and our communities.” said Kilarr.
“The protection and restoration of nature must be central to the planning process, with place-specific ecological priorities identified upfront.”
“First Nations, agricultural, and scientific communities must be involved in co-created regional benefit plans to ensure the transition is regenerative, not extractive.”
Advertising with New England Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.