The NSW Legislative Council hearing was told securing social licence remained an ongoing challenge for councils, as the region prepares for energy transition.
Murrumbidgee Council has dealt separately with four state significant wind farms and one state significant solar farm, all seeking connection to the Dinawan Energy Substation.
In addition, prior to the development of the South-West Renewable Energy Zone, two state significant solar farms were approved and built at Coleambally and Darlington Point.
Murrumbidgee Council director planning and infrastructure Garry Stoll told the hearing this experience had provided council with extensive first-hand knowledge of the impacts, challenges and disappointments that the development of renewable energy projects create.
“It also reinforces our belief that these developments offer no positive outcomes for our communities,” Mr Stoll said.
“In fact, council and the community have reached the conclusion, that whilst we do not want these things in our area, if they are coming, we will attempt to leverage the maximum amount of benefit from them for our communities as possible.
“However, even in this endeavour we have been continually thwarted by the efforts of the NSW Planning and Environment Energy Assessments team, EnergyCo and the developers themselves.”
Mr Stoll raised concern over the visual impacts of potentially up to seven major transmission lines converging at one location, either into or from the Dinawan Substation on the Kidman Way between Coleambally and Jerilderie.
He said council was also concerned with the heavy demands placed on local roads and an influx of thousands of construction workers with the need for accommodation camps.
He said there would be new demands on potentially scarce resources such as water, and other services provided by local government.
“The creation of the renewable energy zones are all state and federal government projects,” Mr Stoll told the inquiry.
“Projects in Murrumbidgee Council within the REZ will only benefit the renewable energy developers themselves and about six landowners.
“Yet the impacts of the construction, ongoing operations, loss of visual amenities, community divisions, economic, loss of available telecommunication services are all impacts, costs and burdens that will be borne by our council now and into the future.”
23°C