The Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) has reached a significant milestone with the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement for a transmission project, becoming the first REZ to reach this key stage in its development.
When completed, the Central West Orana REZ will contribute at least 3 gigawatts (GW) of transmitted electricity, enough to power 1.4 million homes. This is in line with NSW's target of 12GW of renewable generation and 2GW of long-term storage by 2030. The transmission and generation projects within the Central West Orana REZ are expected to attract up to $10 billion in private investment, driving economic growth in the region and creating approximately 5000 jobs during peak construction.
The Central West Orana REZ covers an area of approximately 20,000km2 and includes major cities and towns such as Dubbo, Dunedoo and Mudgee.
The Environmental Impact Statement reflects more than two years of rigorous technical study and community engagement. This comprehensive assessment covers potential impacts on visual aesthetics, agriculture, transport infrastructure, noise levels, biodiversity, water resources and cumulative impacts on community services such as housing and health in the region.
The Department of Planning and Environment will make the Environmental Impact Statement publicly available from Thursday 28 September 2023 to Thursday 26 October 2023. EnergyCo will be holding information sessions to help the community understand the Environmental Impact Statement.
Tags: Renewable Energy Zone, Environmental Impact Statement, clean energy, energy transition, sustainable development, renewable electricity, NSW Energy Goals, economic growth, community engagement, infrastructure development, EnergyCo.