Nature Conservation Council
6 October 2026
Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC) says it welcomes protection of high value bushland and habitat for threatened species as part of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Project, but further investment in corridors for wildlife is essential.
On Tuesday, the NSW Government announced it would pay landholders to protect 15,000 hectares of wildlife habitat across the Central-West region where the Orana Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Project is being delivered.
Quotes attributed to NCC Policy Director, Dr Brad Smith:
“Protecting and restoring 15,000 hectares helps compensate for the 1,200 hectares of habitat clearing required for the new electricity transmission line and gives critically endangered ecosystems like Box-Gum woodland and wildlife like koalas and eastern pygmy-possums a fighting chance.
“We’ve long called for Conservation Investment Strategies to make sure the most important bushland in renewable energy zones is protected, and this is the first time the government has delivered such a plan.
“However, offset projects don’t fully make up for the removal of mature trees and the fragmentation of bushland. Additional government funding needs to be put towards enhancing the national parks reserve system and restoring more corridors for wildlife to truly make sure that species aren’t left worse off by the transmission corridor.
“$140 million is a substantial commitment for biodiversity in the Central West region, but there is more we can do to make sure nature benefits from the renewable energy roll-out in the Central West. For example, stronger planning rules that require developers to repair and restore nature, like revegetating creek lines, controlling pests and weeds, and planting native grasslands under solar farms.
“The clean energy roll out is a once in a generation opportunity for our regions, but the critical infrastructure needs to be done right and rolled out on time.
“Worsening droughts, fires, and heatwaves have already decimated NSW wildlife, and switching from burning coal to clean energy is the most urgent way to limit the heating of our planet.”
/Public Release. View in full here.
