30 July 2026
A NSW parliamentary inquiry report has echoed the voice of NSW Farmers about the need to improve the understanding of the impact of rushed Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) planning on agricultural production and rural communities.
A parliamentary committee has tabled its final report into the impact of REZ’s on rural and regional communities, concluding the rollout has come with “avoidable harm”.
NSW Farmers President Rebecca Reardon said the reports 16 recommendations go to the heart of the lack of consideration of the impacts on farmers and regional communities.
“It’s time to stop and reevaluate the cumulative damage being done to regional NSW in the name of a rushed and ill planned transition,” Ms Reardon said.
Among the committee’s key findings was that the State Government had presided over the REZ rollout without a” coherent, enforceable, whole-of-government planning framework.”
This has resulted in what the report describes as predictable and avoidable harm to rural and regional communities.
It also states that the NSW Government has failed to address known risks relating to agricultural productivity, land value impacts, and insurance availability, leaving landholders exposed to ongoing uncertainty.
“Importantly, the report recommends that NSW Government expand the compensation and benefit-sharing framework to include non-host neighbours. This has been a real and ongoing issue for farmers from day one.”
“NSW Farmers members have been saying these things for years, yet the outcomes in REZ planning and construction are now exposed for all to see,” Ms Reardon said.
“There are similar impacts happening to farm businesses and communities across the state that are not in a REZ.”
“We have been trying to provide solutions and the government has not been listening. It’s time they engaged with us to do that.”
“NSW Farmers has the connections with the farming sector and rural communities to make the consultation and communication about renewable energy projects more constructive”
Ms Reardon said NSW Farmers welcomes the recommendation for more accountability and improved performance of Energy Co.
“NSW Farmers has reached out to Energy Co constantly to help in getting better outcomes for regional communities and farmers, and keep being ignored. Its time to listen.”
