THE NSW Government will hold an inquiry into the impacts of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) on regional and rural communities.

The Australian Government in June declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Illawarra, between Stanwell Park and Kiama where offshore renewable energy, such as wind farms, can be developed.

Following a recent Federal Inquiry, the new inquiry highlights significant community concerns over the offshore wind project in the Illawarra. Responsible Future (Illawarra) has welcomed the State Upper House inquiry.

“This inquiry will thoroughly examine the implications of REZs and large-scale renewable projects proposed for these areas, including the Illawarra-Cronulla Offshore Wind Project,” a spokesperson said.

 The inquiry will address critical factors, including potential fire risks, socioeconomic benefits, and the effects on agricultural production, tourism, and the environment.

Committee Chair, the Hon Mark Banasiak MLC, emphasised the importance of assessing community engagement and consultation processes in the development of REZs.

“The committee will investigate whether affected communities were adequately engaged and consulted,” Mr Banasiak said.

The inquiry will also explore the current and projected supply and demand for manufactured products, raw materials, and the human resources required to complete REZs. It will also evaluate the costs associated with constructing and maintaining large-scale projects within REZs, including mechanisms for decommissioning bonds when infrastructure reaches the end of its operational life.

The committee will consider alternatives to traditional renewable energy sources, aiming to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the impact of these projects on rural and regional communities.

The committee invites submissions from the public, with the closing date set for 31 January 2025. Additionally, individuals can complete an online questionnaire, which will soon be available on the inquiry website. This provides a platform for the community to voice their concerns and perspectives on the future of renewable energy in NSW.

The Illawarra zone will be 20 kilometres from the coast and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen says excludes significant environmental areas including the Biologically Important Area for the Little Penguin, the Shelf Rocky Reef Key Ecological Feature and the Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area.

The final area for the zone is 1,022 km2 – reducing the zone by a third from the original proposal.

The Illawarra is the fourth officially declared zone in the country and will unlock renewable energy jobs, energy security and job security, while supporting onshore manufacturing powered by reliable renewables.

The Minister says it will bring new employment opportunities to the Illawarra, creating an estimated 1,740 new jobs during construction and 870 ongoing jobs. This includes engineers, technicians, operators, riggers, seafarers, dockworkers, project managers and administrators.

The zone will also power existing heavy industry with cleaner, cheaper energy, helping secure the future of thousands of existing industrial and associated jobs in the Illawarra as well as providing opportunities to attract new job-creating industries using clean energy. It has the potential to generate an estimated 2.9 GW of electricity, enough to power 1.8 million homes.

The Responsible Future (Illawarra) spokesperson said the group have concerns over the impact on the marine ecosystem.

“How will foreign companies handle turbine fires and debris, as seen overseas,” a spokesperson said.

“Recently in the US, toxic turbine debris closed several beaches and dangerous debris is still washing up. We’ve repeatedly called for independent environmental studies before a zone was declared, but the Labor government ignored this request. Some of the foreign companies interested in building these projects have poor environmental records, according to Greenpeace, and they should not control or fund the environmental studies.

“This project threatens our tourism industry, which employs 15,000 locals, generates $2 billion in revenue, and attracts 5 million visitors annually. Beach closures would devastate our industry and disrupt locals’ daily lives.

“We support renewable energy, but the Illawarra-Cronulla Offshore Wind Project is not economically or environmentally viable. There are better alternatives, and we urge the Labor government to reassess this project immediately.

“We encourage the community to share their experiences with regards to the processes and consultation.

“With local and federal elections upcoming we remind the community to take this issue to the ballot box and vote for representatives that will oppose this project.”

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