Uralla Joins Regional Push For Fair Renewables Deal

Published on 29 July 2025

As momentum builds around large-scale renewable energy projects across the New England region, Uralla Shire Council is urging the NSW Government to take a balanced, community-focused approach, one that genuinely considers the long-term needs of the people and places that host these developments.

Mayor Robert Bell said while Council supports the move toward renewable energy, it must come with proper recognition of the impacts felt by local communities and infrastructure.

“Uralla Shire is proud to contribute to the future of clean energy,” said Mayor Bell. “But at the moment, too much of the focus is on what the infrastructure delivers to the grid, not what it means for the towns and communities it moves through. If our region is doing the heavy lifting, we need to be treated as genuine partners, not just providers.”

Council has raised concerns about a lack of planning around cumulative impacts, particularly in relation to roads, water, housing availability, and environmental management. These aren’t just details to be worked out later, they are critical foundations for a healthy, functioning community.

“One clear insight from the Central West Orana experience is that no single agency can manage the full complexity of the REZ rollout alone,” said Emily Sims, Strategic Planner at Uralla Shire Council. “We’re not asking the State Government to come up with all the answers, we’re asking them to coordinate and empower a regional response. That means bringing government, industry, and local communities together to solve collective challenges. This is about more than building infrastructure; it’s about building a future that works for the New England.”

Uralla Shire Council has been proactive in engaging with proponents and advocating for community benefits, but local effort alone isn’t enough. Council is calling for State-led coordination, greater investment in local services, and stronger protections for the landscapes and communities impacted by renewable development.

“Our message is simple,” said Mayor Bell. “If we host it, we should share in the benefit. That’s the only way this transition will work.”