$140 million biodiversity investment for Central-West Orana REZ puts conservation and renewables hand-in-hand

The Minns Labor Government is showing that renewable energy and nature conservation can go hand-in-hand, by locking in the first investment under the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.

The landmark strategy will guide how up to $140 million in biodiversity offsets is spent in the region.

This means that rather than a series of ad-hoc outcomes delivered project by project, the money will deliver real, local and lasting outcomes for the environment and local landowners.

As well as delivering long term conservation priorities, this will create new opportunities for landholders, support local jobs and drive outcomes for the region.

The strategy’s priorities for the region include:

• Creating wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity.
• Generating voluntary opportunities for local landowners to benefit directly from biodiversity restoration.
• Partnerships with First Nations groups to deliver conservation outcomes.

The strategy also creates opportunities for Aboriginal landowners, with potential for partnerships with First Nations groups to deliver conservation outcomes.

Already, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has committed to purchasing over 14,000 biodiversity credits – valued at $27 million – from local landholders, with more agreements in the pipeline.

EnergyCo’s projects including the Central-West Orana and New England Renewable Energy Zones and the Hunter Transmission Project will have their own Strategic Offset Delivery Agreement to offset the impacts of the new infrastructure and invest in landscape scale conservation.

This presents a real opportunity for landowners to benefit from biodiversity stewardship while boosting their bottom line and helping rural and regional communities flourish into the future.

For more information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/biodiversity-offsets-scheme/strategic-offset-delivery-agreements/about-strategic-offset-delivery-agreements.

Quote attributable to Minister for Climate Change, Energy and the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“This is an important step for the Central-West Orana region – $140 million invested directly into protecting and restoring nature as we deliver the renewable energy infrastructure NSW needs to keep the lights on.

“We’re ensuring landholders and local communities benefit financially from conservation, creating a win-win for the environment and the local economy.

“Through Strategic Offset Delivery Agreements, the Minns Labor Government is embedding biodiversity outcomes into the renewable energy transition, building a legacy of restored ecosystems, stronger habitat corridors and sustainable local opportunities.”

Further information for media

What is a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)?

• REZs will group new wind and solar power generation into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW.
• Five zones have been identified and will keep electricity reliable as coal-fired power stations retire, by delivering large amounts of energy.
• REZs will help deliver lower wholesale electricity costs and place downward pressure on customer bills through increased competition.

What is the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone?

• The state’s first REZ is in the Central-West Orana region, centred by Dubbo and Dunedoo. It takes in Gulgong, Mudgee, Wellington, Gilgandra and other towns.
• The REZ is expected to attract up to $25 billion dollars in private investment. It is forecast to support an annual average of about 1,850 direct jobs in the local area during construction, and about 930 ongoing operational jobs from 2034.
• Transmission lines for the Central-West Orana REZ will travel 240 kilometres. The easement will take in 0.04% of the total agricultural land in the four impacted local government areas.

What are Strategic Offset Delivery Agreements (SODAs)?

• SODAs are agreements between the NSW Government and renewable energy project proponents to deliver biodiversity offsets in a strategic and coordinated way. They ensure that landscape scale conservation outcomes are achieved through like-for-like offsets for infrastructure development.
• Biodiversity offsetting ensures that unavoidable biodiversity impacts from development are balanced by equivalent conservation measures.

What benefits will landholders and communities see?

• Landholders can create new revenue streams by choosing to enter into biodiversity stewardship agreements on part or all of their property and selling biodiversity credits.
• Communities benefit from restored ecosystems, improved land management, and new opportunities for threatened species management and ecological restoration.