South West Renewable Energy Zone Community Information

Communities in and around the South West Renewa ble Energy Zone (REZ) are invited to help shape the Community and Employment Benefit Program.

The program will invest an initial $60 million in projects, services and opportunities that deliver lasting benefits for local communities.

Your feedback will help inform how the program is designed and delivered.

There are three ways to have your say:
* Complete the online survey
* Watch an online webinar
* Attend a community drop-in session
📍Deniliquin Golf Club on 11 August, 3pm–6pm
📍Wanganella Hall on 14 August, 9 am – 12 pm
📍Conargo Hall on 14 August, 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
📍Booroorban Hall on 19 August, 3:30 – 6:30 pm

Consultation closes 18 September 2026.

Learn more and have your say: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/sw-cebp

Community groups, not-for-profit organisations and local initiatives across the Edward River and Murrumbidgee Council LGAs are being encouraged to seek support from the Yanco Delta Wind Farm Community Investment Fund.

The Fund, opening from Monday 25 May, is designed to support locally led projects that contribute to the wellbeing, resilience and long-term prosperity of communities near the proposed Yanco Delta Wind Farm, with a focus on initiatives that respond directly to local priorities as the project progresses.

Applications are open to eligible local organisations in the Murrumbidgee and Edward River LGAs for events, activities and projects with meaningful community outcomes.

Key dates

• Applications open Monday 25 May 2026

• Applications close Sunday 28 June 2026

What can be funded?

• Community wellbeing: health, inclusion, sport and cultural events

• Community resilience: education, cohesion and capacity building

• Economic development: local business, innovation and skills

• Environment: conservation, sustainability and rehabilitation

Who can apply?

• Community groups and not-for-profits

• Local Aboriginal Land Councils

• Local government

• Schools and P&C Associations

• Registered training organisations

• Business and economic development organisations

Full eligibility criteria, funding categories and application details are available at https://yancodelta.com.au/community-investment/.
Applications close 28 June.

Pottinger Energy Park (wind farm and battery) is seeking Expressions of Interest from community representatives to join the Pottinger Energy Park Community Consultative Committee (Pottinger CCC). This is a voluntary position.

The Pottinger CCC will play an important role as Pottinger Energy Park moves into detailed design and construction in 2026, and through its operational life (pending final investment decision). It will ensure that local perspectives, knowledge and insights continue to inform how the project is delivered, and that the community is kept up to date.

The Pottinger CCC is a forum for open and transparent dialogue between the community and Pottinger Energy Park. It supports information sharing and discussion on project development, construction and operation, including environmental, social and community matters.

The CCC is an advisory body. It does not directly make decisions, but provides a forum to share information, raise any issues or opportunities, and discuss how potential impacts will be managed in line with the project’s conditions of approval.

Applications are sought from a broad cross-section of the community, including local residents, landowners, First Nations groups, businesses, community organisations and non-government stakeholders with an interest in the project.

The first Pottinger CCC meeting is anticipated for 30 March 2026. Further meetings are anticipated in May, August and November.

Applications close Monday, 9 March 2026, COB.

To apply or find out more – including the application form and supporting documents – please contact Felicity Stening at felicity.s@someva.com.au

If you’d like to know more about the role visit www.somevarenewables.com.au/project/pottinger/#potnews

Renewable Energy Position Statements

Edward River Council endorsed a series of position statements at the November 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting in relation to the energy transition and major infrastructure projects that are to be delivered in the Edward River Local Government Area (LGA) as part of the NSW energy transition. These statements provide consistent and clear expectations to all stakeholders - including project developers, State and Federal Government Agencies and most importantly our community. To view the Position Statements please follow this link - Renewable Energy Position Statements.

Renewable Energy Community Benefits Framework

At the December 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting Council adopted the Renewable Energy Community Benefits Framework. The Renewable Energy Benefit Framework provides an outline for the use of planning agreements in large scale renewable energy projects proposing to locate within or impact the Edward River Local Government Area.

The Community Benefits Framework was developed to ensure:

• consistency

• transparency and fairness

• accountability

• efficiency

• alignment to the NSW DPHI Benefit-Sharing Guidelines, Council's strategic planning and community priorities

• provide mechanisms to ensure benefits are equally distributed within the community and inter generationally

Read ERC's Community Benefits Framework

The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) is a statutory authority established under the Energy and Utilities Administration Act 1987 and is responsible for leading the delivery of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) as part of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (the Roadmap).

The Roadmap sets out the NSW Government’s vision to coordinate investment in electricity transmission, generation, storage and firming infrastructure and transform the NSW electricity system into one that is cheap, clean and reliable.

In 2020, the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 identified that EnergyCo will be appointed as the Infrastructure Planner for the State’s first five REZs in the Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions.

As the Infrastructure Planner for these REZs, EnergyCo will recommend network infrastructure projects and will work closely with communities, investors and industry to coordinate investment in renewable energy generation, electricity networks and storage infrastructure in REZs for the long-term benefit of energy consumers, local communities and industry in NSW.

EnergyCo operates under the direction of the NSW Minister for Energy, with the EnergyCo Board providing oversight, expert advice and governance and assurance to support EnergyCo. In July 2024 Paul Binsted was appointed as Chairperson of the EnergyCo Board, which was established under amendments to the Energy and Utilities Administration Act 1987. The chair of the Board plays a critical role in the effective governance of EnergyCo to ensure successful implementation of the NSW government’s renewable energy plans.

About Energy Co

Please note these links will open a new tab.

Bullawah wind farm near Hay in NSW will have an installed capacity of up to 1000MW that will generate clean green renewable energy to power 500,000 homes. A battery facility on site will allow for the capture and storage of dispatchable energy.

The power generated either direct from the turbines or released from battery storage will feed into the electricity grid via the proposed Project Energy Connect transmission line.

The project includes 143 wind turbines, with a maximum blade-tip height of 300m above the ground.

For further information on the development please visit the below websites. Please note these links will open a new tab.

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/bullawah-wind-farm

https://www.baywa-re.com.au/en/wind/projects/bullawah-wind-farm#about-the-project

Origin Energy's 1.5GW Yanco Delta Wind Farm development project in southern New South Wales (NSW) has secured a full 1,460MW allocation of transmission access rights from Energy Co, representing another major milestone in the potential development of this large scale renewable energy project.

Located on a 33,000 hectare site 10km northwest of Jerilderie in the NSW Government designated South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Yanco Delta Wind Farm is a large advanced Wind Farm.

For further information on the Development please see the below links. Please note these links will open a new tab.

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/yanco-delta-wind-farm

https://yancodelta.com.au/

The proposed Pottinger Energy Park project, which is being developed by Someva Renewables and AGL Energy, is located approximately 60km south of Hay and 75km north of Deniliquin in NSW’s historic Western Riverina region.

The project is also located within NSW’s South West Renewable Energy Zone (SW REZ) and as of 23 April 2024 has been awarded an Access Right to the SW REZ by The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo).

Under the Access Right, Pottinger Energy Park is proposed to be up to 831 megawatts (MW) of wind (approximately 115 turbines) which is expected to provide electricity to power the equivalent of the annual needs of over 510,000 average NSW households. This will be supported by a 400 MW / 1,600 megawatt hour (MWh) grid-scale battery, and along with the wind farm be connected to the Project Energy Connect transmission network.

The proposed project plans to create up to 550 jobs at peak construction and 35 ongoing roles throughout its operational life.

For further information on the development please visit the below websites. Please note these links will open a new tab.

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/pottinger-wind-farm

https://www.somevarenewables.com.au/project/pottinger/