The head of a key Energy Transition Working Group says farmers must be involved in a government review of renewables.
Reg Kidd, chair of the NSW Farmers Energy Transition Working Group, said it was vital to provide strong input into the Agriculture Commissioner's review into on-farm renewable energy facilities.
"NSW Farmers has been calling for the role of the NSW Agriculture Commissioner to be expanded to champion the interests of farmers and regional communities in the energy transition," Mr Kidd said.
"We welcome this opportunity for rural landholders to engage with the government so there can be better understanding and consideration of agricultural land in strategic planning.
"What we want to see is the highest benefit for regions that provides opportunities and avoid negative impacts."
There was a finite amount of productive agricultural land worked by farmers to produce food for NSW, Mr Kidd said, and NSW Farmers had taken a leading role in making sure there was a balance between production and other land uses.
"So far the custodians of our rural land have been all but ignored in how to best achieve renewable energy installation in our traditional rural areas, and this review will give a voice to the damage done to date, and to the opportunity to do it right," he said.
"There is a vital need to plan upfront, not mitigate damage, so that the environment, urban and peri urban expansion and infrastructure on rural land coexist, while maintaining the productivity and cultural values of rural NSW.
"Industrial installations such as solar and wind energy plants are vital to our ongoing energy requirements and can deliver real benefits to rural land owners and communities; they just need to be in the right balance, and not divide communities and erode hundreds of years of economic and social fabric."
To access the issues paper and to provide a written submission, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/lup. Submissions close 5pm, May 23, 2022.
