NSW Farmers is calling on the NSW Government to pause plans to fast-track renewable energy projects in regional NSW, warning that rushing approvals will deepen community distress, entrench an unfair power imbalance between large developers and landholders, and generate more objections and conflict.
NSW Farmers Energy Taskforce chair Reg Kidd called the government's new approvals plan "reckless", pointing to past comments made by government recognising the renewable transition was like "building the plane while flying it."
"Farmers have not been given realistic timeframes to understand proposals and participate meaningfully, or object where necessary," Mr Kidd said.
"We've been working hard with EnergyCo and the government to improve engagement and get better consultation and we don't want to derail that process - these issues can't be rushed.
"Under current arrangements, communities are often expected to respond to highly technical Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) within weeks. If this is fast-tracked even more, additional pressure will be put on time-poor landholders already distressed and stretched.
"Making poor decisions faster doesn't make them better.
"People who are interested in hosting sites have to consider the benefit to them, possible loss of land values, impacts on neighbours, tax and land tax, insurance and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, landholders who are impacted without benefit have to find time and expertise to read these documents and apply to their land and their circumstance.
"Government must not speed up, but slow down, get it right, and support landowners with EIS, legal and valuation information to inform good decisions and stop the unfair power imbalance."
