New South Wales’s EnergyCo has lodged a scoping report for the New England Renewable Energy Zone network infrastructure project.
The report, submitted by the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo), outlines the transmission infrastructure needed to connect the New England REZ to the existing electricity grid in the Upper Hunter region. It provides a preliminary analysis of the matters to be assessed in an upcoming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
EnergyCo chief executive officer James Hay hailed the report as the official start of the planning process, calling it “an exciting step towards delivering clean, affordable, and reliable energy to NSW electricity consumers.”
The New England REZ is expected to attract over $24 billion in private investment by 2034, supporting more than 6,000 construction jobs and 2000 ongoing operational positions, with dedicated funding for community benefits.
The proposed infrastructure includes two new 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines between Bayswater near Muswellbrook and the New England REZ, as well as a network of new 500kV and 330kV transmission lines and four new energy hubs within the zone.
EnergyCo has identified a preferred 1-km-wide study corridor for the network infrastructure, incorporating narrower sections where co-location with existing infrastructure is proposed. However, the corridor is not yet finalised, and EnergyCo said it will continue working with landowners and conducting field studies to refine the route and find optimal locations for the transmission line easements, which will be up to 80 meters wide for each line.
“Lodgement of the scoping report does not mean the corridor is finalised,”New England REZ executive project director Doug Parris said.
EnergyCo will continue to work with landowners and undertake field studies to better understand constraints and opportunities for the transmission route.”
EnergyCo plans to hold a series of community information sessions across the region to discuss the scoping report and gather feedback from residents.
The release of the scoping report marks a critical step in the planning approval process, with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure set to issue Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements outlining the requirements for the EIS. The EIS is expected to be finalised and placed on public exhibition in late 2025.
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