The head of the Alliance of Western Councils says he is not sure if government agencies will be able to deliver on its "wonderful goal" of delivering renewable energy to the region. 

The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is the first REZ planned for New South Wales. Solar farms are planned for Dubbo, Gilgandra, Gulgong, and Dunedoo, with a wind farm planned for Gollan. 

It is hoped to power 1.4 million homes when complete. The renewable energy produced in the region is tasked with bringing down power bills and meeting climate targets.  The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will manage the REZ.

Last month, the government announced it had entered a commitment deed with a consortium comprised of ACCIONA, COBRA, and Endeavour Energy as the preferred Network Operator for the REZ for the project. 

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said the move "brings us closer to delivering clean, affordable, and reliable energy to households and businesses across New South Wales for decades to come, helping to meet newly legislated net-zero targets in New South Wales". 

However, Alliance of Western Council chairperson Craig Davies said the project had not been fully thought out. 

"Using wind and sun are wonderful goals to have" he said. 

Cr Davies believes it would take trucks many years to bring in all the wind turbines necessary. 

"There are some real logistics problems, trying to get 95 to 110 metre loads from the Port of Newcastle to these renewable energy loads is proving impossible". 



Several Western Plains councils are impacted. Image: NSW Government. 

He says the other issue is housing. 

"It could mean bringing as many 5000 new staff coming into the region. We don't have houses for them. Nobody is taking this into account. It would also mean more police, more nurses, and more doctors." 

"At the moment its a bit of a 'schmozzle'". 

"Clearly, the government needs to focus on these ancillary issues.”"

Penny Sharpe. Image: NSW Labor. 

A spokeswoman from Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) told the Western Plains App "EnergyCo has established a Central-West Orana REZ steering committee made up of local councils and other NSW Government agencies to provide oversight and management on a range of REZ-wide issues".  

"Priorities include opportunities for workers and businesses, roads and transport, housing and accommodation, community services and infrastructure, and mobile and internet connectivity," she said. 

"EnergyCo is also working closely with developers of major solar, wind, and storage projects to coordinate the delivery of enabling infrastructure for the REZ, such as road upgrades and workforce accommodation." 

Construction is expected to start in early 2025, and initial operation in 2027-2028 if approved. 

It is hoped The Central-West Orana REZ will generate up to $10 billion in private investment in the region by 2030 and at its peak support around 5000 construction jobs.