Introduction
A NSW Legislative Council parliamentary inquiry has raised serious concerns about how Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) have been planned and delivered across rural and regional communities.
Released on 29 July 2026, Report No. 65, Impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on rural and regional communities and industries in New South Wales, contains 25 findings and 16 recommendations following an inquiry that examined the impacts of REZ development across NSW.
What Did the Report Find?
According to the report, the NSW Government’s rollout of Renewable Energy Zones has resulted in what the Committee described as “predictable and avoidable harm” to rural and regional communities.
The Committee identified concerns including:
- A lack of a coherent, enforceable, whole-of-government planning framework
- Uneven distribution of REZ benefits and impacts
- Insufficient coordination of cumulative impacts and infrastructure
- Pressure on local councils without adequate resources or authority
- Concerns about whether affected communities have had meaningful opportunities to influence outcomes
The Committee also found that the benefits of REZ development can be unevenly distributed, while many of the impacts are concentrated in communities hosting renewable energy infrastructure.
Read the post on the NSW Renewable Energy Zones report: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1181634050354627/permalink/1569516498233045/
Why Does This Matter for Communities Like Geurie?
The findings are relevant to communities facing large-scale renewable energy proposals, including the proposed Boree Solar Project near Geurie.
The report does not determine whether the Boree Solar Project should proceed. However, it provides broader NSW context around concerns about agricultural land, community consultation, infrastructure planning and the cumulative effects of renewable energy development in regional areas.
This is particularly significant as Dubbo Regional Council has formally objected to the Boree Solar Project and the proposal continues through the State Significant Development assessment process.
Read the community post about the Boree Solar Project:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1181634050354627/permalink/1574667041051324/
Is the Report Against Renewable Energy?
No. The inquiry focused on how Renewable Energy Zones are planned, coordinated and delivered, rather than whether renewable energy should exist.
Its findings raise questions about whether regional communities are being adequately considered when large-scale renewable energy infrastructure is planned and developed.
For communities such as Geurie, the report adds an important state-level perspective to the ongoing discussion about how renewable energy projects can be developed while properly considering local communities, agriculture, infrastructure and regional impacts.
Source: NSW Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW, Report No. 65: Impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on rural and regional communities and industries in New South Wales, July 2026.
