New Mudgee hub puts locals at the centre of renewable transmission planning
A new walk-in centre in Mudgee gives residents access to updates, project details and local opportunities as major renewable transmission infrastructure is developed across the Central-West Orana region.
A new Community Information Centre has opened in Mudgee to give residents a direct line to project updates, opportunities and support related to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
Located at 30–32 Church Street, the centre provides a single point of access for information about the REZ transmission project, including infrastructure maps, visual progress updates, and job and business pathways linked to the development. A dedicated meeting room is available for community presentations and briefings.
The initiative is being delivered by ACEREZ, the network operator responsible for designing, building and maintaining the new transmission network, in collaboration with EnergyCo. Staff from the ACEREZ team will be available on site from Tuesday to Thursday, with the centre also used for special events and presentations outside of these hours.
ACEREZ Chief Executive Officer Steve Masters said the hub was designed to help people feel connected to the changes happening around them.
“ACEREZ is thrilled to open the doors of our new hub and invite the community in for a cuppa while learning all about the transmission network," Masters said.
“The Community Information Centre in Mudgee will be a one-stop shop to meet our team, learn about the project, follow its progress and provide feedback.”
The Central-West Orana REZ covers around 20,000 square kilometres centred on Dubbo and Dunedoo, across Wiradjuri, Wailwan and Kamilaroi Country. It was selected as the site for NSW’s first renewable energy zone following a geospatial mapping study in 2018, which examined where clean energy infrastructure could best be developed based on resource potential, existing network access and land use.
The Central-West Orana REZ is expected to unlock at least 4.5 gigawatts of new network capacity by the late 2020s. It will connect wind and solar generation to the broader electricity grid and is forecast to attract billions in private investment to the region by 2030. At peak construction, around 5,000 jobs are expected to be supported.
EnergyCo Central-West Orana REZ Project Director Peter Bennett said the centre reflects a commitment to working closely with the community as the project progresses.
“The opening of the Community Information Centre in Mudgee marks a significant step in our commitment to transparency and community engagement. EnergyCo is proud to support ACEREZ in creating a space for the community to access important information as the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project progresses.”
