Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman, has welcomed the introduction of the Energy and Planning Legislation Amendment (Decommissioning of Renewable Energy Infrastructure) Bill 2025 to the Parliament of New South Wales by the NSW Liberal/Nationals Coalition Party-National Opposition, saying it will help protect regional communities from being left with the environmental and financial burden of abandoned renewable energy projects.
Mrs Tuckerman said she has been calling for stronger decommissioning and remediation requirements for renewable energy projects in the Goulburn electorate and across regional New South Wales.
“Communities like ours are hosting more and more large-scale solar and wind developments, yet there is currently no clear plan for what happens when these projects reach the end of their life,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“Without proper safeguards, local farmers, councils and ratepayers could be left footing the bill to remove rusting turbines and panels, and to rehabilitate the land.”
The Bill proposes to amend the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 to:
• Require developers to provide financial security bonds to the NSW Government to cover the full cost of decommissioning and land rehabilitation.
• Mandate that projects cannot commence construction until these funds are secured.
• Task the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board with developing a statewide decommissioning plan to ensure a consistent approach across Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and non-REZ projects.
• Require that materials are reused, recycled or repurposed where possible, and that land is returned to its original condition.
• Establish clear consultation requirements so landholders and local communities can shape decommissioning plans.
• Introduce a “fit and proper persons” test before project ownership can be transferred.
Mrs Tuckerman said the proposal reflects recommendations from the Electricity Supply and Reliability Check Up 2023, which called for decommissioning bonds to be included in all future renewable project approvals.
“This Bill delivers a practical, statewide solution that balances renewable energy investment with protection for local communities,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“This is about ensuring that developers, not our local landholders or councils, are ultimately responsible for cleaning up at the end of a project’s life. I encourage the Labor Government to support this Bill,” she said.
WENDY TUCKERMAN 