Voice for Walcha

23/08/2026

The Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) triple whammy hitting our back pockets:

1️⃣ Our taxes pay for it upfront.
2️⃣ We pay for the build through higher energy bills.
3️⃣ A multi-billion dollar debt is dumped on future generations.

Just look at the numbers in the Central West Orana REZ:
• Only 40 out of 800 planned transmission towers have been built so far.
• The original $680 million budget has already blown out to $5.8 BILLION.

Now, the New England REZ is proposed to be twice that size.

When does it stop? Isn't it time we all stand up and fight this wasteful government spending?

18/08/2026

An interesting and revealing article - but missing some important details.
There’s plenty here about what Winterbourne Wind could mean financially for those hosting the project. But what does it mean for the rest of the Walcha community?
Have a read. We’d be interested to hear what you think.

After more than two decades of planning, this huge wind project is edging closer to construction. For the farmers hosting the turbines, it can't come soon enough.

12/08/2026

Six years after Walcha Energy proposed 4,000 MW of wind power for the Walcha Plateau, no projects have materialised, reached financial close, or even progressed meaningfully through the planning system.

The region's poor wind resource, combined with critical issues surrounding water, access, biodiversity, and social licence, makes these projects financially unviable. Despite this, EnergyCo continues to promote four development hubs within 35 km of Walcha—a $20 billion infrastructure expense with zero connected generation.

We call on Origin Energy to withdraw the "Skyridge" concept and stop a project that divides our community and threatens to drive up electricity bills across NSW.

A Walcha farming family is staring down the prospect of a temporary workers' camp directly across the road after a neighbouring farmer sold up. "It's causing so much division," they say.
theland.com.au/story/9327721

11/08/2026

It is now very clear that this REZ will impact every person living in the Walcha and Uralla LGA. Stay informed and support our communities. See you there!

09/08/2026

With many of the Winterbourne Wind Farm turbines within 3km of farmhouses, this is something for everyone to consider. For yourself, your neighbours, and your community.

05/08/2026

Please stand with Walcha

Community Forum
5:30pm Thursday 13 August 2026
Walcha Bowling Club

Hosted by Walcha High Country Guardians and Voice for Walcha

This is one of the most important community meetings we have held.

EnergyCo’s plans for the New England REZ are becoming very real, including major powerlines, enormous construction demands and workers accommodation camps around Walcha. These plans will affect our whole community, but some local landowners and families are facing the impacts directly.

Please come along to hear what Walcha is facing, learn from the experience of communities in the Central-West Orana REZ, and show your support for those most directly affected.

We need a strong turnout to demonstrate that our community stands together in opposing these powerlines and the New England REZ.

Thursday 13 August
5:30 pm
Walcha Bowling Club

Please bring your family, friends and neighbours. Everyone is welcome.

See you Thursday August 13
at the Walcha Bowling Club

31/07/2026

A damning report that talks about a failed process "resulting in predictable and avoidable harm to rural and regional communities."
No more, until things change.

23/07/2026

22/07/2026

A sensible energy policy adopted by the NSW Liberal/National Party, and endorsed by NSW Farmers, that is based on economic, resource, access and biodiversity realities.
The New England REZ will be halted at current capacity to contribute a proportionate amount of renewable energy to the states grid. Appropriate planning to make use of more readily available energy sources from more appropriate areas.
Let the votes roll in in March.

21/07/2026

Squadron Energy just proved what real corporate leadership looks like.

When a project lacks the technical, commercial, or community foundations to move forward, the responsible move is to pack it up and let the host community move on. Squadron’s decision to cancel the Boorolong Wind Farm proves that integrity means putting reality ahead of pushing a bad plan.

Now, the question turns to Vestas and the Winterbourne Wind Farm.

How do we appeal to a massive multinational to do the right thing by a small rural town? When a project faces steep commercial hurdles and an increasingly unrealistic path to financial close, why keep a community split and in limbo year after year?

Do the right thing.

Follow Squadron’s lead and withdraw the proposal. Or, if you truly believe in this project, face our community in an open, public forum and tell us directly why you think it belongs here.

No more carefully scripted newsletters or private drop-ins. Come stand in front of the town, answer the hard questions, and justify this project to the people who will actually have to live with it.