Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 6 hrs ago
NSW buys habitat to offset damage from renewable energy zone construction
The NSW government is buying habitat in western New South Wales to offset environmental damage from construction in the Central West Orana renewable energy zone.
The zone is being built to connect wind and solar power to the state’s electricity grid.
Landowner Peter Barton agreed to protect one-fifth of his 480-hectare property near Wellington, where endangered plants and threatened species live.
Under the agreement, the protected land must remain in its natural condition forever, and annual payments support weed and pest control.
The scheme aims to offset 1,200 hectares affected by new transmission lines stretching 240 kilometres.
The government has set aside $140 million and says agreements cover about 6,000 hectares, with another 8,000 hectares in advanced negotiations.
The region-specific approach follows concerns about the earlier scheme, which a 2022 audit questioned for its integrity, transparency and sustainability.
The NSW government has bought land in the Central West Orana renewable energy zone to offset environmental damage from construction.
Peter Barton agreed to protect one-fifth of his 480-hectare property near Wellington, with the land required to remain in its natural condition permanently.
The government set aside $140 million for habitat protection under a biodiversity strategy launched a year before the report.
The purchases are intended to offset impacts from 1,200 hectares affected by 240 kilometres of new transmission lines.
The government said it had reached agreements covering around 6,000 hectares, with another 8,000 hectares in advanced negotiations.
- Who
- The NSW government and landowners including Peter Barton.
- What
- The government is buying land to offset environmental damage from renewable energy zone construction.
- When
- Reported on 23 October 2026. The biodiversity strategy was launched a year earlier.
- Where
- The Central West Orana renewable energy zone in western NSW, including Barton’s property near Wellington.
- Why
- To protect and restore habitat and offset damage from transmission line construction.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The NSW Auditor-General raised concerns about the integrity, transparency and sustainability of the state’s biodiversity offsets scheme.
The NSW government launched its new biodiversity strategy and set aside $140 million to secure properties.
ABC Australia reported that the government had agreements for around 6,000 hectares and was in advanced negotiations for another 8,000 hectares.
- Property
- 480 hectares near Wellington; one-fifth was agreed for conservation
- Funding
- $140 million
- Impacted area
- 1,200 hectares
- Transmission lines
- 240 kilometres
- Land agreements
- Around 6,000 hectares secured; another 8,000 hectares in advanced negotiations
What people are saying
That land cannot be used for houses, for mining, for renewables, for agriculture, for anything.
It's an enormous thing to think about.
Instead of taking a piecemeal approach, we're protecting and restoring habitat at a much larger scale.