New group Responsible Energy Development for New England aims to unite renewables discontent

Responsible Energy Development for New England (RED4NE) Deputy Chair and spokesperson, Matt Macarthur Onslow, said he has little confidence in the planning process for the REZ.

Mr Macarthur Onslow, a stockbroker, lives on a farm outside Walcha.

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"I live in a house that my grandparents built for the view. I'm going to be looking at 12 wind towers all of a sudden. No-one came to us and told me that, I had to go and find that out," he said.

"That sort of behaviour is not good. And that really has got a lot of people angry. [The REZ is] divisive in the community, there's no doubt about that."

The group aims to unite a disparate campaign of local anti-renewables organisations across the New England and North West region, from Ben Lomond to Nundle.

Mr Macarthur Onslow said scores of community groups had sprung up across the region in the wake of the announced rapid growth of the industry, but they could only get so far on their own.

"In a 70 [kilometre] radius of Walcha there's proposed 460 odd towers, 10.2 million solar panels," he said.

"One of the underlying problems is the valuation of their asset. It's becoming apparent that if you're next door, and not a host landholder, you can be devalued by up to 30 per cent. No-one's come to them and said this is what we're going to do, do you mind.

"We really want to get a seat at the table to represent people who became members."

Mr Macarthur Onslow said he had "very little" faith in the planning process through the Renewable Energy Zone.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said the process of planning the Renewable Energy Zone has barely started, making judgement premature.

Communities in Walcha, Armidale, Glen Innes, Nundle, Kentucky and Walcha, among others have emerged in opposition to renewable energy projects in their towns.

The New England REZ, the state's largest, is set to install 8000 megawatts of power at a cost of $10.7 billion. It would create 830 operational jobs and 1,250 construction jobs.

Companies had until Friday July 16 to register their interest in being involved in the zone planning process.

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