Council adopts Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan
Published on 29 July 2026
Council has adopted its Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan, providing a framework to guide Council's advocacy, planning and preparedness as renewable energy development continues across the region.
The Plan follows a year-long community engagement process and public exhibition period, during which Council received 16 written submissions and one verbal submission from residents, landholders, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders.
Feedback received during exhibition resulted in a number of amendments to the document, including factual corrections, clearer implementation priorities, additional actions and the renaming of the document as the Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan.
Mayor Robert Bell said community participation had played a vital role in strengthening the final Plan.
"I want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to make a submission. The feedback we received was thoughtful, detailed and demonstrated just how important these issues are to our community."
Mayor Bell said the exhibition process had helped ensure the final Plan reflected community priorities and concerns.
"The Strategic Action Plan has been strengthened as a direct result of public feedback. Community members highlighted areas where clarification was needed, identified factual corrections and reinforced key issues that Council must continue to advocate for."
Water security emerged as the most consistent issue raised during consultation, alongside concerns about housing, road impacts, community wellbeing, workforce pressures, agricultural land, biodiversity and the cumulative impacts of large-scale renewable energy development.
Mayor Bell said the adopted Plan provides Council with a clear, community-informed framework for responding to those challenges.
"This Plan is not about deciding whether renewable energy projects proceed. Those decisions sit with the NSW Government. What this Plan does is give Council a clear roadmap for advocating on behalf of our community and ensuring local concerns are heard.
"Our focus remains on avoiding, minimising and mitigating adverse impacts while pursuing fair and equitable benefits for the people of Uralla Shire."
The Plan was developed in partnership with The Next Economy through the national Striking a New Deal initiative and builds on community engagement undertaken throughout 2024 and 2025.
Mayor Bell said the final document positions Council to better manage the opportunities and challenges associated with the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
"Significant change is coming to our region. This Plan will help Council work proactively with government, industry and the community so that local priorities remain front and centre throughout that process."
Council will now begin implementing the Strategic Action Plan through its existing advocacy, strategic planning and partnership activities, with progress to be monitored through Council's established planning and reporting framework.
Council will also notify all submitters of its decision and provide responses to the issues they raised during the public exhibition period.
Read the Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan