On 17 July 2019, the NSW Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Planning announced there would be an inquiry into and report on the sustainability of energy supply and resources in NSW, and the impact on regional communities. See link below

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2542#tab-termsofreference

There are three points about this that immediately come to mind.

1. Who are the members of the committee?

Chair: Alex Greenwich MP, Independent, Member for Sydney
Deputy Chair: Felicity Wilson MP, Liberal, Member for North Shore
Members: Anoulack Chanthivong MP, ALP, Member for Macquarie
Fields
James Griffin MP, Liberal, Member for Manly
Nathaniel Smith MP, Liberal, Member for Wollondilly

If this inquiry is about supporting regional communities, where is the representation of MP’s from regional NSW?

What about the hundreds of submissions already lodged for all
the renewable energy projects?
Hasn’t the NSW Department of Planning been receiving submissions about the numerous renewable energy projects across NSW for the past decade? Has anyone taken any notice of those submissions? Hopefully the Committee will start by reading the numerous objections by local communities that have already been lodged.

What is the likelihood of any of the people who have provided submission to projects:
a. knowing this is happening; and
b. has the time and inclination to do this again, when many believe that no one listened to them in the first place.

The Sutton Solar Action Group (SSAG) intends the make a submission. All development in NSW has to meet the three requirements of economical sustainable development which is the effective integration of economic, social and environmental considerations in the decision-making process. SSAG believes the renewable energy development assessment process is no different and will make a submission outlining the faults/flaws that we have discovered during the review of the Springdale EIS.

Below is a copy of the Media Release