NSW Beef Farmer Slams Land Grab for Renewables Projects

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A New South Wales (NSW) beef farmer, Tim White from the Valley Alliance, has publicly condemned proposed amendments to the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, arguing they threaten regional landowners’ ability to secure fair treatment in land acquisitions for renewable energy projects. Speaking to The Land on August 5, 2025, White expressed frustration that the changes could streamline compulsory acquisitions, prioritizing renewable energy developments over agricultural interests in areas like the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

The proposed reforms, under review by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, aim to modernize the acquisition process following a 2022 Parliamentary Inquiry into major transport projects, which recommended improving transparency and fairness. However, White argued that the amendments risk eroding protections for farmers, potentially allowing the government to acquire prime agricultural land with less negotiation. He stated that farmers are being pressured to accept deals that disrupt their livelihoods, with inadequate compensation for long-term losses. The NSW Farmers’ Association echoed these concerns, noting in a statement to Moree Champion on April 28, 2025, that current guidelines fail to address the erosion of property values and mental health impacts from such projects.

Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) highlights the stakes: agricultural land in NSW contributed $18.3 billion to the economy in 2024, with beef farming accounting for 22% of this output. Critics, including Opposition planning spokesperson Scott Farlow, have accused the Albanese Government of prioritizing its 82% renewable energy target by 2030 over regional communities, per The Australian on August 6, 2025. Farlow argued that without robust safeguards, farmers face losing control over land critical to national food security.

The Department of Planning insists the review, informed by consultations across NSW in 2023, aims to balance public infrastructure needs with landowner rights. Yet, farmers like White remain skeptical, pointing to cases like the 1,000-hectare solar farm proposed in Geurie, which sparked community backlash due to poor consultation, as reported by Farmonline on May 7, 2025. As the review progresses, regional voices demand stronger protections to ensure their land and livelihoods aren’t sacrificed for renewable ambitions.