Media Release - The Pines Wind Farm Nearby Neighbour Program

30 January 2025

Almost 200 neighbours stand to share more than $100m spread over 35 years under the Nearby Neighbour Program of The Pines Wind Farm.

Neighbours with a house located within 3.5 kilometres of a turbine have been invited to participate in the program that would see them receive annual payments for the 35-year life of the wind farm.

The program aims to provide an enduring benefit to neighbours by delivering an ongoing passive income source.

Annual payments to program participants would start once construction of The Pines Wind Farm begins, should it be approved by the NSW Government. Given the program’s long lifespan, annual payments will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year to ensure the benefit to landowners keeps pace with cost-of-living increases.

The Nearby Neighbour Program’s equitable design sees payments calculated on the proximity of an eligible dwelling to a turbine, with those closest receiving the highest amounts. The average annual payment would be around $14,000, adding up to more than $500,000 over the life of the wind farm when CPI increases are applied.

Eligible neighbours can proudly participate in the program with no requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement and with no confidentiality obligations placed on them.

Neighbours participating in the program will also be protected if they cause accidental damage to the wind farm from their property with any such damage covered under the wind farm’s insurances.

“We’re excited to introduce the Nearby Neighbour Program to share the benefits of the project with those living nearby,” Stromlo Energy Director, Matthew Parton said.

“We’re grateful for the many community members who have already committed to the Nearby Neighbour Program, and look forward to welcoming more eligible participants,” he said.

The Near Neighbour Program is part of the larger Community Benefits Program that the Pines Wind Farm is implementing to help progress the energy transition on just and equitable terms for all stakeholders.

The Project’s overall benefit sharing has been designed to meet or exceed the recommendations and best practices proposed by Government and leading industry associations, including the Clean Energy Council, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner and the Insurance Council of Australia.

The overall program comprises:

1. Near Neighbour Program – benefits for those living near the project (this announcement)

2. Electricity Bill Credit Initiative - every household in the Oberon LGA, Triangle Flat, Bald Ridge and Abercrombie River is entitled to a $100 annual Electricity Bill Credit payment

3. Community Benefit Plan – which includes benefits directly paid to the local community through the early sponsorship program, community grants, bushfire protection, recreation, community welfare programs, funding for indigenous programs and initiatives, and environmental and ecological programs.

4. Local Government payments – through a Voluntary Planning Agreement (to be established) setting out amounts to be paid to local Council to assist in funding council initiatives.

Interested neighbours are encouraged to contact the project team for information on how to participate at www.thepineswindfarm.com.au/contact.

Project Background

The Pines Wind Farm is a proposed clean energy project that could provide the annual energy requirements of 1.25 million average NSW homes.  

In May 2024, Forestry Corporation of NSW granted TagEnergy an Investigations Permit to explore the feasibility of the wind farm in parts of their softwood pine plantations in the Gurnang, Mt David and Vulcan State Forests of NSW.  The co-use of these non-native pine plantation areas for renewable energy was enabled by NSW legislation in 2021 in recognition of the relatively low ecological impacts and substantial lease income value to the citizens of NSW.

TagEnergy has engaged Stromlo Energy, a 100% Australian-owned, expert renewable energy project developer, to lead the investigations and planning and approvals phases of The Pines Wind Farm.

Media Contacts:  

Jackie Crossman
Managing Director, Crossman Communications
0402 218 662
‍jackie@crossman.com.au

Matthew Parton
Director, Stromlo Energy
‍matthew.parton@thepineswindfarm.com.au

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