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Narrogin, in WA’s south-east Wheatbelt region, can be considered a typical rural Australian town, built on the back of agriculture and not used to dealing with rapid economic or social change.

However renewable energy projects are beginning to upset that equilibrium, and the Shire of Narrogin - reflecting its residents’ concerns - is grappling with these changes.

To be clear straight up, the Shire is pro-renewables stating publicly that it is “proud to be at the forefront of regional Western Australia’s transition to renewable energy”.

The Shire believes “Narrogin is at the epicentre of a major shift in Western Australia’s energy landscape”, with a number of large-scale renewable energy proposals in and around the region, and that “these projects carry enormous potential—not just technologically and economically, but symbolically”.

The wind, solar, battery storage, and renewable fuels projects proposed within the Shire’s boundaries represent more than $8 billion in potential investment, and the associated opportunities for local contractors and employment that brings.

Renewable energy projects include:

·        Lightsource bp’s ~250MW wind, ~150MW solar, ~200MW BESS Narrogin East Hybrid Project

·        ACE Power’s 200 MW solar and 200 MW / 800 MWh battery Narrogin Solar Farm & BESS

·        South Energy’s 200 MW / 800 MWh Narrogin BESS

·        Neoen’s 200 MW Narrogin Wind Farm

·        ACCIONA’s up to 2000 MW Bellwether Wind Farm

(Full details about all these projects are available in AltEnergy’s database as www.altenergy.com.au.)

So it’s no wonder the Shire is feeling overwhelmed and has asked the State Government to step in and offer a “coordinated intervention”, particularly in issues to do with housing, infrastructure, and community enhancement.

The Shire is seeking urgent support from the Ministers for State Development, Regional Development, Wheatbelt, Planning and Lands, Housing and Works, Energy and Decarbonisation, and the Environment, to address three immediate priorities:

·        Transitional and legacy housing solutions to accommodate workforce needs and leave long-term benefit

·        Infrastructure and community investment to support sustainable regional growth and livability

·        State Planning and Development WA intervention and alignment to streamline approvals and ensure regional voices are heard and respected

Chief Executive Officer Dale Stewart summed up the Shire’s concerns saying, “Renewable energy must not pass through Narrogin; it must grow with it”.

The Shire will now formally request meetings with key Ministers and senior government officials, inviting them to see first-hand both the opportunity and the urgency at hand.

Shire President Leigh Ballard said, “We are ready to work with the State to deliver a model of success, not just for Narrogin, but for all regional host communities navigating this energy transformation, to deliver on the State’s energy transition targets and decarbonisation goals.”

Let’s see what the WA Government’s response is.