What is actually being decided in the next 90 days — and beyond
Every Practical Step has a "before [date]" on it. A council convening a precinct working group only helps if it happens before the next FID. A community submission only counts if it's lodged before exhibition closes. Below: upcoming IPC meetings, EIS exhibitions, council determinations, access-scheme decisions and Accord milestones. Each entry is source-linked with a confidence and status badge.
4 material decision points across NSW REZs between now (18 May 2026) and August 2026. Skim the list below — most decisions land in council chambers, IPC sittings, or DPHI offices. The window for evidence-backed input typically opens 30–90 days before each decision and closes well before it.
Liddell Battery — full commercial operations target
AGL's 500 MW / 1,000 MWh grid-forming BESS at the Hunter Energy Hub targeted for full commercial operations. First-of-its-kind at the decommissioned coal site.
VNI West — Submissions Report + Amendment Report due
Transgrid and Transmission Company Victoria's response to submissions on the VNI West NSW EIS expected mid-2026. Pivotal for SW REZ project deliverability (PEC + VNI West are the network spine).
Mid-Western Regional Council — Ordinary Meeting (CWO REZ workforce agenda item)
Indicative council OM with CWO REZ workforce accommodation strategy expected on the agenda. Multiple proponent VPA negotiations active. Mid-Western Regional is the most concentrated CWO LGA.
Date indicative — verify against the published council meeting calendar.
Bendemeer Wind Farm — EIS exhibition expected to open
Following scoping report submission, EIS exhibition for the wind component of the Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub expected mid-2026. Submission window typically 28-60 days.
Cobbora Solar Farm — EIS submission to DPHI
EIS submission anticipated late Q3 2026 per Pacific Partnerships guidance. Includes 700 MW solar + 400 MW / 1,600 MWh BESS at the former Cobbora coal site.
NSW Council elections — pre-election determination restrictions
NSW Council elections trigger four-week pre-election determination restrictions on contested major DAs. Pinch-point for any proponent banking on a council determination in this window.
Sandy Creek Solar Farm — DPHI determination anticipated
Following EIS submission May 2024 and Federal EPBC approval March 2024, NSW DPHI determination on the 750 MW solar + 700 MW BESS project anticipated Q4 2026.
Boorolong Wind Farm — IPC determination anticipated
Boorolong (Squadron Energy) EIS on public exhibition; IPC determination anticipated late 2026. 71 turbines + battery on Anaiwan Country, 15 km NW of Armidale.
Regional Energy Accord — national launch
Per The Energy Charter's Phase 3 calendar — national accord launch with CEO signatories announced and first place-based accords activated. Material for every audience in the conference framing.
New England Battery — Phase 1 commercial operations target
Initial 400 MWh phase of ACEN's New England Battery (co-located with operating 720 MWac solar) targeted for commercial operations late 2026.
Dungowan PHES — Tamworth Regional Council DA outcome
Council determination on Dungowan Pumped Hydro investigation works DA (boreholes, seismic, access tracks) anticipated. Community opposition (Dungowan Creek Alliance) actively engaged.
CWO REZ Transmission Project — major construction milestone
EnergyCo / Acciona ACE-Elecnor CWO REZ Transmission Project — major substation enabling-works milestone anticipated late 2026. First substation energisation precondition for access-right project commissioning.
Waratah Super Battery — full commercial operations
Akaysha Energy's 850 MW / 1,680 MWh system at former Munmorah site reaches full commercial operations after partial August 2025 start. Acts as NSW grid shock absorber.
Argoon Wind Farm — EIS submission to DPHI expected
Following scoping report, EIS submission for the 901 MW + 2,300 MWh project (RES / Aula Energy) expected Q1 2027. Largest SW REZ candidate not yet awarded access rights.
Tallawang Solar Hybrid — construction commencement (proponent target)
Potentia Energy targeting early-2027 construction start. ~420 construction jobs at peak. First major post-IPC-determination CWO project to commence.
SW REZ access scheme — possible expansion round
Indicative — industry expects an SW REZ access-right expansion round given 15+ GW of unsuccessful bids in the 2024 round. Would unlock candidate projects (Argoon, Wanganella, Tchelery, Conargo).
No public commitment from EnergyCo or AEMO Services at the date of this dashboard build. Marked tentative — driven by industry signal not government statement.
Snowy 2.0 — first generation expected
First Francis-unit generation expected late 2027 per Snowy Hydro guidance. Material milestone for NSW + national dispatchable capacity and for HumeLink load-balancing.
HumeLink — energisation target
Transgrid's HumeLink target energisation circa 2028, enabling Snowy 2.0 and southern REZ generation to reach load centres. Pivotal for SW REZ delivery economics.
Dinawan Wind Farm — IPC Public Meeting
NSW Independent Planning Commission public meeting on the Dinawan Wind Farm SSD, held at Coleambally. Community submissions and proponent response heard.