Hunter property owners impacted by renewable energy infrastructure will be able to refer their complaints to the NSW Ombudsman as the pace of new projects increases across the region.
The Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW will provide impartial information and an external dispute resolution service to landholders and community members impacted by new infrastructure projects.
Transmission issues will be handled from December while generation matters will be accepted from mid-2025.
The Newcastle Herald has highlighted numerous cases in the past 12 months where frustrated landholders have been advised they have no option but to consent to hosting new transmission infrastructure or in some cases have their land partially acquired.
Barbara Dawson is among a group of residents that have been at loggerheads with EnergyCo about its plans to construct the Hunter Transmission Project across private property.
Ms Dawson's family has owned their property in the Watagan Valley for more than 70 years.
They were advised late last year of plans to run 1.3 kilometres of 500 kilovolt line across their land.
They have spent the past year attempting to have the infrastructure rerouted but to no avail.
Acquisition negotiations recently commenced.
Ms Dawson said the Ombudsman could have played a useful role in her family's dispute with EnergyCo.
"I said to EnergyCo show me the documentation that you are using to ruin our lives. They wouldn't give me an answer and or show us any documentation," she said.
"The Ombudsman will hopefully be able to stop the same thing happening to other people."
The ombudsman will provide a 'no wrong door' referral service for residents, connecting them with the most appropriate channels to address their complaints where they fall outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction.
The service will also provide an investigation and resolution process for residents dissatisfied with how their complaints are handled by the relevant transmission and renewable energy entities.
The Energy and Water Ombudsman's office resolved more than 28,000 energy and water complaints last year.
"This isn't new territory for us. We already handle complaints about existing energy transmission and distribution infrastructure, so we're well placed to expand into managing complaints and disputes regarding new network and renewable energy infrastructure projects," Energy and Water Ombudsman Janine Young said.
"The renewable energy sector is developing rapidly, and customers need a free and impartial Ombudsman scheme to help them navigate the energy transition."
A $1.3 million state government grant will improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in addressing complaints from communities and individuals.
Climate Change and Energy minister Penny Sharpe acknowledged better engagement and support was needed communities hosting renewable energy infrastructure.
"The investment in expanding this dedicated complaint handling function proves our commitment to
a fair and transparent energy sector," she said.
"Residents will no longer have to navigate a maze of agencies. The Ombudsman will connect them with the right people to have concerns investigated and addressed."
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell said the announcement represented a "step in the right direction."
"There is absolutely a role for a third party like an Ombudsman to assist with neighbourhood disputes arising from the renewable projects rollout," he said.
"The real problems are in the privately funded developers who are acting as speculators in the market by gaining landholder agreements and planning approval prior to selling off to a another developer. That is where we are seeing the worst behaviours where the community is crying for help."
