Questions about Future Fund and Board of Guardians proposed by ARC
" Council has been negotiating and entering into Renewables VPAs under which monetary development contributions are required to be paid for public purposes including the public purpose of ‘community enhancement’ which is defined in those planning agreements as ‘works to embellish public spaces, road upgrades, the provision of spaces for public recreation and community facilities, the provision of affordable housing and works to rehabilitate or conserve biodiversity values’"
There is a NSW Bnenefit Sharing Framework and guidelines by Dept of Planning,Housing and infrastructure (2024) that councils are required to follow.
"The Benefit Sharing Guideline provides information to applicants, councils and communities about how benefit sharing should be incorporated into the development of large-scale renewable energy generation and storage projects in NSW".
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/benefit-sharing-guideline.pdf
Following Qs need to be asked about the Board of Guardians to manage Contributions made by Renewable Energy Production and Battery Storage Companies in New England REZ to the Future Fund in Armidale Regional Council. Submission can be sent until July 1st 2026:
1. Are the proposed TOR for Board of Guardians in line with the Guidelines in Renewable Energy Benefit sharing Framework released by NSW Dept of planning for Councils?
2. Will the Board has any responsibility for making recommendations as to how the proceeds should be distributed between councils infrastructure program like roads, parkes, recreation, housing or recreational rail trail vs community benefit projects to be proposed by the community?
3. If so what is the split? 70 - 30 percent?
4. Why should any funds contributed by renewable energy production and battery storage companies be allocated for councils infrastructure maintenance projects?
5. What is the criteria and the process to be used in the allocation of proceeds from investments in Future Fund for community benefit projects vs Council's infrastructure projects?
6. Doesn't the council get government grants for the purpose and can use income from 50 percent rate rise for its infrastructure maintenance and upgrade program? After all the mayor justified 50 percent rate rise as the council had an infrastructure maintenance backlog worth many millions.
7. When is the council going to set up Community Benefit Reference Panel as foreshadowed in council resolutions and the process for calling applications from the community for projects to be funded?
8. Why is the council proposing Terms of reference for Board of Guardians but not for the Community Benefit Reference Panel? Aren't the interlinked?
9. Why cant Armidale council appoint a Community Advisory Board like Uralla Council to advise the council on how the proceeds from Future Fund investments to be allocated to various projects?
After all Community benefit contributions should be allocated for Community benefit projects to compensate for the burden of facilitating REZ projects by providing water, allowing companies to use roads and other facilities ,allowing employees to use facilities in the LG area.
Rate payers need to be vigilant as to whether the proposed Future fund and Board of Guardians to manage community contributions as well as the process adopted by ARC Mayor and GM to negotiate Voluntary Planning Agreements(VPAs) with renewable energy companies are in line with community expectations as well as the NSW Benefit Sharing Framework?
The contributions run into millions and community oversight about the proposed Future Fund and allocation process is extremely important. According to the mayor by now 70 million worth of VPAs have been signed. Expected to rise to 100 million.
As stated above, Uralla Council has established a Community Advisory Board to advise the council about how to allocate the funds in a special account deposited. Funds received from Renewable Energy Companies. It seems to be a better model with community control and voice.
Submissions
Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au(External link)(External link) and marked 'Draft Terms of Reference for the Future Fund Board of Guardians'.
Submissions must be received by 5PM Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.