'Apology is not enough' to heal the permanent destruction of cultural history

Renewables partnership ACEREZ confirmed while workers were clearing private land for power lines, they knowingly damaged an Aboriginal rock shelter in the Central West-Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), near Gulgong.

"It's totally unacceptable," Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said on Tuesday morning.

"This should never have happened, and that we will fully investigate it, and the appropriate penalties will be looked at once that's done."

Ms Sharpe said there was "no excuse" for the destructive behaviour of staff and contractors, responding to reports that a person employed in the New England REZ used derogatory terms to describe residents who disagreed with the renewables project.

"EnergyCo has a job to do, which is to build a Central West-Orana REZ. They also have a job to do to make sure that they fulfil all of the requirements and that they deal with the community properly," Ms Sharpe said.

Dunedoo's Camilla Armstrong and fellow landholders near the ACEREZ project previously raised the alarm on tree clearing that destroyed native bird habitat along Merotherie Road, near Gulgong in late 2025.

"An apology is not enough. We need to see the accountability," she said.

Ms Armstrong said communities had paid the cost, time and time again, with landholders still deeply concerned about further encroachment.

"I'm deeply saddened for the Aboriginal community, and what's happened at this site that's been destroyed," she said.

"If any good can come from it, it's the government answering these questions that we've been asking for years, setting a precedent that they need to take responsibility for the damage and destruction they are causing."

Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee has launched a scathing attack on the renewables developer, demanding the immediate resignation of ACEREZ Chief Executive Steve Masters over the botched operation.

Mr Gee condemned the company's response to the irreversible damage, describing it as an "insincere and bureaucratic apology delivered like someone was reading a hostage statement".

"With local residents, we've been warning for months about the arrogant, high-handed and reckless way it's been treating the local environment and cultural heritage," Mr Gee said.

He accused the company of becoming a "rogue operation" that believes it can act with impunity due to the backing of the NSW Government and EnergyCo.

Mr Gee noted the community still has no answers regarding exactly how the destruction occurred or if other culturally significant sites have been damaged.

"Not good enough by a long shot," he said. "It's time to go."

Premier Chris Minns said despite the loss of social license within renewable energy zones, including threats to block access in the North East REZ, he would not be moved on the pace of renewables development.

"We are on the clock, and if we delay it even more than it's currently being delayed. I promise you, as high as energy prices are today, they'll be higher again tomorrow," he said.

"If we slow down, you will see blackouts and higher prices paid by businesses and consumers. That's the bottom line."

Mr Minns said he didn't want to give "false hope" to communities, and accepted that his position came at a cost.

"Voters will have their say in March of next year, and some of them won't forgive us for it, and I accept that," he said.

"Every string you touch when it comes to energy policy in Australia at the moment is a controversial decision. I'm not trying to go towards the controversy, and I'm certainly not trying to antagonise local communities, but the stakes are huge for the government."

In a statement released on Monday, ACEREZ chief executive Steve Masters said he was "deeply sorry" for the destruction of the cultural site in the Central West-Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ.)

"We apologise without reservation to the Traditional Owners and to the local community. The loss of this rock shelter is permanent and nothing we say can undo that," he said.

"We have been contacting the Traditional Owners directly and will work with them to determine how this site and its story can be acknowledged and honoured from here."

Mr Masters said the site had been identified during the planning process, but protection requirements were "not fully implemented".

"On becoming aware of the incident, work on access tracks was immediately paused. An internal investigation has commenced into the circumstances," he said.

A spokesperson for state-managed EnergyCo said they had alerted ACEREZ of its failure to comply with contractual obligations.

The Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council was also contacted for comment.