The top tourism destination of Mudgee in New South Wales has been divided by the country’s first Renewable Energy Zone as concerns grow the town will be swamped with a huge influx of workers.

The region has become a test case for how regional towns will handle dozens of new renewable energy projects, including solar farms, wind farms and batteries.

25 projects are being developed in the zone, which covers 20,000 kilometres in the state’s Central West, including the towns of Mudgee, Dunedoo and the city of Dubbo.

Mid-Western Regional Council General Manager Brad Cam is concerned about the impact on the tourist town, saying, “For us, it’s become overwhelming.

“We don’t want the impacts of the Renewable Energy Zone to have effects on our tourism industry.”

The projects will bring in 10,000 workers and family members – a 40 per cent growth in population in three years.

The town will need an extra 1,500 homes, as well as more emergency beds, GPs, schools and road upgrades.

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