The State Significant Development (SSD) application for the Valley of the Winds wind farm has been approved by the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission, subject to conditions.
The project comprises a 943MW wind farm with a 320MW BESS (battery energy storage system), which will be located within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), approximately 40km north of Gulgong, between Coolah, Leadville and Uarbry within the Warrambungle Shire local government area.
The Valley of the Winds Wind Farm has the capacity to generate enough energy to power about 519,000 homes per year and will contribute to the New South Wales Government’s net-zero targets and renewable energy objectives.
The 320MW/640MWh BESS would enable renewable energy to be stored for dispatch to the grid, increasing grid stability and energy security.
ACEN Australia’s State Significant Development (SSD) for the project application was referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination because more than 50 public objections were made to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during its assessment of the project, and because Warrumbungle Shire Council objected to the proposal.
The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Richard Pearson (Panel Chair), Suellen Fitzgerald and Sarah Dinning, met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, and held a public meeting where they heard from 33 speakers, and received a total of 58 written submissions.
In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission found that the site was “suitable for renewable energy development given its location close to the approved Central-West Orana REZ transmission line, available wind resources, and its design to avoid major environmental constraints and access to the regional road network”.
The Commission considered the concerns raised by community members relating to visual impacts, aerial firefighting and agriculture, biodiversity, traffic and transport, socio-economic impacts, decommissioning and rehabilitation, water resources and the cumulative impacts of this and other nearby developments.
Conditions of consent have been imposed that mitigate a number of issues, including requiring ACEN Australia to:
- Prepare an aviation management plan in consultation with the Aerial Application Association of Australia, NSW Rural Fire Service and nearby aerodrome operators to ensure continued aviation in the area, including aerial firefighting and aerial agricultural activities
- Prepare a water sourcing plan and a soil and water management plan
- Undertake ongoing community consultation via a community consultative committee
- Comply with approved traffic routes
- Prepare a detailed decommissioning and rehabilitation plan
All documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/valley-winds-wind-farm
