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Overview

Development of a 600 MW solar farm, energy storage facility, on-site temporary accommodation facility and associated infrastructure

Reference number
SSD-29508870
Case Category
Energy
Page last updated
16/08/2024
Location
Commissioner (Panel Chair)
Janett Milligan
Other Commissioners
Duncan Marshall AM, Suellen Fitzgerald
Share this case
Case Status: Determined - Approved
Referral received: 17/05/2024

Key Dates

17 May 2024
Referral received
21 May 2024
Speaker registrations open
21 May 2024
Submissions open
30 May 2024
Meeting with the Department
30 May 2024
Meeting with the Applicant
31 May 2024
Speaker registrations close at 12pm
31 May 2024
Meeting with Mid Western Regional Council
31 May 2024
Meeting with Warrumbungle Shire Council
05 Jun 2024
Public meeting
14 Jun 2024
Submissions close at 5pm
16 Aug 2024
Case outcome

Documents

Statement of Reasons for Decision Birriwa Solar Farm SSD 29508870
Development consent Birriwa Solar Farm SSD 29508870
Response to request for further information from DPHI Department email re Health NSW 12 August 2024
Response to request for further information from DPHI Health NSW Advice Redacted 12 August 2024
Advice on draft conditions from DPHI Attachment 26 July 2024
Advice on draft conditions from DPHI Redacted 26 July 2024
Request to DPHI for advice on draft conditions attachment 15 July 2024
Request to DPHI for advice on draft conditions Redacted 15 July 2024
Response to the Applicant for further information 2 July 2024 redacted
Request to the Applicant for further information 28 June 2024 redacted
Response to request for further information from the Department 27 June 2024 redacted
Reponse to questions on notice and additional information from the Applicant 19 June 2024 redacted
Request to the Applicant for further information 13 June 2024 redacted
Request to DPHI for further information redacted
Response to request for further information from DPHI redacted
Request to DPHI for further information
Assessment report
Recommended conditions of consent
Referral letter redacted

Meetings

Date and time
10:30 AM Thu 30 May 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
Applicant meeting transcript
document
Applicant meeting presentation
Anyone wishing to access the transcript of this meeting must read and agree to the following disclaimer:

This transcript is made publicly available. Any views expressed by persons who presented to the Commission at this meeting, are not the views of the Commission or any of its employees. By clicking on and accessing the transcript you confirm that you have read and accepted the terms of the disclaimer.
Date and time
9:00 AM Thu 30 May 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
Department meeting transcript
document
Department meeting presentation
Anyone wishing to access the transcript of this meeting must read and agree to the following disclaimer:

This transcript is made publicly available. Any views expressed by persons who presented to the Commission at this meeting, are not the views of the Commission or any of its employees. By clicking on and accessing the transcript you confirm that you have read and accepted the terms of the disclaimer.
 
Date and time
2:45 PM Fri 31 May 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
MidWestern Regional Council meeting transcript
document
MidWestern Regional Council meeting presentation
Anyone wishing to access the transcript of this meeting must read and agree to the following disclaimer:

This transcript is made publicly available. Any views expressed by persons who presented to the Commission at this meeting, are not the views of the Commission or any of its employees. By clicking on and accessing the transcript you confirm that you have read and accepted the terms of the disclaimer.
 
Date and time
4:00 PM Fri 31 May 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
Warrumbungle Shire Council meeting transcript
document
Warrumbungle Shire Council meeting briefing note

Anyone wishing to access the transcript of this meeting must read and agree to the following disclaimer:

This transcript is made publicly available. Any views expressed by persons who presented to the Commission at this meeting, are not the views of the Commission or any of its employees. By clicking on and accessing the transcript you confirm that you have read and accepted the terms of the disclaimer.

Date and time
10:00 AM Wed 05 June 2024
Venue
Dunedoo Jubilee Memorial Hall
154 Bolaro St, Dunedoo NSW 2844
Meeting documents
document
Final Birriwa Public Meeting Meeting Schedule
document
Public meeting transcript

The community will be able to have their say in a public meeting on the Birriwa Solar Farm, a proposal by ACEN Australia to develop a 600 MW solar farm, energy storage facility, on-site temporary accommodation facility and associated infrastructure.

The proposed Birriwa Solar Farm is a State significant development application (SSD-29508870) located 19 kilometres south-east of Dunedoo on the Castlereagh Highway. The decision on whether the Birriwa Solar Farm will be given planning approval has been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission because the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure received at least 50 unique submissions objecting to the proposal and one of the two local councils has also objected.

Commissioners Ms Janett Milligan (Panel Chair), Mr Duncan Marshall AM and Ms Suellen Fitzgerald have been appointed by the Commission Chair to determine the development application.

The key issues identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include land use compatibility, visual impact, traffic and transport, social impacts and temporary accommodation.

The Commission has access to all previous written submissions made to the Department on this proposed development, however it is particularly helpful for the Commission Panel to also hear the community’s views about the Department’s assessment of the key issues and conditions of consent. These documents are available on the Commission’s website.

A public meeting on the Birriwa Solar Farm will be held at the Dunedoo Jubilee Memorial Hall located at 154 Bolaro St, Dunedoo NSW 2844 on Wednesday 5 June 2024  (10:00AM AEST start). 
Anyone wishing to present at the public meeting must pre-register on the Commission’s website using the Speaker Registration Form.

The deadline for speaker registrations is 12:00PM AEST on Friday 31 May 2024

The Commission is also inviting the public to make written submissions which can be lodged via the ‘Make a Submission’ portal on the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/make-a-submission-forms/birriwa-solar-farm. The Commission will also accept submissions made via post or email.

Written submissions will be accepted until 05:00pm on Friday 14 June 2024.

Please note
Registered speakers for the public meeting will be asked to indicate a preference for presenting to the Commission Panel either in-person at the venue or via telephone. At this point, the public meeting may also be livestreamed on the Commission’s website. Please note that if the demand for either in-person or virtual attendance is low, the Commission may opt to conduct the meeting either entirely virtually, or entirely in person.  Similarly, if demand for speaker timeslots is high and Wednesday 5 June 2024 becomes fully booked, the Commission will endeavour to schedule a second day.

If either of these scenarios occur, this will be fully communicated to all registered speakers in advance, including how the Commission can assist people to attend the meeting virtually.  Please read the Speaker Registration Form carefully, and provide as much detail as possible. These flexible arrangements ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to be heard, while also making best use of public resources.

 
Date and time
9:00 AM Tue 04 June 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
Site Inspection Notes
Date and time
2:00 PM Tue 04 June 2024
Contact
Kendall Clydsdale
Meeting documents
document
Neighbouring Site Inspection Notes

Public Submissions

Amanda Bowman ID 179542
Amber Pedersen ID 178385
Andrew Bowman ID 179754
Andrew Reynolds ID 179574
Anne Bowman ID 178823
Annette Piper ID 179636
Annette Piper ID 179767
Camilla Armstrong ID 179756
CWA ID 179385
David Bowman ID 178152
Debra Yuille ID 176435
Emma Roberts ID 179628
Frances Bowman ID 178791
Henry Armstrong ID 179629
John Moore ID 176368
Joy Beames ID 179159
Kathryn Reynolds ID 179737
Lou Armstrong ID 179762
Michael Hurley ID 179413
Name Redacted ID 175463
Name Redacted ID 175556
Name Redacted ID 176349
Name Redacted ID 176354
Name redacted ID 176477
Name redacted ID 177010
Name redacted ID 177798
Name redacted ID 177961
Name redacted ID 178089
Name redacted ID 178181
Name redacted ID 178234
Name redacted ID 178836
Name redacted ID 179220
Name redacted ID 179499
Name redacted ID 179506
Name redacted ID 179515
Name redacted ID 179703
Name redacted ID 179710
Name redacted ID 179713
Name redacted ID 179724
Name redacted ID 179750
Name redacted ID 179755
Name redacted ID 179761
Name redacted ID 179768
Nigel Roberts ID 178485
Rafe Champion ID 176334
Rainforest Reserves Australia ID 177000
Rohan Williams ID 179696
Roy Currie ID 176608
S Armstrong ID 179538
Sally Edwards ID 179745
Scott Whiston ID175961
SOS ID 179498
Stan Moore ID 179067
Steven Tripp ID 179070
Stuart Hackney ID 179757
UTLA ID 179764
Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation ID 176151
A C submission
Emma Bowman submission
Grant Piper 2 submission redacted
Grant Piper submission
Kevin Loughrey postal submission redacted
Kevin Loughrey submission
Lynette LaBlack 2 submission redacted
Lynette LaBlack submission redacted
DPHI speaker presentation
Applicant speaker presentation
Carolyn Emms speaker presentation
Emma Bowman Speaker Presentation
Henry Armstrong speaker presentation
Henry Armstrong video
Kevin Loughrey speaker presentation
Lynette LaBlack speaker presentation
Mayor Ambrose Doolan speaker notes
Rick Colless speaker presentation
Rick Colless speaker notes
Sally Edwards speaker presentation redacted
Make a Submission

We recognise the importance of community participation in our decision-making process. Using our ‘Make a submission’ form is the easiest way for you to make a submission on cases currently before the Commission.