Tallawang Solar Farm

The community will be able to have its say at a public meeting on the Tallawang Solar Farm, a State significant development application (SSD-23700028) lodged by Tallawang Solar Hybrid Pty Ltd to develop a 500-megawatt solar farm and associated infrastructure.

The proposed solar farm is located approximately eight kilometres north-west of Gulgong in the Mid-Western Regional local government area within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. The application also seeks approval for an on-site temporary workers accommodation facility for up to 400 construction staff and a 500MW/100MWh battery energy storage facility (BESS). 

The solar farm is expected to create up to 420 construction and seven operational jobs. It is also expected to generate renewable energy to power up to 212,000 homes and contribute to meeting the NSW Government’s net zero targets and renewable energy objectives. 

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has completed its whole-of-government assessment and has referred the application to the NSW Independent Planning Commission for determination. The Commission is the consent authority because the Department received more than 50 unique submissions objecting to the application and Mid-Western Regional Council has also lodged an objection. 

Commissioners Terry Bailey, Shelley Penn AM and Alison McCabe 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 energy transition, land use compatibility, biodiversity, traffic and transport, visual impact and cumulative impacts.

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 to also hear the community’s views on the Department’s Assessment Report, which can be found on the Commission’s website.

A public meeting on the Tallawang Solar Farm will be held at the Gulgong Memorial Hall located at 112 Herbert St, Gulgong on Thursday 28 August 2025, commencing at 10:00AM (AEST). 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 (noon) on Monday 18 August.

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. The Commission will also accept submissions made via post or email. Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Thursday 4 September 2025.

Please note
The public meeting will be livestreamed on the Commission’s YouTube channel. Registered speakers will be asked to nominate their preference for presenting at the Public Meeting either in-person at the venue or by dialing in by telephone. 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 Thursday 28 August 2025 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.  These flexible arrangements ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to be heard, while also making best use of public resources.