03 September 2025
Members of the local community will be able to meet with the Independent Planning Commission and have their say about the Yanco Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a State significant development application (SSD-6747879) proposed by ACEnergy to install a 250MW/1100MWh BESS with associated infrastructure and connection works.
The proposed battery would be located one kilometre south-west of Yanco in the Leeton Shire LGA. If approved it is anticipated the project would create up to 70 construction and five operational jobs.
The BESS would store excess renewable energy and provide ‘firming capacity’ by contributing to dispatchable energy availability during peak demand or when renewable energy production is low. The BESS is intended to increase grid stability, energy security and reliability.
The Commission is the decision-maker because the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure received 63 submissions objecting to the proposal.
Commissioners Ken Kanofski and Dr Bronwyn Evans AM were appointed by the Commission Chair to make the decision on the development application.
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 on the Department’s Assessment Report, which can be found on the Commission’s website. The key matters identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include the energy transition, land use compatibility and hazards including bush fire risk and contamination.
The Panel will visit the local area to conduct a site inspection and locality tour, to meet with the Leeton Shire Council and to hold one-on-one local meetings to hear from community members in person. These local meetings will be scheduled for 10 minutes each and will be held at the CWA Exhibition Hall, Leeton Multipurpose Community Centre at 3-5 Wade Avenue, Leeton on Wednesday 17 September 2025 commencing at 10:00AM AEST. Those wishing to participate need to book a meeting timeslot on the Commission’s website here before 9:00AM AEST on Monday 15 September.
These will not be open forum meetings, so will not have an audience or be livestreamed. However each local meeting will be recorded and transcribed, with the transcript published on the Commission’s website a few days after the meeting. The Commission is also inviting members of 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 AEST on Wednesday 24 September 2025.