27 May 2025
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has today approved the Muswellbrook Solar Farm, located adjacent to and within the site of the former Muswellbrook Coal Mine, approximately 2.5 km east of Muswellbrook within the Muswellbrook Local Government Area and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (HCC REZ).
ESCO Solar Farm 9 Pty Ltd sought approval for the state significant development (SSD-46543209) which includes a 135-megawatt solar farm, a 135 MW / 270 MWh battery and associated infrastructure.
The Muswellbrook Solar Farm will connect to the existing Ausgrid 132 kV transmission line grid. It will generate enough renewable energy to power up to 52,310 homes, and will contribute to the NSW Government’s net zero targets and renewable energy objectives.
The development application was assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination because more than 50 public objections were made to the Department during its assessment of the Project.
The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Professor Neal Menzies (Chair), Ms Suellen Fitzgerald and Mr Michael Wright met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, sought additional information from the Applicant and the Department, held a public meeting where they heard from 12 speakers and received a total of 44 written submissions.
In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission found that the site was “suitable for the Project given its location within the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone and its consistency with the applicable strategic land use planning framework and relevant statutory requirements”. The Commission assessed the local, regional and statewide benefits, impacts and risks of the proposal and found that it was in the public interest.
The Commission considered the concerns raised by community members, particularly relating to land use compatibility, visual impacts, social and economic impacts, traffic and biodiversity, and imposed conditions of consent that mitigate a number of these issues. These include conditions that require the ESCO Solar Farm to:
- prepare a detailed traffic management plan in consultation with Council and Transport for NSW;
- enter into a voluntary planning agreement with Council to deliver benefits to the community;
- develop a comprehensive waste management plan which must identify opportunities to maximise recycling of solar panel related waste;
- prepare and implement a detailed biodiversity management plan which must include measures to minimise clearing and avoiding unnecessary disturbance of vegetation;
- develop an accommodation and employment strategy to ensure there is sufficient accommodation for the Project’s workforce without impacting local housing and accommodation; and
- prepare a comprehensive 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/2024/12/muswellbrook-solar-farm