NSW Independent Planning Commission

Birriwa Solar Farm

SSD-29508870

A renewable energy development application for a 600 MW solar farm, a 600MW / 1200MW-hour battery energy storage facility and on-site temporary accommodation.

Case progress

Overview

Determined – approved
Category
Energy
Location
Birriwa
Chair of IPC Panel
Other IPC Panel Members

Map showing the location

Submissions closed
Speaker registration closed
Key dates
Submissions end 14/06/2024 at 5.00pm
Speaker registration end 31/05/2024 at 12.00pm
Public meeting
  • 10.00am Wednesday 5 June
    Dunedoo Jubilee Memorial Hall 154 Bolaro St, Dunedoo NSW 2844

Documents

Case outcome
Case referral documents from DPHI
DocumentDate
Assessment report (PDF, 12.67 MB)
20.05.2024
20.05.2024
Referral letter redacted (PDF, 317.41 KB)
20.05.2024
Commission conflicts of interest register
DocumentDate
Conflicts register (PDF, 60.96 KB)
20.05.2024

Meetings

Public meeting
Registration closed
Registrations end 31/05/2024 at 12.00pm

Meeting information

  • 10:00am Wednesday 05 June
    Dunedoo Jubilee Memorial Hall 154 Bolaro St, Dunedoo NSW 2844

Livestream and recordings

A livestream of this public event will commence at the advertised event start time. A video recording of the public event, which may be edited or redacted prior to publication in line with our guidelines, will be published as soon as practicable after the event and be available until the case is completed.

Speaker schedule and transcripts

DocumentDate
04.06.2024
Public meeting transcript (PDF, 394.5 KB)
11.06.2024

Speaker documents

DocumentDate
DPHI speaker presentation (PDF, 1.05 MB)
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
Henry Armstrong video (MP4, 5.14 MB)
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
07.06.2024
12.06.2024
07.06.2024
Rick Colless speaker notes (PDF, 322.82 KB)
11.06.2024
11.06.2024

Public meeting notification

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.

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. 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.

Meeting with Applicant

Meeting information

Date and time

10:30 AM Thu 30 May 2024

Meeting documents

DocumentDate
Applicant meeting transcript (PDF, 165.05 KB)
06.06.2024
06.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Meeting with Department

Meeting information

Date and time

9:00 AM Thu 30 May 2024

Meeting documents

DocumentDate
07.06.2024
06.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Meeting with Mid-Western Regional Council

Meeting information

Date and time

2:45 PM Fri 31 May 2024

Meeting documents

DocumentDate
06.06.2024
06.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Meeting with Warrumbungle Shire Council

Meeting information

Date and time

4:00 PM Fri 31 May 2024

Meeting documents

DocumentDate
06.06.2024
06.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Site inspection

Site inspection information

Date and time

9:00 AM Tue 04 June 2024

Site inspection documents

DocumentDate
Site Inspection Notes (PDF, 1014.68 KB)
11.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Neighbouring site visits

Meeting information

Date and time

2:00 PM Tue 04 June 2024

Meeting documents

DocumentDate
11.06.2024

Disclaimer

The Commission's Transparency Policy sets out how information related to this meeting will be made publicly available.

Public submissions

ID Name Date Submission
179636 Annette Piper 17/06/2024
179629 Henry Armstrong 17/06/2024
179713 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179070 Steven Tripp 17/06/2024
179542 Amanda Bowman 17/06/2024
179385 Andrew Connolly 17/06/2024
179737 Kathryn Reynolds 17/06/2024
179499 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179755 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179538 S Armstrong 17/06/2024
179574 Andrew Reynolds 17/06/2024
179628 Emma Roberts 17/06/2024
179498 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179767 Annette Piper 17/06/2024
178836 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179724 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179696 Rohan Williams 17/06/2024
179757 Stuart Hackney 17/06/2024
179762 Lou Armstrong 17/06/2024
179506 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179761 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179745 Sally Edwards 17/06/2024
178823 Anne Bowman 17/06/2024
178791 Frances Bowman 17/06/2024
179710 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179067 Stan Moore 17/06/2024
179756 Camilla Armstrong 17/06/2024
179159 Joy Beames 17/06/2024
179220 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179750 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179764 Uarbry Tongy Lane Alliance Inc (UTLA) 17/06/2024
179754 Andrew Bowman 17/06/2024
179413 Michael Hurley 17/06/2024
179515 Name redacted 17/06/2024
179768 Name redacted 17/06/2024
178234 Name redacted 12/06/2024
178089 Name redacted 12/06/2024
178485 Nigel ROBERTS 12/06/2024
178385 Amber Pedersen 12/06/2024
178152 David Bowman 12/06/2024
177798 Name redacted 12/06/2024
178181 Name redacted 12/06/2024
177961 Name redacted 12/06/2024
177000 Carolyn Emms 03/06/2024
177010 Name redacted 03/06/2024
176334 Rafe Champion 03/06/2024
176477 Name redacted 03/06/2024
176608 Roy Currie 03/06/2024
176349 Name redacted 30/05/2024
175463 Name redacted 30/05/2024
176368 John Moore 30/05/2024
176354 Name redacted 30/05/2024
175556 Name redacted 30/05/2024
176435 Debra Yuille 30/05/2024
175961 Scott Whiston 30/05/2024
ID Name Date Submission
Kevin Loughrey 17/06/2024
Grant Piper 17/06/2024
Lynette LaBlack 17/06/2024
Emma Bowman 17/06/2024
Kevin Loughrey 12/06/2024
Grant Piper 12/06/2024
Lynette LaBlack 07/06/2024
A C 07/06/2024
ID Name Date Submission
179703 Name redacted 17/06/2024
176151 Name redacted 30/05/2024