Spicers Creek Wind Farm

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The community will be able to have their say in a public meeting on a proposal by Spicers Creek Wind Farm (SSD-41134610), owned by Squadron Energy Pty Ltd to construct a wind farm with up to 117 wind turbines with energy storage and associated infrastructure.

The proposed Spicers Creek Wind Farm is a State significant development application (SSD-41134610) located in the Centreal-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone approximately 30 kilometres north west of Gulgong and 40km east of Dubbo. The proposed site is north of Gollan Road and south of the Golden Highway.

The decision on whether the Spicers Creek Wind Farm project 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, the applicant made a reportable political donation, and Warrumbungle Shire Council objected to the project.

Commissioners Professor Neal Menzies (Panel Chair), Ms Suellen Fitzgerald and Mr Michael Wright 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 social and economic, land use, energy transition biodiversity, visual, traffic and transport considerations.

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 proposed conditions of consent. These documents are available on the Commission’s website.

A public meeting on the Spicers Creek Wind Farm (SSD-41134610) will be held at Dunedoo Jubilee Memorial Hall located at 154 Bolaro St, Dunedoo NSW 2844 on Thursday 29 August 2024 from 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 noon AEST on Monday 19 August 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: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/make-a-submission-forms/spicers-creek-wind-farm. The Commission will also accept submissions made via post or email.

Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Friday 6 September 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 virtually by 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 telephone attendance is low, the Commission may opt to conduct the meeting either entirely virtually (via video link), or entirely in person.  Similarly, if demand for speaker timeslots is high and Thursday 29 August 2024 becomes fully booked, the Commission will endeavour to schedule a second day, which may be held online.

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.