Muswellbrook Solar Farm

The community will be able to have their say at a public meeting on 12 February 2025 on a proposal by ESCO Solar Farm 9 Pty Ltd to develop the Muswellbrook Solar Farm, a 135 megawatt (MW) solar farm with a battery storage facility and associated infrastructure. The Muswellbrook Solar Farm (SSD-46543209) is proposed to be located approximately 2.5 kilometres (km) east of Muswellbrook, accessed from Muscle Creek Road within the Muswellbrook Shire Council local government area and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.

The decision on whether this state significant development will be granted planning approval has been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission because the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure received more than 50 unique submissions objecting to the proposal.

Commissioners Neal Menzies (Panel Chair), Suellen Fitzgerald and 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 land use compatibility/conflict, energy transition, cumulative impacts, traffic, biodiversity, visual impacts, social impacts and economic 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 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.

The public meeting on the Muswellbrook Solar Farm project will be held at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music in Muswellbrook, Colvin Room, Level 1/80 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook on Wednesday 12 February 2025 (10:00AM AEDT 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 midday AEDT on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

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: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/make-a-submission-forms/muswellbrook-solar-farm The Commission will also accept submissions via post or email. Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

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 remotely via telephone. At this point, the public meeting will 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 12 February 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.  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.