Bowmans Creek Wind Farm Public Meeting Notification
Posted: 22.11.2023
The community will be able to have their say in a public meeting on a proposal by Bowmans Creek Wind Farm Pty Ltd, owned by Ark Energy Project Pty Ltd (Ark), to construct and operate a 347 MW wind farm with up to 56 wind turbines and associated infrastructure.
The proposed Bowmans Creek Wind Farm is a State significant development application (SSD-10315)located 10 kilometres east of Muswellbrook in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).The decision on whether the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm will be given planning approval has been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission because the Department of Planning and Environment received at least 50 unique submissions objecting to the proposal.
Commissioners Professor Alice Clark (Panel Chair), Mr Adrian Pilton and Mr Richard Pearson have been appointed to determine the development application.
A public meeting on the proposed development will be held at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music in Muswellbrook (Atherstone Room, Level 1/80 Bridge St, Muswellbrook NSW 2333) and has been scheduled for Thursday 7th December 2023 (2:00pm AEDT start) and Friday 8th December (10:00am AEDT start). The public meeting will be conducted as a livestreamed event, with registered speakers participating either in person at the venue or via online videoconference or telephone. The Commission is also inviting written submissions from the public.
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 recommended conditions of consent. These documents are available on the Commission’s website at the following link:
https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/2023/11/bowmans-creek-wind-farm
The key issues identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include energy security, visual impact, traffic and transport, noise and biodiversity.
The deadline for speaker registrations is 12:00pm AEDT on Monday 4 December 2023.
Written submissions can be lodged via the ‘Make a Submission’ portal on the Commission’s website at the following link: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/make-a-submission. The Commission will also accept submissions made via post or email.
Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Thursday 21 December 2023.
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 (i.e. via Zoom video link or 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.
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.
