Posted: 21.05.2024
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, to the east of 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. These documents are available on the Commission's website.
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: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/make-a-submission-forms/birriwa-solar-farm
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.
We recognise the importance of community participation in our decision-making process. Using our ‘Make a submission’ form is the easiest way for you to make a submission on cases currently before the Commission.