Posted: 31.10.2024
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has today approved the Spicers Creek Wind Farm (SSD-41134610) located in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ) approximately 25 km north-west of Gulgong and 35 km north-east of Wellington, within the Dubbo Regional and Warrumbungle Shire local government areas (LGAs).
Spicers Creek Wind Farm Pty Ltd sought approval for the project which is a state significant development including a 700 megawatt (MW) wind farm with a 400 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure. It will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 370,000 homes, and will generate up to 590 construction related jobs and up to 12 operational jobs.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Department) completed its whole-of-government assessment of the Spicers Creek Wind Farm in July 2024. The project was referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination because more than 50 public objections were made to the Department, Warrumbungle Shire Council objected to the proposal, and the Applicant has made a reportable political donation.
The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Neal Menzies AM (Chair), Suellen Fitzgerald and Michael Wright, met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, held a public meeting where they heard from 17 speakers, and received 43 written submissions.
The Panel has today, 31 October 2024, granted development consent to the Spicers Creek Wind Farm, subject to conditions.
In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission found that the Spicers Creek Wind Farm is “suitable for renewable energy development given its location close to a proposed CWO REZ transmission line, topography, wind resources, avoidance of major environmental constraints and access to the regional road network.”
The Commission acknowledged community concerns and imposed conditions of consent that mitigate a number of the issues raised. These conditions require the Applicant to prepare a number of comprehensive management plans and strategies, report on mitigation and monitoring outcomes, and demonstrate compliance with performance criteria on an ongoing basis.
The Applicant will also be required to conduct consultation with the Community Consultative Committee on community programs, provide construction progress updates on their website and ensure visual mitigation measures are implemented in appropriate timeframes.
These and other conditions of consent are designed to:
All the documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found on the Commission’s website here.
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