Posted: 11.11.2024
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has today approved the Middlebrook Solar Farm (SSD-10455) located approximately 22 km south of Tamworth, within the Tamworth Regional local government area.
Middlebrook Solar Farm Pty Ltd sought approval for the project which is a state significant development including a 320-megawatt (MW) solar farm and associated 320 MW / 780 MW-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS). It will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 122,200 homes and will generate up to 400 construction related jobs and up to 15 operational jobs.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Department) completed its whole-of-government assessment of the Middlebrook Solar Farm in August 2024. The project was referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination because more than 50 public objections were made to the Department.
The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Mr Richard Pearson (Chair), Dr Bronwyn Evans AM and Dr Sheridan Coakes, met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, held a public meeting where they heard from 22 speakers, and received 21 written submissions.
The Panel has today, 11 November 2024, granted development consent to the Middlebrook Solar Farm subject to conditions.
In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission found that the Middlebrook Solar Farm is “suitable for renewable energy development given its location close to existing electricity transmission networks, topography, solar resources, avoidance of major environmental constraints, access to the State and regional road network and potential for continued use of the land for grazing.”
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 comprehensive management plans and strategies and report on mitigation and monitoring outcomes, as well as demonstrate compliance with performance criteria on an ongoing basis. The Commission made other changes to strengthen environmental management of the development and address community concerns, including requiring:
These and other conditions of consent are designed to:
All documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/2024/08/middlebrook-solar-farm
Disclaimer
This media statement has been prepared by the Commission’s media unit for general information only. It does not form part of the Commission’s Statement of Reasons for Decision, and should not be read as part of, or as a substitute for, that Statement of Reasons for Decision.
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