One of the biggest solar farms NSW has ever seen will be constructed near Coleambally. Photo: Spark Renewables.
A controversial $1.35 billion mega-solar farm between Coleambally and Jerilderie was given the green light on the evening before the Easter public holidays, despite multiple objections during the public consultation process.
Malaysian-owned company Spark Renewables proposed building two million solar panels alongside a giant battery energy storage facility on an area covering about 17 square kilometres on Kidman Road, which was previously used for sheep and cattle grazing. It’s set to be one of the biggest solar farms ever seen in NSW.
The company is also building a nearby wind farm with up to 200 wind turbines — a project going through a separate approval process. Together, what’s been called the ”Dinawan Energy Hub” is expected to power up to 300,000 homes.
More than 50 public objections were submitted about the proposed solar farm, with opponents raising concerns about fire risks, possible damage to flora and fauna, excessive traffic and noise, the devaluation of neighbouring properties, water and environmental contamination, the alleged wastage of prime agricultural land and poor consultation processes.
However, State Government authority the NSW Independent Planning Commission announced it had approved the project late on Thursday (2 April), just before the Good Friday public holiday.
“On balance, the predicted benefits of the project outweigh its negative impacts,” the commission ruled.
It was noted the project is expected to create up to 400 jobs during the construction phase and 10 jobs during the 35-year life of the project. Spark Renewables has also proposed to maintain sheep grazing within the development footprint.
The commission acknowledged that there is the risk of both facility-generated fires and bushfires to the solar farm site, but said it was satisfied that risks could be “suitably managed” through “mitigation measures”. It has directed Spark Renewables to prepare and implement a fire safety study and an emergency plan.
The following conditions have also been imposed to minimise negative impacts of the project, including requiring the company to:
- Prepare and implement a traffic management plan which includes measures to minimise potential cumulative traffic impacts with other projects;
- Comply with set construction hours, noise management protocols, and noise monitoring and reporting;
- Prepare an Accommodation and Employment Strategy and an Accommodation Camp Management Plan;
- Prepare a Soil and Water Management Plan and an Environmental Management Strategy.
There was considerable controversy when the final public consultation meeting planned for late February was abruptly cancelled and replaced by a private meeting with restricted attendance.
Andrew Sleigh, a mixed-cropping farmer who lives next to the proposed site of the project, said it was indicative of a poor consultation process.
“We have struggled to get community recognition all the way through this process; the drop-in sessions don’t cut it. We haven’t had a proper public forum to provide decent communication and a response from both the proponents and those impacted, as well as scrutiny by the media,” Mr Sleigh said.
The commission, though, said there was extensive consultation throughout the process and most of those who objected to the plan did not live in the nearby area.
Spark Renewables will now conduct grid studies and secure contractors before construction of the solar panels begins.
