A 441MW wind farm being proposed for development in the central west region of New South Wales has joined the queue of projects seeking the all-clear from the federal environment minister.

The up to 63 turbine Kerr’s Creek wind farm is being developed by renewables outfit RES around 26km north of Orange, between the towns of Kerr’s Creek and Euchareena.

Kerr’s Creek was referred for assessment under the federal government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in January and is currently open for public consultation.

According to the wind farm’s referral documents, the project area covers up to 8,819 hectares and encompasses seven freehold properties whose land is predominantly used for sheep and cattle grazing.

RES says it has been monitoring wind resource at the site since the beginning of 2020 and has conducted feasibility studies to determine the site’s suitability for the development of a wind energy project.

According to the referral documents, engagement with the community regarding the project started in 2021, and with stakeholders in 2022; including through face to face events, phone calls, letters and online platforms.

The headlines for local news reports – articles are behind paywalls – suggest the feelings of local communities are divided over hosting the wind farm, with the leader of the National Party David Littleproud throwing his support behind those who oppose it.

“Once again regional Australia is bearing the burden of Labor’s ideology. But this time they’re taking away prime ag land while also threatening the environment,” Littleproud wrote on Instagram in February, in comments about Kerrs Creek.

Sky News has also weighed in on the subject. In a report on opposition to Kerrs Creek, it reports that Cabonne Shire residents are concerned the wind farm has already had a negative effect on land values and are worried about the visual and noise impacts of the project.

Another report, in the Central Western Daily examines the “challenges faced by Boomey landholder Lachlan Sullivan as he supports the Kerrs Creek Wind Farm proposal.