NSW approves big solar farm and battery near New England town of Armidale

The NSW Independent Planning Commission says it has provided conditional approval on a large solar and battery project near Armidale, in the heart of the New England renewable energy zone, and despite objections from some members of the local community.

The Oxley solar farm will comprise a 215 MW solar facility, along with a 50 MW, one hour battery, and is located on grazing land around 14kms south-east of Armidale, next to the Oxley Wild Rivers national park and not far from other solar projects including the Metz, New England, Uralla and Tilbuster solar projects.

The New England REZ is one of five REZs planned for NSW to host wind, solar and battery projects as the state replaces its ageing coal fired generators, but it has become a flashpoint for local opposition led by the local federal MP Barnaby Joyce and other anti-renewable groups.

The application for the Oxley solar project was first lodged in 2019, and went on public exhibit in 2021, but has only received approval now after being referred to the IPC because there were more than 50 objections.

Those objections included visual impact, the proximity to the national park and the Gara River, and other concerns such as the “heat island” effect, the “lake effect” (where birds allegedly mistake solar panels for water courses and try to land on them), and the risk of exploding batteries.

The assessment said the “heat island” effect, where it exists, does not extend more than 30 metres from the solar modules themselves, and found there is no evidence of the “lake effect” and downplayed concerns about spontaneous combustion of the battery modules.

There were also concerns about divisions in the community and “neighbour-to-neighbour” disputes, and about land values and the impact on agricultural resources.

The assessment noted that the solar farm is being built on mostly “class 5” agricultural land that is “not capable” of supporting regular cultivation, and will allow continued grazing on adjacent lands and provide an alternative income stream for the land owners. It said it is not expected to affect agricultural land values.

The locals also expressed concern about foreign ownership of the project, as Oxley Solar Farm is ultimately owned by a China-based group called Megawatt Solar, and is one of a number of projects proposed for the area.

However, the IPS said on Monday it had provided conditional approval for the $370 million project, declaring it to be “in the public interest”, and noting it is close to existing transmission lines.

It said the conditions imposed include an updated and detailed landscape plan comprising additional on-site vegetation, and supporting performance objectives to ensure the project is appropriately integrated into the broader landscape.

The planning documents suggest that the project was moved half a kilometre to add more distance to a popular local walking track, and a picnic area.

The IPC says its conditions also require the complete rehabilitation of the site at the end of its estimated 30-year life, strict soil and water management measures, and to communication strategy between it, the local council and the community during design, construction and operation.

Joyce and the Nationals have called for all solar and wind farm projects to be stopped, pending a review and a proposed law change to allow the development of nuclear small nuclear reactors, which for all intents and purposes do not exist in commercial form.