NSW Planning gives green tick to another wind farm in New England

Plans to build a 192MW wind farm as part of hybrid renewables and battery hub in the New England region of New South Wales have been referred to the state’s Independent Planning Commission, after being recommended for approval by the state government.

In a letter of referral delivered to the IPC last week, the NSW Department of Planning said it considers Neoen Australia’s Thunderbolt Wind Farm, proposed for construction 47km northeast of Tamworth, “approvable, subject to the recommended conditions of consent.”

Neoen’s Thunderbolt Energy Hub proposes to combine up to 380MW of wind power, over two stages, plus 120MW of solar and a 400MW battery (MWh not yet specified) on land spanning the Tamworth Regional and Uralla Shire.

The state significant project was referred to the IPC after attracting more than 50 public submissions in objection to the development of the stage one, 32-turbine wind farm, including from the Uralla Shire Council.

According to the department of planning, a total of 100 unique submissions were received during the exhibition of wind farm’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as well as advice from 15 government agencies and the two host councils. Of the public submissions, 82 objected to the project, 14 supported it and four provided comments.

The vast majority of the objecting submissions were concerned about potential impacts on the local community – including from turbine noise and visual disturbance – and on biodiversity, as well as potential health impact on livestock. Concerns about the impact of the wind farm on the local economy were also common.

Neoen has since amended the planning application to address some of the concerns raised, including to include a temporary above-ground pipeline for water supply during construction phase – and the amended application has been approved by the department.

The referral letter also notes that Neoen has offered to enter into a community benefit scheme/voluntary planning agreement with the Tamworth and Uralla councils, with contributions of more than $5.6 million towards community enhancement projects.

The Thunderbolt wind farm sits in the New England REZ, which has been identified by the NSW government as as potentially hosting 8,000 MW of renewable energy.

It is also on the doorstep of the federal electorate held by former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who earlier this month headlined at an anti-renewables rally held outside federal Parliament in Canberra.

At the rally, Joyce railed against “reckless renewables”and decried wind turbines as “filth.” Meanwhile, on the same day, the NSW IPC waved through the more than 300MW Bowman’s Creek wind farm near Muswellbrook.

The New England region will also host the Hills of Gold solar farm, which has also received planning department approval but which is also being assessed by the IPC.

Origin Energy has has bought a 7690-hectare sheep and beef property there as a prospective greenfield wind development opportunity, and last week bought two wind and solar projects near the town of Walcha that it also wants to develop.