Solar farm public meeting replaced

The Commission is currently contacting the 14 people who registered to speak (three of whom had registered to speak in person) to arrange individual meetings with the Panel, ensuring everyone has the chance to have their say on the proposed project.

In accordance with the Commission’s Transparency Policy, the Commission will publish full transcripts of these meetings on its website.

The Commission has also met with key staff and elected representatives of the local Murrumbidgee Council and will undertake a site inspection and locality tour.

It is one of four projects granted right of access in the South West Renewable Energy Zone, to connect with the Dinawan substation currently under construction north of the site.

Dinawan Energy Hub Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spark Renewables, has lodged a state significant development application to develop the 800-megawatt solar farm.

It will also incorporate a 356MW/1574MW-hour battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure.

The proposed facility is located about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie.

This follows the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's referral of the application to the NSW Independent Planning Commission for determination.

The Commission became the consent authority after the department received more than 50 submissions objecting to the application, with more than 80 per cent of objections lodged by residents from more than 100km from the site.

Key issues identified in the Department's whole-of-government assessment include energy security, land use compatibility, biodiversity, traffic and visual impacts.

The Commission is still inviting written submissions through the 'make a submission' portal on its website, or via post or email.

Written submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm on Thursday, March 5.

For more information on the project, or to make a submission, go to www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/dinawan-solar-farm.