Two solar farm projects are pushing ahead after progressing through approval stages despite some community objection.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has issued approval for the large-scale Dinawan Solar Farm to go ahead despite receiving more than 50 public objections.

And earlier this week, CleanPeak Energy advised through this newspaper’s classifieds section that construction of the Deniliquin Solar Farm on Hogans Lane would begin as early as next month.

Situated between inhabited rural residential blocks, about 9km from the Deniliquin township off Fanagan’s Lane, neighbours have been trying to halt the project since 2023.

Both projects are considered state significant developments (SSD), which means approvals are issued by the NSW Government and not Edward River Council.

The Dinawan project is one of four projects that has been granted right of access in the South West Renewable Energy Zone by EnergyCo.

It is located about 30km south of Coleambally and 30km north of Jerilderie.

The Dinawan Energy Hub Trust sought approval for an 800 megawatt (MW) solar farm of up to 1.7 million solar modules with a battery energy storage system, and associated infrastructure including substations, a temporary accommodation camp and temporary construction compounds.

This SSD application was referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission for determination because of the volume of objections made to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during its assessment period.

A two-member panel, comprising chair Suellen Fitzgerald and Simon Smith, met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, received 43 written submissions, and held community stakeholder meetings where they heard from 13 community members.

In its statement of reasons for the decision, the Commission found that the project would assist in “improving grid stability and energy security” and aligns with NSW Government commitments to transition to renewable energy.

It further highlighted that the project is expected to create about 400 full-time jobs during construction and 10 ongoing operational jobs, and generate enough renewable energy to power about 142,000 homes.

“The Commission considered concerns raised relating to cumulative impacts, traffic and roads, noise, contamination, social impacts, emergency planning, local infrastructure and insurances,” a spokesperson advised.

“The Commission has imposed conditions of consent to minimise adverse impacts of the project.”

The conditions instruct the applicant 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 and implement a fire safety study and an emergency plan;

• prepare an ‘Accommodation and Employment Strategy’ and an ‘Accommodation Camp Management Plan’ and;

• prepare a ‘Soil and Water Management Plan’ and an ‘Environmental Management Strategy’.

All documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found at https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/dinawan-solar-farm.

The Deniliquin Solar Farm will comprise about 12,000 solar panels, ground-mounted on single axis tracking arrays to follow the daily east-west movement of the sun.

It is set to occupy about 16.5 hectares of existing farming property, while leaving the remainder of the farm as-is for ongoing agriculture.

The proponents say the layout has been “carefully designed to protect the environmental aspects of the site, minimise the removal of native vegetation and avoid areas of cultural sensitivity”.

To learn more about this project, go to www.deniliquinsolarfarm.com.au.

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Tuesday, 30th October 2029

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