Planning & Environment
The Planning Process
WinterbourneWind will be seeking State Significant Development (SSD) Consent under Division 4.7 of part 4 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) for the project. This requires a detailed Environmental Impact Statement to be prepared in accordance with the NSW Government’s Wind Energy Framework.
The Scoping Report
WinterbourneWind lodged a Scoping Report for the project to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in September 2020. The Scoping Report provided a description of the project and identified the scale and types of associated potential impacts and benefits
DPE reviewed the Scoping Report and sought comment from local Councils and government agencies regarding further assessment requirements. The feedback from these agencies was incorporated into the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for this project, which were issued in September 2020.
Environmental Impact Statement
The SEARs set out the requirements for detailed studies on potential visual, noise, biodiversity, traffic, cultural heritage and other environmental and social impacts associated with the project. The results of these studies, together with feedback from the local community and stakeholders, has informed the project’s design and is documented in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The (EIS) for the project was submitted to DPE in November 2022. The EIS was on public exhibition from mid-November 2022 until late January 2023. DPE received 959 submissions during this period, with 924 public submissions. Of the public submissions, 488 submissions were in support of the Project and 428 submissions were in objection of the Project, with 8 submissions providing comment only. Submissions were also received from four local Councils, 14 organisation submissions and 17 state government agencies.
Submissions Report and Amendment Report
A Submissions Report and an Amendment Report were lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in September 2024.
The Submissions Report provided responses to comments made by the public including government agencies on the EIS for the Project. It also included an analysis of the issues raised in submissions and explains what actions and mitigations have been taken by WinterbourneWind since the EIS was exhibited. The Submissions Report was prepared in accordance with the State Significant Development Guidelines – Preparing a Submissions Report.
The Amendment Report laid out the improvements to the proposed wind farm since the original EIS, based on further design and assessment and after engagement with the community, landholders and Councils to harness local knowledge.
The Amendment Report was on public exhibition from 8 October to 4 November 2024. The exhibition period provided an opportunity for community and stakeholders to review the amended project proposal and make a submission. The feedback to the Amendment Report was overwhelmingly positive, with 70% of public submissions indicating support for the proposed project.
Submissions Report No. 2
Submissions Report No. 2 has now been lodged with DPHI. This report provides written responses to issues raised in submissions during public exhibition of the Amendment Report. An Amended Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and an Updated Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) have also been lodged as part of the submission.
DPHI will now prepare a recommendation for the project. It is expected that the project will be referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for determination.
EPBC Referral
Preliminary field surveys identified the known or likely presence of some species listed as threatened under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, including the Spotted Quoll and the Koala.
WinterbourneWind referred the proposed action to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in accordance with the EPBC Act and the project has been determined to be a controlled action, and will therefore require assessment and a decision under the EPBC Act.
WinterbourneWind has undertaken further detailed assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed project to ensure any potential negative impacts to key animal and plant species and communities are carefully considered and addressed.
