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State Significant Development

Determination

Calala Battery Energy Storage System.

Tamworth Regional

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Development of a 300 MW / 600 MWh battery storage system and associated infrastructure including grid connection.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Request for SEARs (11)

SEARs (1)

EIS (36)

Response to Submissions (16)

Agency Advice (38)

Amendments (11)

Additional Information (2)

Determination (3)

Approved Documents

There are no post approval documents available

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

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Enforcements

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Inspections

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Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

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Showing 1 - 20 of 27 submissions
Name Withheld
Object
Uarbry , New South Wales
Message
I cannot express strongly enough my objection to the destruction of our homes and lifestyles by these monstrosities, which have been proven time and again to be a monumental waste and a complete failure.
Name Withheld
Object
Uarbry , New South Wales
Message
I wholeheartedly object to everything about these so-called “renewable” energy “farms”. There is nothing renewable about them. They are purely about the destruction of our homes and lifestyles.
John McBratney
Object
Lancefied , Victoria
Message
CALALA BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM + Underground Transmission Lines connecting to Tamworth Substation plus Ancillary Works - SSD-52786213 OBJECTION Submission

I object strongly to this project on the unassailable solid engineering based ground that CALALA BESS is incapable of supporting solar and wind generation which cannot under any circumstances provide steady reliable power to a power grid. The inherent capacity factor averages around 30% and there is no known or potential generation technology anywhere in the world that can provide adequate fill-in generation for solar and wind systems, except coal, gas or nuclear based systems. Accordingly these system should not be built at huge expense to the public purse followed by vast ecological destruction during building and subsequently when these systems fail and hardware has to be disposed of.


Secondly I object strongly to these systems based upon the fact that they rely on mining by child slave labour in under-developed countries.
Australia should NOT support such reprehensible actions.


John McBratney B.Tech (Electronic Engineering)
Telecommunications Engineer
Name Withheld
Object
KOORINGAL , New South Wales
Message
I Object to CALALA BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM + Underground Transmission Lines connecting to Tamworth Substation plus Ancillary Works - SSD-52786213 as it is a total waste of public money - for unethical, toxic rubbish - that is part of a very contaminating, unhealthy & energy depriving Solar/Wind Nightmare that is extremely damaging to Australia.
It is essential that Australia prioritises reliable, affordable, Australian power instead of this incapable, dangerous FIRE RISK BESS that only lasts 7-10 years!
**THE DISTURBING REALITY OF COBALT MINING FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
“CLEAN COBALT IS A FICTION – THERE IS NO CLEAN COBALT - IT'S ALL MARKETING!”
https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/mining/harvard-professor-explains-heartwrenching-source-of-electric-vehicle-iphone-batteries/news-story/db881f47c76db89581409c092a740c4c
Joe Rogan exposes sad truth about cobalt used in electric vehicle, iPhone batteries |news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site.
Cobalt is in all iPhones, tablets & crucially EV's - it maximises charge & stability.
Before anyone knew what was happening the Chinese Government & Chinese companies took control of almost all of the big mines in the Congo, with the local population displaced & the Congolese people under duress - digging in subhuman, gut wrenching conditions - using all raw human force - clanking the cobalt out of the ground!
Throughout the whole history of slavery, never has there been more suffering that generated more profit than was linked to more lives of people around the world than what is happening today in the Congo - mining cobalt in appalling, heart wrenching & dangerous conditions.‘
Name Withheld
Object
LAKE ALBERT , New South Wales
Message
I OBJECT TO THIS JUNK CALALA BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM + Underground Transmission Lines connecting to Tamworth Substation plus Ancillary Works PLAN AS IT’S ALL BASED ON LIES & DECEPTION - JUST LIKE DODGY AEMO’s TOTALLY FUDGED, GENERATOR BENEFITING - CONSUMER RIP-OFF JUNK ISP!

MY FAMILY & I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS CONTAMINATING, ECOCIDAL, ENERGY POVERTY SWINDLE that’s part of the FAKE GREEN SOLAR/WIND GRIFT & PONZI SCHEME/SCAM THAT’S CRUELLY TORTURING EVERYDAY AUSTRALIANS WITH GOVERNMENT INFLICTED COST OF LIVING CRISIS!

WE NEED TO TAKE A CHAINSAW TO THE EVIL BUREAUCRACY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DELUSIONAL, DESTRUCTIVE, ANTI-AUSTRALIAN AGENDA - OFFERING US THE WORLD & PAYING US WITH TRASH!!

References:
TWO NEW PRECEDENTS HAVE BEEN SET by Oxley Bridge Rd Uranquinty Solar Determination 24th Nov 2022 - NEW MODERN SLAVERY CONDITION & AMENDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (re CONTAMINATION.)

**Professor Ian Plimer's 3 minute presentation regarding Solar Panel Contamination Risks.
PPSSTH-149 - DA22/0122 - 1268 Oxley Bridge Road Uranquinty 2652
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planning-panel/electricity-generating-works-solar-farm-8

**Hail Storm Photos & Industrialised Solar Contamination Risk to Our Reliably Productive Food Bowl at Bomen, Wagga Wagga Photo are included via this link also - the Hail Stones & some of the Fractured Solar Panels from the damaging 31st Oct 2020 event that left masses of broken Solar panels in situ for a shocking 10 - 11 months without Due Care - with some panels still remaining fractured & leaching contaminating heavy metals years later!

1. NEW MODERN SLAVERY CONDITION- requiring proof prior to construction that NO Slave Labour supply chain components be used in construction.
**New Condition Inserted C4A - Dealing With Modern Slavery.
Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018

*NSW Local Council Act 1993
428 Annual Report
438 ZE Duty to Ensure Goods & Services Are Not Procured From Modern Slavery.

This applies to all NSW Government Bodies - including Councils - for those who Host, Procure or have a Power Purchase Agreement with Solar/Wind Energy Generation/BESS whose construction has used Modern Slavery Supply Chain Sourced Components
eg. City of Sydney, the Opera House, Kiama, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour Councils & Westpac, etc. have an unethical PPA with Spark Infrastructure’s Xinjiang Jinko Solar based Bomen Solar - unethically Hosted by Wagga City Council.
REROC has an unethical PPA with Iberdrola - with Xinjiang JA Solar based Avonlie Solar - unethically Hosted by Narrandera Shire.

2. AMENDED STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CONDITION re-CONTAMINATION – QUALIFIED TESTING/REPORTING, CONTAMINATION RESPONSE PROCEDURE, etc.

**Amended Condition C8.
Prior to Commencement of Any Works - Storm Water Management Plan.
On Site & Discharge From the Site.
Testing Points & Regular Water Samples, Suitably Qualified Person.
Written Response Procedures if CONTAMINATION is Found - required PRIOR to CONSTRUCTION.
Availability of Results.
……………………………..

Dr James Cockayne
NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner
M: +61 0455 255 453
[email protected]

Carolyn Kitto ‘Be Slavery Free’
Ph: 0438 040 959
[email protected]

Ramila Chanisheff
Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women's Association - AUTWA
University of S.A
Ph: 0461 402 531 706
[email protected]
---------------------------------

Slave Labour Supply Chains
Missing Information Thwarts Ethical Sourcing
Murphy and Crawford’s report, Over-Exposed: Uyghur Region Exposure Assessment for Solar Industry Sourcing

**The graphs indicating companies & solar panels connected to Xinjiang are in the following 2 links:-
https://desdemonadespair.net/2021/05/forced-labor-from-chinas-uighur-muslims-behind-global-supply-of-solar-panels.html

**Xinjiang Solar Panels - Uyghur Slave Labour/Concentration Camps/Genocide - 'In Broad Daylight' - Professor Laura Murphy
https://www.shu.ac.uk/-/media/home/research/helena-kennedy-centre/projects/pdfs/evidence-base/in-broad-daylight.pdf

**The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/2022-08-31/22-08-31-final-assesment.pdf

**Australia ratifies International Forced Labour Protocol | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Women Marise Payne
https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/australia-ratifies-international-forced-labour-protocol

**Implementation of the Magnitsky Act is another avenue to ensure this shamefully unethical industry is not exploited in Australia.

**BLOOD BATTERIES - THE DARK SIDE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES - Gravitas Plus YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RFHvq-8np1o

**THE DISTURBING REALITY OF COBALT MINING FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
“CLEAN COBALT IS A FICTION – THERE IS NO CLEAN COBALT - IT'S ALL MARKETING!”
People need to get educated so they are agitated about it enough to do something to change this.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/mining/harvard-professor-explains-heartwrenching-source-of-electric-vehicle-iphone-batteries/news-story/db881f47c76db89581409c092a740c4c
Joe Rogan exposes sad truth about cobalt used in electric vehicle, iPhone batteries |news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site.
Cobalt is in all iPhones, tablets & crucially EV's - it maximises charge & stability.
Before anyone knew what was happening the Chinese Government & Chinese companies took control of almost all of the big mines in the Congo, with the local population displaced & the Congolese people under duress - digging in subhuman, gut wrenching conditions - using all raw human force - clanking the cobalt out of the ground!
Throughout the whole history of slavery, never has there been more suffering that generated more profit than was linked to more lives of people around the world than what is happening today in the Congo - mining cobalt in appalling, heart wrenching & dangerous conditions.
…………………
**Sediment Run-Off Contaminating Land/Water - Court Case -
“Created, Operated, and Maintained a Nuisance”
Solar farm runoff pollutes property, couple awarded $135 million - CFACT
https://www.cfact.org/2023/06/06/solar-farm-runoff-pollutes-property-couple-awarded-135-million/
By Bonner Cohen, Ph. D. |June 6th, 2023
25th Oct 2023 update …A federal judge has dramatically reduced a jury’s $135 million award to a Georgia couple (https://www.ajc.com/news/couple-awarded-135m-after-solar-project-turns-their-lake-to-mud-hole/BZ6BYXQREJCDROQV6ZASUW5WOI/) whose property was fouled by muddy runoff from a solar project next door down to $5 million, after objections from the plaintiffs in the case.
In an order issued Monday in the Middle District of Georgia, Judge Clay D. Land wrote that the punitive damages awarded to the couple were worth many magnitudes more than the property that was damaged, and therefore were excessive.

**The Starting Step for the Production Of Pure Silicon....SiO2 + C -> Si + CO2 ....IS the Heart of the Solar Panel!

**Every step in the production of Solar PV power systems requires an input of fossil fuels - as the carbon reductants needed for smelting silicon from ore, to provide manufacturing process heat and power, for the intercontinental transport of materials, and for on-site deployment.
https://www.azbackroads.com/around-the-west/rangefire-massive-amounts-of-coal-and-wood-must-be-burned-to-create-solar-panels/

**200 Million Tonnes of Toxic Solar Panels Destined For Landfills Near You
stopthesethings.com

**SARET Research - Fire and Rescue NSW have NO IDEA How to Deal With RISKY RenewaBULL Experiments - YET This TOXIC MORAL HAZARD is Deliberately Forced on us by the Dodgy, Deceitful DPE & Complicit IPCN!
https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9402
“There is a general lack of guidance and provisions in building codes, standards, and legislation in relation to safety to address the potential risks from these emerging technologies. Part of the problem is that we do not yet know enough about their probability of failure, their mechanisms of failure and potential consequences of failure.”

**The 'Sunk Cost' Trickery That Makes Renewables Seem Cheaper Than They Are - 23rd July 2023.
https://www.fresheconomicthinking.com/p/the-sunk-cost-trickery-that-makes?utm_medium=web
AIDAN MORRISON
How CSIRO justifies the exclusions: “Sunk Cost”
But wait, this deception is so brazen and transparent…….
All of these tens of billions of dollars of projects are explicitly excluded from the cost of integrating renewables.

**The $10 billion cabal of renewable subsidies killing coal - Alan Moran - 24th July 2023
https://www.regulationeconomics.com/_files/ugd/b6987c_a76d14823d6342a298b70841f99b7f71.pdf
Janet Norton
Object
Armidale , New South Wales
Message
I object to battery storage as an ill conceived, polluting, short term and costly solution to our energy needs in Australia. The unreliability of wind and solar power generation should not be propped up with more infrastructure that is clumsy and expensive.
There are far better ways to reduce carbon emissions in Australia, we only have to look at other options being used around the world, and even come up with some that have some local ingenuity and use Australian resources.
Name Withheld
Object
WARRAWEE , New South Wales
Message
I object on the basis that adjoining owners cannot get Public Liability Insurance which would cover the cost of fire damage to the BESS installation in the event of a fire sourced at neighbouring properties.

SOLAR FARMS AND PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
HANSARD 29/11/23
Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (11:35): My question is directed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. Farmers with properties adjacent to solar farms across the State, including those in Glanmire recently, have been refused public liability insurance due to the potential damage from fire. As the Minister with responsibility for insurance, what steps has he taken to address the issue?

There is also a significant risk to the community if a fire is sourced at the BESS installation. See attached Final SA-15-23 Solar Farm Fires
Attachments
Sally Edwards
Object
Coolah , New South Wales
Message
Please find attached my objection, thank you for considering my objection concerns.
Attachments
Climate and Energy Realists Queensland
Object
BUNDALL , Queensland
Message
Lithium batteries are dangerous and toxic if they combust, as demonstrated by the Bouldercombe fire recently. They provide back-up measured in minutes, not hours, and will be totally inefficient in the case of a major power outage.
A Cairns
Object
GUYRA , New South Wales
Message
Right.
Cease and Desist all BESS immediately, and you Should know Why, and I need to know Why you are continuing with BESS as a Toxic Future to our Catchments, Nb, Catchments, you have NOT included in EIS research, why, government, why?
God is Our Creator, are you aware, gov.au ?
God made Creation Wondrous and nearly gone, as the Rat Race Humanity Worsen Nb Worsen, so much Worsen Catchments, worldwide.
God Made All Creation. A human once had a place in a Continent of Ancient and Ancient Sacred Land , once Wetlands, very Wet, continually they Were, Nb Were, until the Invasion of white way Take Away Creation ways of Land management began to Impact a Dry Continent's Catchments, almost All to this day, 13th Dec 2023.
Sacred Was the Peel Valley. Was. It has no way to Heal in a world of ignorant Humanity, Ignorant Humanity, Unaware its Harm and Loss To All Life is Continuing, sadly, it is. ACDC took away Intelligence worldwide. Einstein please come back and Help us Change . Einstein Revered Nature. Prior to ACDC he had Intelligence of Super Natural type. He Revered Nature. Observed Nature. Created formulas From Nature, NB. Prior to a Hideous Invasion by the English there were Highly Intelligent Humanity upon a Dry Continent, living in Harmony with it. These Highly Intelligent Humanity had a Kind Way of living upon a Dry Continent, Honoured and Respected each and every day. They got Killed because the Unintelligent Invaders of English decent NB had No understanding of Intelligence , and Still Don't, sadly.
The current human has No intelligence at all now. It has No intelligence at all now.
It is Harming and Causing Loss to Life on Earth, Still. Worsening the harm and Loss To Life , Still. Won't Wake Up. Won't. Can't, no. Won't. Money Talks in a world Losing Respect for Life itself, yes, sadly, yes.
Ban BESS Now.
Cease and Desist BESS Now.
Now.
Use Rooftops and No More Harm and Loss there will be to our Vital Catchments, Namoi they are here, in Calala, Tamworth, a place I grew up in, please NB.
The Issue is ACDC and Transmission Lines and Now BESS, Toxic, yet Allowed by our Government, why ?
In the attachment I have cut a Map for you of Calala Burgess Lane region i View in the Physical NB in the Physical, not Virtual, Nb not Virtual NB, not Virtual, Nb.
The Hideous Tamworth Council are hideous to their people they have built homes near power lines 330kv ? Unsure, but I can Sense the Field of Harm these Powerlines are Impacting the Tamworth enlargening population, exposed to Overhead, NB overhead power lines through Calala. I can sense Fields of Harm. Harm. Harm. Electrical ACDC Unnatural Fields of Harm , I need Ceasing by End 2022. Underground WAS our power but not now, hm, government, hm, why ? I Do need you under Investigation because you will not place Powerlines Underground. Excuses excuses excuses that will Cost in other ways, eg Health, Mental Health, Catchment Health, and Environmental Health, impacted by powerlines , all. Cost is Not an issue but Care is, gov.au. How about it, please government, offering Care To The All On Country.
Right. The Map in the attachment please View.
Streets I name where Fields of Harm from the Powerline IN A Subdivision, NEW NB NEW in Calala, Tamworth , reach NB reach to these Streets I know. I know. I have lived in Tamworth. Born there.
I lived in Johnstone Street. The powerlines reach here, the ones in Calala, in a Subdivision , New. How Disgraceful are Planners in government. You need to be in Jail, yes you do.
Marathon St, where Westdale Primary School is. The powerlines reach here, the ones in Calala.
Include Nemingha into Tintinhull Rd , into Porcupine Lane I journey on often. Yes Often. Porcupine lane area is within the reach of Fields of Harm from the Power Lines Through Calala, where a NEW Subdivision is. It is the higher areas around Porcupine Lane only. The higher areas. Higher.
To Kerridale Rd, off Nundle Rd are the Fields of Harm from the powerlines in Calala, where a NEW Subdivision is.
To Heath Rd, Duri, the Fields of Harm reach from the Calala power lines , OVER head NB. Put them Underground, and Do it please, government, please. Let us Journey toward the Care for Country Care To The All On Country Future from NOw, Please government, all Departments, and Mostly, despicable DPIE I need Educated. Educated.
View the Attachment. It has the main Submission as a Protest Against BESS, Toxic to Catchments, NB.

I Vehemently, Vehemently, Vehemently OBJECT to BESS and the Renewables Future I can plan toward Rooftops, please, government, please, government, please, government.
Care for Country and care To The All On Country and Cease and Desist BESS Immediately, and it is Immediately, and it is.
How Dare You, gov.au, continue with BESS , a Toxic Future you Should Know about.
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
FORESTVILLE , New South Wales
Message
I object to solar, wind and battery projects. In my opinion, they will do far more damage to the environment than coal, oil and gas ever did. Beautiful farmland is being destroyed by these toxic projects with no regard to the lasting damage they will do when they no longer work. Toxic chemicals seeping into the land, birds, insects, etc. being killed by wind turbine blades, it is frightening.
BILLIE SPANSWICK
Object
CALALA , New South Wales
Message
Please see attached objection letter
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
DEE WHY , New South Wales
Message
I object to this project. The cost of converting to renewable energy is astronomical and we simply cannot afford it. It is also obvious that there is no way the world has enough materials to achieve the goal of green energy. We must also consider the fact that we are able to produce more food more cheaply and efficiently because of fossil fuels and until we have a viable alternative we should continue the way we are. I do not believe the science backs up the supposed benefits of renewable energy. We do not want to become a third world country because of our ideological stupidity. We have beautiful agricultural land being covered by unsightly solar panels and wind turbines which incredibly contain materials made from fossil fuels, the very things they seek to replace! Koalas and other native animal habitats are being destroyed to make way for these projects not to mention the birds, insects, etc. killed by the wind turbines. How is that greening Australia? Fossil fuel industries have contributed huge taxes to fund our country’s schools, police, hospitals, NDIS, etc., how will we be able to fund them without these taxes? I think we all want a cleaner, greener environment but not at the risk of destroying our countryside and our way of life.
Name Withheld
Object
COLLAROY , New South Wales
Message
I strongly object to this project. I am all for saving the planet but this project, along with many others, is not the answer. We don’t seem to care about the insects, magnificent birds, etc. that are being killed by wind turbine blades. Solar panels are taking over much needed farming land and from my understanding, solar panels and wind turbines have a certain amount of fossil fuel derived components in them anyway so what’s the benefit? Let’s go nuclear.
Name Withheld
Object
MAYFIELD WEST , New South Wales
Message
I object to the whole renewable energy saga. Wind turbines and solar panels contain steel which is made from coal – what’s renewable about that? What happens to them after their useful life – are they dumped in landfill? They are a blight on the landscape and taking valuable agricultural land which should be used for growing food. Our agricultural exports are worth about $80bn annually. Quoting from a recent article in the Australian "Each year, on average, each Australian farmer feeds 150 of their fellow countrymen and 450 of their allies overseas." I've no doubt the $80bn of exports contributes to supporting the NDIS, schools, hospitals, etc. Australia's agricultural industries are world leading. We must not jeopardize this
Name Withheld
Object
OLD TOONGABBIE , New South Wales
Message
I object to these renewable projects. My understanding is that there are so many toxic materials in batteries, often mined in poor countries by little children. I also believe toxic materials are found in wind turbines and solar panels which is so bad for the environment. I have seen reports of wind turbines and solar panels being dumped in landfill when they are past their use by date which is incredibly harmful to the environment and will leave that land useless for many years to come. No, No, No - Stop them now!
GMR energy
Comment
Sydney , New South Wales
Message
Hi Calala BESS,

Great project. I have two questions that are being asked from GMR.

1) As projects are close to each other, in terms of noise, GMR is curious to verify if Calala BESS 's annoying characteristics of the equipment have been assessed, and where is this outlined in this project's EIS noise report.
i.e. Was the penalty (+ 5dB(A)) been applied to the predicted levels to account for annoying characteristics of the equipment?

2) We have been advised by a gov agency that our BESS container units connected to the inverter must be min 2.4m apart (despite our additional mechanical controls in place to mitigate fire). Can you reference which site plan has the annotation to confirm this is the general case these days?
Name Withheld
Object
Coolah , New South Wales
Message
The developer will profit.

The consumer will pay.

The environment will be permanently damaged.

Our electricity will be unreliable and unaffordable.

This project is toxic.
Name Withheld
Object
COOLAH , New South Wales
Message
I object to the Calala BESS - SSD-52786213

BESS batteries use lead, lithium and cobalt, all of which are hazardous materials. This is of much concern to residents and the community as ordinary fire suppression measures cannot extinguish a Lithium chemical reaction fire. A fire that occurred in the 350MW/450MWh BESS during testing on 30 July 2021 in Geelong, Victoria shows how dangerous it can be for nearby residents. When one of the 13 tonne battery packs caught fire, it burned for three days and resulted in the evacuation of residents because of the toxic fumes generated.

I urge DPE to listen to those most heavily impacted by this project and to consider the cumulative impact on the district by multiple developments. This project should be rejected.
Name Withheld
Object
DEE WHY , New South Wales
Message
I object to this unnecessary, unreliable, non-base load power source that is expensive and pays scant attention to damaged fauna habitat. I urge the Government to go nuclear hitched up to the existing grid. We will eventually go nuclear so why not now?

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-52786213
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Electricity supply
Local Government Areas
Tamworth Regional
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
Executive Director

Contact Planner

Name
Pragya Mathema