Corowa BESS

Objection:
I write this submission as an individual long-term resident expressing my personal concerns regarding the proposed BESS.
Having just become aware of the submission period as it is about to close, I am disappointed that I was not aware of any of the mentioned opportunities for public engagement regarding the proposal. I suspect that most of the community will be in the same situation, and the number of submissions will be limited.
As a long-term volunteer of my local RFS brigade, having served 56 years of active service to date, I am extremely concerned by the fire risk presented by the proposal. This includes both the risk of a bushfire starting a fire in the BESS facility, and the BESS facility catching fire and starting a bushfire which burns into Corowa. Last fire season we had 2 extreme fires in close proximity to the proposed site. On 26 November 2025, on a day of intense westerly wind, a fire started west of Corona Road and burnt a substantial number of kilometres through to Whitehead Street just north of the proposed site at a pace I had not experience before. In fact, it moved so quickly that people in town were of the belief that there were multiple fires. Had the fire been slightly to the south, it would have gone straight through the proposed site. On 18 December 2025, on a day of both extreme heat and intense northerly wind, a fire was started on the eastern side of Whitehead Street, just to the south of the proposed site. Had this fire been on the western side of Whitehead Street, as is the proposed site, the consequences for the township of Corowa would have been devastating. With global warming these events are becoming more severe and more frequent.
I believe this proposed facility is far too close to Corowa and the substation. A BESS fire initiates a highly hazardous and self-sustaining chain reaction known as thermal runaway, creating intense heat, potentially explosive flammable gases, and toxic smoke containing hazardous vapours, including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen fluoride. These incidents often require specialized firefighting equipment and techniques, which I don’t believe are available in this area. Being positioned up against the substation, such an event would likely result in the substation being shut down and Corowa left without power while engulfed in toxic smoke. Toxic runoff from such an event would eventually reach the Murray River via the town’s drainage system. Any such facility should be located further from town and the substation.
BESS facilities are a relatively new technology so proper preparation for a catastrophic event is essential as the biggest mistake in life is to ignore risk in the belief that it is unlikely to happen. In my experience, if something can happen it will happen, it is just a case of when.
Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection and I look forward to your response.
Regards Rob Pearce

Has the location been assessed in relation to proximity to the bulk grain storage at the JBS Pork Stockfeed Mill on Honour Avenue? The storage bunkers are on the 1km boundary of the project area.
There is another energy project in the area (6.4km from project site), the Corowa Redlands JBS site has a 1.65MW Co-generation project registered as a power station under accreditation code BEBGNS33 with the Clean energy regulator. All power use is behind the meter. (Refer DA2005/381).

As a local to Corowa, I support the Corowa Battery Energy Storage System because it is a practical piece of regional energy infrastructure in the right location. The project would provide 100MW / 200MWh of storage capacity beside the existing Essential Energy Corowa Substation, allowing surplus renewable energy to be stored and released when the grid needs it. This matters because communities, businesses and essential services need a more reliable electricity system as coal-fired generation retires and more renewable energy enters the grid. The EIS also notes that the project could supply approximately 112,400 households for a two-hour period during full discharge, supporting both grid stability and regional energy security.

I also support the project because the EIS shows that the site has been selected and designed to avoid, minimise and manage impacts. The development footprint is relatively contained, located next to existing electricity infrastructure and designed with commitments including visual screening, a noise wall, bushfire protection measures, traffic upgrades, biodiversity no-go zones, flood freeboard and management plans. The EIS identifies that operational noise compliance is predicted at all non-associated receivers with the proposed noise wall, no Aboriginal cultural heritage sites were identified during field surveys, native vegetation and threatened species habitat have been avoided, and no biodiversity offset obligation is generated. These are important safeguards for nearby residents, landholders and environmental values.

The project should also be supported because it provides local and regional benefits while recognising that impacts must be managed over the life of the project. The EIS identifies construction employment, economic stimulus, community benefit sharing, a Neighbour Benefit Offer Program and a proposed Community Enhancement Fund. These commitments are important because regional communities should see clear local value from infrastructure that supports the broader energy transition. On balance, the project appears to align with NSW and regional planning objectives, makes sensible use of an already serviced location, and includes mitigation and monitoring measures that can be enforced through approval conditions.

I am writing to say I support the proposed Corowa Battery Energy Storage System.

I am just a local community member, not a technical expert, but from what I have read, this project seems like a sensible idea. We are using more renewable energy, and it makes sense to have proper battery storage so that power can be stored and used when it is needed.

The location also seems practical. It is close to the existing Corowa substation, so it is not being put in the middle of nowhere or somewhere that needs a lot of extra infrastructure. That seems like a good use of the site.

I also think the project could bring some real benefits to the area. The EIS says it would create construction jobs, support local economic activity, and include community benefit funding. That matters in a regional town. Projects like this should give something back to the local community, and it looks like this one is trying to do that.

I understand people may have concerns about things like noise, traffic, fire risk and how it will look. Those are fair concerns. But the EIS seems to deal with these issues through things like a noise wall, screen planting, road upgrades, flood protection and safety measures. I think those commitments should be followed through properly.

Overall, I think this is a good project for Corowa. It supports more reliable power, helps with the shift to renewable energy, and should bring some local benefits as well. I support the project being approved, as long as the promised safeguards and community benefits are delivered.

Please find enclosed my submission.

I support the project because it will provide important energy storage infrastructure for southern NSW. A 100 MW/200 MWh battery can help store energy when supply is high and release it when demand increases, improving grid reliability and supporting the better use of renewable energy in the region.
I also support the proposed location. The project is proposed near the existing Corowa Substation and high-voltage electricity network, on land that has previously been cleared and used for agriculture. This appears to make sensible use of existing infrastructure and helps reduce the need for unnecessary additional transmission works or broader land disturbance.
The project also has the potential to deliver local economic and community benefits. Flow Power has identified around 70 construction jobs, ongoing maintenance opportunities, a Neighbour Benefit Program for residents within 1km of the site, and a proposed Community Enhancement Fund. I support these initiatives and encourage the Department to require clear, enforceable commitments so that local workers, suppliers and residents receive practical benefits from the project.
Battery storage is a practical and necessary part of NSW’s energy transition. The Corowa BESS would help strengthen local grid reliability, support renewable energy generation and bring investment into the Federation Council area.

I support the proposed Corowa BESS project. As a 100MW/200MWh battery located near the existing Corowa Substation, the project is well placed to strengthen local grid reliability, store renewable energy when it is abundant, and release it when the network needs it most. This kind of infrastructure is practical, necessary and timely as NSW manages higher demand, ageing energy assets and the transition to more renewable generation. The project also appears to be a sensible use of land, with a relatively compact 2-3ha footprint and direct proximity to existing electricity infrastructure. That should help limit broader land-use impacts while making better use of the grid connection already in place. I also support the local economic benefits associated with the project, including construction activity, long-term operational roles, and proposed community benefits for the Federation Council area. I encourage the Department to approve the project, subject to appropriate conditions covering fire safety, noise, traffic management, visual screening, emergency response planning and ongoing community communication. On balance, the Corowa BESS is a strategic and practical project that can support energy security, put downward pressure on system costs over time, and help the region play a constructive role in NSW’s changing energy system.

Please see attached submission.

Wayne Wilson of 248 Whitehead Street, Corowa.
Project Corowa Battery Energy Storage System - SSD-87041214.
Please see Objection letter in attachments.