State Significant Development
Hills of Gold Wind Farm.
Liverpool Plains Shire
Current Status: Determination
Interact with the stages for their names
- SEARs
- Prepare EIS
- Exhibition
- Collate Submissions
- Response to Submissions
- Assessment
- Recommendation
- Determination
A wind farm and associated infrastructure located 50 km south-east of Tamworth and 8 km south of Nundle, comprising up to 70 wind turbines, battery storage and grid connection. IPC link: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/
Attachments & Resources
Notice of Exhibition (2)
Request for SEARs (7)
SEARs (2)
EIS (41)
Response to Submissions (17)
Agency Advice (26)
Amendments (52)
Additional Information (19)
Recommendation (6)
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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Make a ComplaintEnforcements
There are no enforcements for this project.
Inspections
31/10/2024
Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.
Submissions
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
The environmental impact of this project is staggeringly under estimated by excluding extensive alleged illegal land clearing that has been undertaken in recent years across the proposed development site, on land owned by the primary beneficiary of this project. The fact that these impacts are not included the EIS is deceptive and misleading. It is astounding that these alleged illegal land clearing activities can be undertaken with total disregard for the EIS required as part of a State Significant Development.
The lack of attention to the impacts on the Chaffey Dam water catchment are confounding. The proposed site takes in approximately 50% of the perimeter of the catchment for Chaffey Dam which is the main source of drinking water for the 50,000 residents of Tamworth downstream, amongst other users. The long term impacts of these activities must be understood and to proceed without due consideration is grossly negligent.
Ben Halls Gap National Park is a closed access park for very good reasons, including the "over-riding need to protect the park’s conservation values", to protect the endangered sphagnum moss cool temperate rainforest community and to protect other threatened native plant, animal species and insects . Increased traffic into surrounding areas will compromise the ability to conserve and protect this extremely sensitive environment for future generations.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Daniel Goodall
Support
Daniel Goodall
Message
Whilst some may argue that this project will see a decline in tourism, others including myself will suggest that the novelty and attention this project is getting will actually see an increase in tourist trade and strengthen long term viability and economic standing of the Nundle and Hanging Rock communities.
The project is well positioned to support the forthcoming decommissioning of Liddel power station. This project solves an power supply issue and long term sustainability and provides an environmentally friendly power source replacement.
The hills proposed for the placement of turbines are perfectly positioned for maximum power generation.
Fully supportive of the project and very much hope for it to go ahead.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
After due thought I have decided that the turbines which are planned for the mountains, part of the Great DivIding Range,overlooking the beautiful Timor /Green creek valley , with their impact requiring denuding the trees on the mountain tops .. Massive clearing required.
They are part of a ring of mountains, remains of an ancient volcano visible from a high point on the road coming from Murrurundi ....what a pity !! They look magnificent after a snow fall ..attracts people from miles around .
Also the impact upon the beautiful eagles ...already threatened by the environment,so few remaining .
So I wish to register my strong objection to this wind farm
I am in favour of wind farms but feel this is not an appropriate location - in this pristine area.
Gennie Purcell
Support
Gennie Purcell
Message
Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Message
James Smith
Object
James Smith
Message
Sam Robertson
Support
Sam Robertson
Message
Misinformation spread by the likes of Barnaby Joyce about the shortfallls of renewable energy compared to fossil fuels needs to be carefully scrutinised
Kattie Sheridan
Support
Kattie Sheridan
Message
Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Message
1.The project will produce 1,100 gigawatt hrs of clean renewable energy.
This is important because Australia is one of the countries most prone to the adverse effects of Climate Change
so a reduction in the production of green house gases is imperative.
The polluting, green house gas producing Liddell Power Station will close down in 2023 and NSW will need more supplies of renewable energy such as the Hills of Gold Wind Farm to replace Liddell and other coal fired power stations which are due to close within this decade.
This project will assist NSW in its aim to become carbon neutral by 2050
2. The Project is situated very close to the existing Liddell to Tamworth transmission line.
The Project's substation will be approximately 18.8 km from this transmission line.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to support this essential project.w
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Please see my attached submission, which I hope will clearly convince you of the need to reject this Project and call for any unauthorised land clearing of vegetation (which includes threatened/endangered species habitats) to be ceased immediately.
Thank you for your understanding.
Attachments
Anthony Seymour
Object
Anthony Seymour
Message
Attachments
Brenda Gerrie
Object
Brenda Gerrie
Message
Attachments
Brenda Gerrie
Object
Brenda Gerrie
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
The region is unique with natural, cultural and historic significance. The ecosystems in the region are fragile.
There are sites of importance to Aboriginal and early European history including the gold digging.
There is strong opposition by the local community who feel that they have not been adequately consulted. At public hearing voices of dissent were muzzled or dismissed.
Neighbours impacted by the wind farm have not been consulted fully, nor had their concerns addressed nor have they been adequately compensated.
There are issues on the impact of construction. This includes road access to get the machinery to the sites that would need to be constructed to get the towers in situ.
The visual impact is significant in an area of natural beauty.
The environmental impacts of the wind farm have not been fully assessed. The impacts on the Headwaters of the Peel River that supply Tamworth and the region with their water supply. The long term impacts on wild life and even the possibilities of impacting the microclimate of the region needs to be taken into account.
The proposed developers of the site who have been negotiating with the communities and authorities have already sold the project on.This raises the issue of accountability.
The question of end of life management of removal of the towers when they reach their use by date need to be specified.
The benefits to the community do not match the costs and loss of amenity . The community feel that their views have not been fully considered.
In conclusion there are many reasons to deny this development project. The most significant is the community opposition and the lack of community benefits. I oppose this project.
Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Message
Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Message
Peter York
Object
Peter York
Message
My objections are as follows and project should not be given approval.
The windfarm will cause significant visual impacts to the Historical village of Nundle. The sense of place and beauty of the area will be destroyed forever. I am a regular visitor to the Nundle and Hanging Rock area.
Traffic Impacts along the proposed transport route through Muswellbrook LGA along Wybong, Kayuga and Dartbrook Roads. These roads are not suitable for oversize and long loads. These roads are also very busy during shift change with mine workers using these roads when oversize loads are expected to be using these minor roads. Even with significant modifications the roads are not suitable. A condition should be imposed that the ENGIE contribute to road network upgrades within the Muswellbrook Shire LGA transport route. From my review of the ENGIE Engagement Register, No Consultation has occurred with Muswellbrook Shire Council, which is a concern.
Decommissioning - There is no protection for the community of Nundle if ENGIE become insolvent. The responsibility and liability for decommissioning sits with the landholder and it is very unlikely they will have the resourcing or funds to pull down and rehabilitate the site in 20 years time. A condition needs to be imposed the require ENGIE to have a decommissioning fund held within DPIE to ensure the community is not left with any legacy issues. It is likely that the Host landholder agreements are inadequate to deal with this liability and the total funds received by the land holder for hosting turbines would not cover the full decommissioning and rehabilitation cost of the site.
There should also be estimate rehabilitation cost calculations for the site included in EIS. This has not been considered by ENGIE.
DPIE need to review the Host Landholder Agreements to ensure they are adequate with regards to decommissioning costs. A copy of the Host Landholder Agreements should be included in the EIS as ENGIE has done with the Neighbour Agreement.
Regards
Peter York
Maureen Eagles
Object
Maureen Eagles
Message
This submission deals with the following objections:
-lack of assessment or independent study to ensure the protection of the hydrology, in particular the first order water courses within the Project area.
-the unacceptable risk to the endangered Booroolong Frog, due to erosion that will affect its water quality source and hence its survival.
- the lack of consultation with the Timor community about water usage and impact of 55ML use of water by this Project on the existing community
-the lack of any mention of over-sighting of potential water licenses and usage by the Proponent for a commercial project in agricultural land.
-the lack of any meaningful consultation as required under SEARs with relevant Agencies or community, concerned with soils and water.
-the lack of any assessment at all on the karst environment and the unacceptable risk of erosion and silting in the cave systems with protects 7 species of identified threatened bats