The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission has issued a conditional approval for the construction of a 215MW solar park in the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Australian state.
The AUD 370-million (USD 242.6m/EUR 225.5m) Oxley Solar Park, designated as a state significant development, will be located approximately 14 km southeast of Armidale and will include a battery energy storage facility of 50MW/50MWh.
Despite public meetings and community feedback expressing concerns about visual impact, proximity to a national park and the Gara River, potential effects on birdlife, and the risk of exploding batteries, the Planning Commission deemed the Oxley project “in the public interest.” The approval comes with a set of strict conditions addressing these concerns, including an updated and detailed landscape plan, additional on-site vegetation, and land rehabilitation. Regular monitoring and reporting requirements have also been stipulated.
Featuring around 385,280 solar panels, the Oxley solar park aims to generate electricity for approximately 78,000 average homes annually. The construction of the facility is anticipated to create approximately 300 jobs.
