MALLEE ENERGY HUB

OVERVIEW

A hybrid wind, solar, and battery storage energy hub supporting the transition to a reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable electricity future.

The Mallee Energy Hub is a renewable energy development including wind, solar and battery energy storage projects located in the Wentworth Shire of New South Wales, on the traditional Mallee country land of the Paakantji (Barkandji), Latji Latji, Muthi Muthi, and Yitha Yitha people.

Once constructed the projects would power up to 400,000 Australian homes each year, offsetting the emission of more than 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Status:
Environmental Impact and Social Impact Assessment susbmission and exhibition (Mallee Wind Farm)

Houses powered annually:
~400,000*

Emission offset annually:
~1.7 million tonnes of CO₂**

Location:
Wentworth Shire, NSW
The land of the Paakantji (Barkandji), Latji Latji, Muthi Muthi, and Yitha Yitha people

* Based on household consumption of 6,700 kWh/year

** Based on Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factor, 0.65 kgCO₂/kWh

Generation capacity:
Wind farm: up to 400 MW
Solar farm: up to 600 MW

Battery storage:
Up to 100 MW

Grid connection:
Via 220 or 330kV
transmission infrastructure

Wind turbine generators:
Up to 76

Jobs:
~400 construction
~30 during operations

Developer

The proposed project is being developed by Spark Renewables, one of Australia’s leading developers and long-term owners of renewable energy generation assets. Read more about us and our team.

LOCATION

The Mallee Energy Hub is located ~16 km to the north-east of Buronga, on the traditional lands of the Paakantji (Barkandji), Latji Latji, Muthi Muthi, and Yitha Yitha peoples.

The site has an excellent wind resource, and the proposed locations for turbines and solar farm infrastructure are on relatively flat, cleared land.

After conducting transmission capacity studies, consulting with landholders, and working to avoid native vegetation and Aboriginal sites, as well as adopting broader principles for impact avoidance and minimisation, the maximum number of wind turbines to be proposed at the Mallee Wind Farm was reduced from 150 to 76.

These turbine locations will integrate seamlessly with existing agricultural activities, allowing for multiple land uses, also known as "agrivoltaics". Additionally, the area has a very low housing density, with the nearest towns located about 13 km and 16 km from the closest turbine site.

CONSULTATION & PLANNING

Project status: EIS and SIA for the Mallee Wind Farm

The proposed projects in the Mallee Energy Hub - Mallee Wind Farm with a battery energy storage system, and Mallee Solar Farm - are considered State Significant Development under NSW planning legislation. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) will assess the development application documents and the consent authority will be the Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission.

For the Mallee Wind Farm, a Scoping Report, which is a formal request to the DPHI to issue its requirements known as Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), was submitted in January 2023 and the SEARs issued in February 2023.

The SEARs will need to be addressed in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A key component of the EIS is the Social Impact Assessment (SIA).

An EIS for the Mallee Wind Farm was lodged with the Department in November 2024. A summary of Mallee Wind Farm EIS studies is also included in the Project Factsheet. The EIS for the Mallee Wind Farm will be available to view on the DPHI website here.

Information session

 

Meet the team, view materials and ask questions about the EIS prepared for the Mallee Wind Farm at the next face-to-face information session at:
📍Midway Centre, 6 Midway Drive, Buronga
📅 on 28 November 2024
🕒 from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

If you wish to set up a one-on-one meeting or call with Spark Renewables, please email info@malleewindfarm.com or leave a voicemail at 1300 271 419.

Formal NSW planning process

We are here
Proposal announced ✓

To industry, government and community

Scoping reports ✓

Community consultation and preliminary technical studies 

SEARs issued ✓

Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements

EIS and SIA preparation ✓

Community engagement and technical studies to inform the EIS and SIA

EIS submission and exhibition

Public exhibition for agency and community comment

Response to submissions

Addressing comments and issues raised about the EIS in a "Response to Submissions" report

Assessing the proposal

Assessment by the Department of Planning & Environment

Determination

The Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission decides the proposal

Community consultation

As part of the planning and development process, we are undertaking extensive consultation with the community, stakeholders and Traditional Custodians of the land. The consultation will take place via community drop-in sessions, community briefings, surveys, one-on-one meetings, newsletters, our project website, and social media. We encourage all stakeholders and community members to get involved. Find out more and have your say:

  • Sign up to newsletters.
  • Request a one-on-one meeting or call.
  • Provide feedback via surveys.
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWS
HAVE YOUR SAY

OUR APPROACH

Member of the CEC

Spark Renewables is a member of the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and a signatory to the Clean Energy Council’s Community Engagement Best Practice Charter. Our team members participate in the Council's various working groups, including community engagement and social licence, and risks of modern slavery, as well as industry directorates on wind, solar PV, large-scale storage and renewable hydrogen.

First Nations Participation Plan

We are committed to working with the Traditional Custodians of the land to ensure the project minimises heritage impacts whilst maximising opportunities for education, training and employment. We will set goals as part of an Industry and First Nations Participation Plan.

Community benefit-sharing

We believe in sharing the benefits of our projects with the communities we operate in. We will establish a community benefit sharing program for the life of the project to provide social and environmental support to the local community, with the location-based delivery at the heart of the approach. The program will include a substantial community fund as well as a neighbour benefit scheme.

 Jobs & training

We prioritise the local procurement of goods and services and engagement and training of local workers wherever possible. We expect more than 500 jobs to be created during the construction phase of Mallee Wind Farm, with 40-50 jobs created during its operational life.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

TIMELINE

Initial identification completed, consultation ongoing

Step 1 - complete

Project identification ✔

Initial identification completed, consultation ongoing

2022-2023

Step 2

Community Consultation and Preliminary Studies ✔

2022-2023

2024

Step 3 - in progress

Submission and exhibition of Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement

2024

2025

Step 4

Development consent

2025

2026

Step 5

Financial investment decision

2026

2026-2027

Step 6

Construction

2026-2027

2027 onwards

Step 7

Operations

2027 onwards

PROJECT DOCUMENTS & MATERIALS

Visit the NSW DPHI portal to view all the planning documents.

  • Mallee Wind Farm (DPHI website)
  • Mallee Wind Farm Scoping Report
  • Community Newsletter 1
  • Community Newsletter 2
  • Community Newsletter 3
  • Community Newsletter 4
  • Community Newsletter 5
  • Posters (2022)
  • Map of Investigation Area