Mallee Wind Farm

A hybrid wind and battery storage energy project supporting the transition to a reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable electricity future would enable reliable, clean power to be dispatched to the National Electricity Market, offsetting carbon emission from ageing fossil fuel generators.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The proposed 400 megawatt (MW) Mallee Wind Farm would include up to 76 wind turbines and be co-located with a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), providing enough clean, reliable energy to power over 200,000 Australian homes annually. 

The project is located on the traditional Country of the Barkandji people. We recognise and respect the continuing cultural connections of Barkandji, Mutthi Mutthi, Ngiyampaa and Latji Latji peoples to the project area and surrounding cultural landscape. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Latest updates

Read the latest community newsletter here.

Wind farm and BESS capacity
Proposed approximate

Capacity

400 MW wind farm and 100 MW / 200 MWh BESS

Direct jobs during construcion and operations
Direct jobs

Construction & operations

Up to 225 during construction and 30 in operations

Connection to grid via kVa
Grid

Connection

via 220 kV or 330 kV transmission infrastructure

Benefit sharing funds over 30 years
Benefit-sharing fund

Annual direct payments

$420,000 during construction and operations*

Houses powered
Houses

powered

209,000 annually**

*  Based on 400 MW capacity
** Based on household consumption of 6.7 MWh per annum

Mallee Wind Farm 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 Wind Farm is located ~16 km to the north-east of Buronga, on the traditional Country of the Barkandji people.

The site has an excellent wind resource, and the proposed locations for turbines and associated 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. 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: Response to Submissions for the Mallee Wind Farm lodged

The proposed Mallee Wind Farm with a battery energy storage system is 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.

A Scoping Report was submitted in January 2023, requesting the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the Mallee Wind Farm from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). The SEARs were issued in February 2023.

The SEARs were 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 the Mallee Wind Farm EIS is also included in the Project Factsheet.

The Response to Submissions was submitted in April 2026 and can be viewed on the DPHI website here.

Formal NSW planning process of the Mallee Wind Farm

Application number SSD-53293710
We are here
Proposal announced ✓

To industry, government and community

Scoping report ✓

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, Housing and Infrastructure

Determination

The Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission determines 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.
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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 up to 225 direct jobs to be created during the construction phase of the Mallee Wind Farm, with ~30 jobs created during its operational life.

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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

Submission and exhibition of Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement ✔

2024

2025-2026

Step 4 - in progress

Response to Submissions ✔
Development consent

2025-2026

2027

Step 5

Financial investment decision

2027

2028

Step 6

Construction

2028

2029 onwards

Step 7

Operations

2029 onwards