MATES GULLY SOLAR FARM

ABOUT THE PROJECT

A new solar farm supporting sustainable farming to provide clean, renewable energy in the heart of the Riverina region of Country NSW.

Mates Gully Solar Farm is a proposed 160 megawatt (MW) solar and battery development ~30 km east of Wagga Wagga in NSW, on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people.

The proposal includes a containerised battery energy storage system, which would be capable of exporting up to 300 MWh of electricity, on demand, over a two-hour period.

It would create more than 200 jobs during construction, and once operational, it would have the capacity to power ~90,000 Australian homes. The site would be optimised to support the productivity of the land through co-existence of solar and agricultural activities.

Status:
Scoping Report submitted
SEARs issued

Houses powered annually:
~ 90,000

Emission offset annually:
~ 300,000 tonnes of CO₂

Location:
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people

Generation capacity:
~ 160 MW

Solar panels:
~200,000

Battery energy storage:
~150 MW
(or 300 MWh over 2 hours)

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 proposed Mates Gully Solar Farm is located ~30 km east of Wagga Wagga, between Borambola and Tarcutta, on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people.

The site has an excellent solar resource and is located close to existing transmission lines for connection to the electricity grid.

Indicative map - Mates Gully Solar Farm

CONSULTATION & PLANNING

Project status: Scoping Report lodged and SEARS issued

The proposed Mates Gully Solar Farm project is considered State Significant Development under NSW planning legislation. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) will assess the development application and the consent authority will be the Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission.

A Scoping Report was lodged with the DPE in May 2022 and the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) were issued in June 2022. A Scoping Report outlines the proposed project in more detail and identifies important issues that will require further assessment, consultation and technical studies. Comprehensive environmental studies will be undertaken to address the SEARs and compiled into a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be submitted to DPE as part of the development.

The Scoping Report and SEARs can be viewed on the DPE Major Projects Website.

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.

If you have questions, feedback or would just like to register for future updates, please complete this short online form. You can also leave a message at 1300 271 419 to speak to one of the Spark Renewables team.

OUR APPROACH: SUPPORTING FARMERS & THE LOCAL ECONOMY

 Land-use innovation

The project would support sustainable farming by diversifying farmers’ incomes and support grazing opportunities across the project site. The project design would support the productivity of the land through co-existence of solar and agricultural activities. This would be done via design innovations allowing sheep to co-graze on the solar farm land.

Read More

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.

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.

 Jobs & training

We prioritise the local procurement of goods and services and engagement and training of local workers wherever possible. We expect more than 100 jobs to be created during the construction phase of Mates Gully Solar Farm, with up to five jobs created during its operational life.

Read More

TIMELINE

2022

Step 1 - complete

Initial project identification completed, consultation ongoing

2022

2022/2023

Step 2 - in progress

Community consultation and preliminary studies

2022/2023

2023

Step 3

Submission of Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement

2023

2024

Step 4

Development consent

2024

2025

Step 5

Financial investment decision

2025

2025-2027

Step 6

Construction

2025-2027

2027 onwards

Step 7

Operations

2027 onwards

PROJECT DOCUMENTS & MATERIALS

  • Scoping Report (May 2022)
  • Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements
  • Additional Information: Context, Impacts & Mitigation
  • Virtual Community Meeting Presentation
  • Posters

    • Project Overview
    • Solar Farm & Battery Technology
    • Project Assessment
    • Community Engagement
    • Biodiversity
    • Landscape, Visual & Heritage
    • Construction & Operations
    • Land-Use & Decommissioning