NEWS

Wattle Creek Energy Hub Community Newsletter #3

Project Update

The Wattle Creek Energy Hub is a Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project located on the ‘Arthursleigh’ property owned by University of
Sydney, located approximately 12km north-east of Marulan in the NSW Southern Tablelands region, situated in the Upper Lachlan Shire.

The Project will also support university research and education through a new onsite, test-bed facility, the establishment of a research fund and other research and education initiatives.

The Wattle Creek Energy Hub initially included a wind farm component, however, this aspect of the Project is no longer proceeding due to low wind speed being recorded onsite.

We are keen to further engage with community members and interested stakeholders to provide an update on the Project and will be holding two community drop-in sessions. Community members will be able to meet with the Spark Renewables team, learn more about the proposed Wattle Creek Energy Hub, and the preliminary results from a range of assessments being undertaken as a part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project.

Next drop-in sessions

Friday, 31 May 2024
between 4pm and 7pm at the Marulan War Memorial Hall

Saturday, 1 June 2024
between 9am and 12pm at the Canyonleigh Community Hall

Phone: 1300 271 719
Email: info@wattlecreekenergyhub.com

Environmental Impact Statement and Social Impact Assessment

The Project is a State Significant Development which requires a comprehensive EIS to be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). The Solar and BESS components will be progressed through separate approval processes, a separate development application accompanied by separate EISs will be submitted for each component. Umwelt Environmental and Social consultants have been engaged by Spark Renewables to prepare the EIS, including a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and a range of specialist assessments, including:

  • Aboriginal cultural heritage
  • Biodiversity
  • Hazards including fire, bushfire, electromagnetic fields and interference
  • Cumulative impacts
  • Historic heritage
  • Noise and vibration
  • Economic land use conflict including
  • Agricultural impact and soils
  • Water resources
  • Transport and traffic
  • Visual amenity
  • Waste
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View and download the PDF newsletter here: Community Newsletter #3 – Wattle Creek Energy Hub