Wind Project Documents and Approvals

Prior to lodging a development application (DA) for an State Significant Development (SSD) project, Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub will consult with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) by submitting Scoping Report.

The purpose of this consultation is to clarify what approvals are required, identify what information must be included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and determine what community engagement must be undertaken by the Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub during the preparation of the EIS. Following consultation, the Planning Secretary will issue the environmental assessment requirements (SEARs) for the EIS.

To obtain SEARs, Bendemeer Energy Hub will lodge a request and Scoping Report online. The Department will publish the Scoping Report online and seek advice from the local council and other Government agencies about what should be included in the SEARs. It may also visit the site. The SEARs will be published online within 28 days of the publication of the Scoping Report.

All DA must be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub will prepare this EIS in accordance with the Planning SEARs. The purpose of the EIS is to assess the economic, environmental and social impacts of the project to help the community, government agencies and the consent authority make informed submissions or decisions on the merits of the project. The SEARs set out the requirements for detailed studies on potential visual, noise, biodiversity, traffic, cultural heritage, biodiversity issues and other environmental and social impacts associated with the project.

The results of these studies, together with the feedback from the local community and stakeholders, will inform the project’s design and will be documented in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will be made available for public comment before any decision is made regarding project approval.

Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub will be seeking for the NSW State Significant Development applications (SSD), which will have to go through a comprehensive assessment process with extensive community participation and are evaluated against the triple bottom line. Under State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011, electricity generating works including renewable energy proposals such as wind or solar farms with a capital cost of more than $30 million (or $10 million in an environmentally sensitive area) are considered as SSD under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.