The first windfarm in the Warrumbungle Shire has been approved near Coolah with the build to begin in 2026-27. But mayor and general manager are frustrated with elements of the project.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved it (Thursday 12/6) but firmly saying it must support community projects and first nations people.

The Warrumbungle Shire clearly has strongly and consistently raised their concerns with how the proposal has progressed.

In a letter to NSW Principal Legislative Council Officer (13/6) a day after it was approved, Council General Manger Lindsay Mason wrote, ''We need fair dinkum meaningful consultation – but the developers hold the power and won't relinquish it.''

He says the process favours developers and suggested in his letter a two-day workshop with the developer, Council and community would be a better way of discussing likely impacts on the area of further projects.

 Warrumbungle Shire Mayor Kathryn Rhindfleish says she is not pleased.

"We see a lack of understanding on the cumulative impacts on Coolah and surrounds.

''Mitigation measures have not been implemented, and our concerns are driver safety on the Golden Highway.''

She is also concerned about community services and local infrastructure in the area.

Local farmer Grant Piper told 7News ‘’It shows that despite the objections, the numbers opposing it, the Independent Planning Commission panel didn’t get it, they disregarded it.’’

Billionaire and Green Energy investor Andrew ‘Triggy ‘ Forrest has told Newscorp Media that taxpayers should subsidise compensation for landholders who host wind turbines and also increase compensation to people who live within 10 kilometres of a wind farm.

He has the support of the Green Energy Council.

ACEN Australia the developer of ‘Valley of Winds’ says it will back the local community.

It's website outlines their Social Investment Program, a voluntary contribution which is already available to the Coolah community and surrounds.

The funds are available to not-for-profit community-based activities only.

The NSW Planning Commission statement said a voluntary planning agreement with Warrumbungle Shire is immediately enacted at the beginning of the project to support roads, infrastructure and community projects at 1.5% of capital expenditure .

Those funds will be discussed by the Council and the ACEN group.

The site of the Valley of the Winds is approximately 40 kilometres north of Gulgong, between Coolah, Leadville and Uarbry within the Warrambungle Shire local government area.

The panel of the NSW Planning Commission said in a statement :

ACEN Australia Pty Ltd sought approval for the state significant development (SSD-10461) which includes a a 943 MW wind farm with a 320 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).

The Valley of the Winds Wind Farm has the capacity to generate enough energy to power about 519,000 homes per year and will contribute to the NSW Government’s net zero targets and renewable energy objectives.

The energy storage system would enable renewable energy to be stored for dispatch to the grid, increasing grid stability and energy security.

The project was referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination because more than 50 public objections were made to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during its assessment of the Project, and because Warrumbungle Shire Council objected to the proposal.

The Warrumbungle Shire's concerns are not just around this project but relate to the combined impacts of multiple Renewable Energy projects and the pressure on the LGA's infrastructure. They asked for the Planning Commission Panel to pause projects.

The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Richard Pearson (Panel Chair), Suellen Fitzgerald and Sarah Dinning met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, and held a public meeting where they heard from 33 speakers, and received a total of 58 written submissions. 

They then gave their approval, with a series of conditions which ACEN Australia will have to meet.

The Commission considered the concerns raised by community members relating to visual impacts, aerial firefighting and agriculture, biodiversity, traffic and transport, socio-economic impacts, decommissioning and rehabilitation, water resources and the cumulative impacts of this and other nearby developments.

In its Statement of Reason for Decision, the Commission found that the site was “suitable for renewable energy development given its location close to the approved CWO REZ transmission line, available wind resources, design to avoid major environmental constraints and access to the regional road network”. 

 All documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found on the Commission’s website.