Federal Agricultural Minister Murray Watt has approved environmental aspects of the Valley of Winds farm in the Warrumbungle Shire as a court appeal continues and the Albanese Government accelerates the timeline on its national environmental law reforms.

The legislation was originally intended to be introduced in the middle of next year but, Minister Watt says the 'strong consensus' in favour of reform at this month’s Economic Reform Roundtable, means the timeline will be brought forward, with plans to now introduce the legislation to Parliament before the end of this year.

His decision comes as a court case and conciliation looms for an appeal on Philippine-based Acen Energy's 131-turbine Valley of the Winds project near Coolah. 

The next hearing for that case in the NSW Land and Environment Court is scheduled for tomorrow, 15 September.

But Minister Watt says getting on with the job of energy transition is crucial.

‘’Having modern, fit-for-purpose environmental laws in place will protect Australia’s incredible natural environment, while also supporting speeding up assessments and approvals for national priorities like more homes, jobs, renewable energy, critical minerals and the economic prosperity Australia needs in the future.’’

The bill to be introduced to the Parliament will also include a broader suite of reforms than what was introduced in the last term of parliament.

It will be focused on implementing the three core principles of the Samuel Review delivered to then-Environment Minister Sussan Ley in 2021: stronger environmental protection and restoration, more efficient and robust project assessments and greater accountability and transparency in decision-making.

This will include a strong focus on removing duplication within the environmental approvals and assessments system, while introducing strong new national environmental standards.

Back in NSW

The NSW Independent Planning Commission says a Class 1 merits appeal has been filed in the Land and Environment Court against the 11 June 2025 decision to grant development consent Valley of the Winds Wind Farm (SSD 10461).

Acen's The Valley of the Winds will have capacity to generate 943MW of renewable energy and a 320 MW battery energy storage system.

The site of the Project is in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone approximately 94km northeast of Dubbo, 35km north of Gulgong and between Coolah, Leadville and Uarbry within the Warrumbungle local government area.

Marshall Baillieu, who has a property close to Valley of the Winds Farm, is objecting on size of the wind towers saying they are blocking his views and seeks to overturn the development consent.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission says the Court generally requires that the parties participate in a conciliation conference to see if they can resolve, or narrow, the issues in the appeal.

The Commission will publish notice of the date and location for any conciliation conference once one is listed by the Court.

 If listed for a Court-ordered conciliation, there will be a public part of the conciliation conference where the public may attend and a number of objectors have an opportunity to give oral evidence on-site.

The Planning Commission says the Court limits the number of objectors giving evidence at the conciliation conference to approximately six people.

After the conclusion of the evidence session at a conciliation conference, the parties to the Notice of Appeal proceedings have confidential conciliation discussions facilitated by a Commissioner of the Court.

Attendance at and participation in those discussions is limited to the parties and their representatives.