A SYDNEY-based company is planning to build a $300 million solar photovoltaic farm at Balranald, larger than any other solar farm currently in operation in Australia.
If approved, the Sunraysia Solar Farm would take 18 months to build on 1000 hectares of privately-owned land about halfway between Balranald and Kyalite.
Maoneng Group, the company developing the utility-scale solar farm, said it had the potential to deliver 200 megawatts (MW) of energy to the grid.
The farm would be developed in two stages — the first comprising a 109MW facility on 366 hectares and the second 91MW on 355 hectares.
Maoneng has lodged a scoping report with the NSW Government and Mr Kirk said a response was due from the Department of Planning by June 20.
The company is also undertaking a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the site to prepare for the next stage of state approvals.
The EIA will address environmental issues like noise assessment, hydrology and flooding, soils and water, bushfire risk and air quality.
The solar project is the latest in a string of major developments the Balranald Shire Council has welcomed to the region during the past three years.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (May 31, 2016).
