Valley of the Winds

Mount Hope cluster is the northern most cluster, closest to Coolah.

The cluster contains approximately 76 turbines, a collector substation, electrical reticulation and access tracks. This cluster contains overhead transmission lines dispatching electricity to the central substation located in the Girragulang cluster.

Access for light vehicles would be via Neilrex Road and Black Stump Way. Over Size and Over Mass (OSOM) vehicles to this cluster would be via a new access constructed on Black Stump Way, south of Coolah.

Girragulang Road cluster is located south of Coolah and north of the Golden Highway.

The cluster contains approximately 51 turbines, internal access tracks, the central substation for the project as well as electrical reticulation connecting the turbines to the substation. Overhead transmission from this cluster exports the electricity from the central substation to the CWO-REZ.

Access for light vehicles would be via Black Stump Way and Moorefield Road. Access for OSOM vehicles to the Girragulang Road cluster would be via Short Street, Turee Street and Moorefield Road.

A detailed biodiversity assessment has been prepared as part of the EIS and to help inform the development of the wind farm layout. The biodiversity assessment can be found  here  and includes the following:

• desktop review of background information, mapping, and publicly available databases
• extensive field surveys within the wind farm site
• quantification of potential impacts to biodiversity values
• calculation of the biodiversity offsets that may be required, and development of management and mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts

Early site surveys in 2019 helped to identify areas of high biodiversity values which were considered during further refinement of the layout to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts to biodiversity values.

An assessment of the potential impacts on biodiversity from the project included an assessment of a 500m buffer around the construction and operation footprint. This buffer allows flexibility during the detailed design phase whilst allowing the assessment of a very worst case scenario.

Nine Plant Community Types (PCTs) of varying conditions were identified during the surveys which also included an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) that was utilised to enhance the accuracy of the PCT mapping. Aerial photographs taken with the drone, allowed for post flight analysis of dominant canopy species, vegetation structure, condition and interpretation of cover of various PCTs.

Assessment and survey of potential threatened species habitats recorded fifteen threatened fauna species and one flora species within or adjacent to the wind farm site.

Harp traps were placed in natural flyways in the landscape, making use of overhanging branches, cliff edges, and forest trails. Harp traps were checked daily at dawn, and approximately 1 hour after dark. All harp traps were left in situ for a period of 4 nights each. Harp trapping was only conducted at Leadville and Mount Hope, as these wind farm clusters contained cliff lines and other suitable habitat for breeding Microchiropteran bats.

Songmeter minis were also used to assess bat species by continuously recording ultrasonic data from sunset to sunrise. Songmeters were left in situ for a minimum of 4 nights, and up to 30 nights. Songmeters were used across all three wind farm clusters.

An assessment of significance was completed for all MNES known or likely to be impacted by the project. Assessments concluded that the only MNES likely to be significantly impacted is White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland due to the permanent removal of areas of this Critically Endangered Ecological Community (CEEC) listed on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Some Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia listed as Endangered Ecological Community (EEC) on the EBPC Act may be impacted however, these impacts are expected to be confined to small remnant patches in an existing degraded landscape.

Three threatened species listed on the EPCB Act were observed during site survey and include:

• Large-eared Pied Bat (fauna)
• White-throated Needletail (fauna)
• Dichanthium setosum/Bluegrass (flora)

The project has been designed to avoid and minimise impacts and is predominately located in areas of low or no biodiversity value. The residual impact of the proposed wind farm requires 8,966 ecosystem credits and 19,688 species credits. The project commits to surveying land that was not accessible at the time of the assessment and provides a conservative assumption and assumed presence of credit species that results in additional credit requirements.

A detailed biodiversity management plan will be developed by UPC\AC prior to commencement of construction.

A detailed traffic and transport assessment has been prepared as part of the EIS for the project an can be found  here . The assessment included the following:

• a review of existing baseline conditions, including traffic survey data
• estimation of future year traffic generation for the construction, operation, and decommissioning phases
• analysis of the future year conditions with and without the project

The traffic and transport impact assessment deals primarily with the construction phase of the project as traffic generation is forecast to be greatest during the construction phase, when compared to the operation and decommissioning phases, which would require lower or equivalent labour force and materials.

The potential traffic impacts associated with the construction workforce on the surrounding road network have been assessed under two scenarios:

• regional distribution of workforce including the townships of Coolah, Dunedoo, Cassilis, Coonabarabran, Gulgong and Mudgee
• centralised workforce bulk of the construction workforce accommodated at a temporary workers accommodation camp located on site

The project would generate the greatest traffic and transport impact during the construction peak period. The worst-case scenario has been assessed showing traffic increases during the construction period compared with the current form indicate that eight upgrades (widening and strengthening of the pavement) would be required for Short Street, Turee Street, Main Street, Wyaldra Street, Moorefield Road, Wardens Road, The Leadville Stock Route and Mount Hope Road.

Intersection upgrades would be required to cater for OSOM vehicles at the following intersections (also refer to the map on the left):

• Black Stump Way/Mount Hope Access Road
• Turee Street/Main Street
• Wyaldra Street/Moorefield Road
• Golden Highway/Black Stump Way
• Golden Highway/Leadville Access Road
• Golden Highway/Short Street

A construction traffic management plan will be prepared in consultation with Transport for NSW and Warrumbungle Shire Council. The plan will include details such as temporary traffic management plans, driver’s code of conduct, dilapidation survey and controls for transport and use of dangerous goods.

The plan will seek to minimise any traffic delays, disruptions, and safety risks associated with project related construction traffic.

Detailed assessments were undertaken for each potential hazard which can be found  here . No unacceptable risks have been identified and management measures have been proposed to manage any residual risks.

The project is located close to the certified Coolah Airport (YCAH), which is approximately 3.24 nautical miles (six kilometres) north from the nearest Wind Turbine (MH39). Coolah Airport is a certified Code 2 non-instrument airport, operated by Warrumbungle Shire Council. The wind farm site is beyond 30 nautical miles (55.56 kilometres) of any other certified airports. There are three aircraft landing areas (ALAs) located within three nautical miles of the proposed wind turbines. These are:

• Coolah ALA, Ozton
• Tongy ALA
• Unknown ALA 1

The project is also located within Danger Area D538B and a Restricted Area R559B associated with Military Flying Training operated by No 453 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown. Military flying in this area is restricted from the ground surface up to 10,000 feet (3048 metres) above mean sea level.

The impact assessment found that Coolah Airport would not be impacted by the project. It is also unlikely that the project will impact on circuit operations and approach and take-off surfaces at the three nearby ALAs. Mitigation measures are proposed that would limit the impacts of wake turbulence effects on aircraft in the circuit area of Coolah ALA and Ozton Tongy ALA. The risks associated with military flying training within Danger Area D538B can be managed with the measures described and ongoing consultation with Department of Defence.

The assessment of impacts identifies the existing radio, telecommunications and communications systems already operating within the region. It also provides an assessment of the potential impacts and interference effects that may be caused by the Project.

There is the potential for large structures, including wind turbines, to introduce interference when they occur close to or within the signal path. The assessment found that dwellings in the vicinity of the project may experience interference to digital television broadcast signals from two of the nearby towers, although coverage maps suggest that dwellings within these interference zones may not be receiving signal from these towers in the existing conditions. If interference is experienced at receivers as a result of the project, UPC\AC will work with the resident to achieve an acceptable outcome. This may include replacement of an existing antenna with a higher gain antenna or installation of alternative technology such as satellite television. 

Existing weak mobile phone services may be susceptible to interference, but the overall likelihood of interference is considered low and there are a range of options available to rectify difficulties. If interference to point to point or point to multipoint links is experienced by the operators, options to re-route the links, installation of additional towers, or replacing the affected links with alternative communications infrastructure will be explored. 

Potential impacts to other services considered in the assessment including wireless internet, broadcast radio and trigonometrical stations are expected to be minor.

Post construction assessments will be carried out at each dwelling identified as having some risk of interference. If the project is found to be the cause of any interference it will be remedied at UPC\AC’s cost.

An electromagnetic field is a physical field produced by a moving electric charge that consists of both and electric field component and a magnetic field component. Electromagnetic field associated with the generation, distribution and use of electricity is classified as extremely low frequency electromagnetic field. Short term exposure to very high levels of EMF can be detrimental to human health. The risks to human health from electromagnetic field associated with the project are considered low. Simulations of the electromagnetic field produced from the proposed medium voltage underground cabling has shown that the electromagnetic field at ground level would be within exposure limits recommended for the protection of the general public. The electromagnetic field levels produced by the project are within the recommended exposure limits at all publicly accessible locations in and around the wind farm site.

The wind farm site is located within the Castlereagh Bushfire Management Committee region. Historically, the Castlereagh Castlereagh Bushfire Management Committee region has experienced an average of 80 bushfires per year with an average of three major fires a year. The most recent and significant fire in the region (Sir Ivan fire) was triggered by a lightning strike on 11 February 2017. This fire burnt approximately 55,0000 hectares of remnant vegetation and agricultural land including land surrounding the Leadville and Girragulang Road clusters.

The key bushfire hazards and the associated risk levels for an unmitigated scenario have been determined for the project finding that risk to life and safety and project infrastructure are at the highest overall. Due to the inherent fire safety construction for industrial use facilities, the design and materials of the project would be somewhat resilient to the impacts of bushfire. Bushfire risk can be managed with the measures inherent to the project and those that are specific to the protection of life and safety from bushfire in accordance with the NSW Rural Fire Service policy Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 including maintenance of asset protection zones and the provision of a dedicated water supply within each of the clusters and at the potential construction workers accommodation.

Blade throw refers to an incident in which a structural failure in the blade of a wind turbine occurs during operation and results in parts of the blade detaching and being thrown into the surrounding area. The detachment of the entire blade or a portion of the blade has been assessed to simulate a catastrophic failure or worst-case scenario.

For the project, the maximum throw distance for an entire blade at a maximum rotor speed is 250 metres. There are no dwellings or other sensitive locations within 250 metres of the proposed turbine locations. All dwellings are more than 860 metres from the nearest proposed turbine location, which is 610 metres beyond the expected maximum throw distance for an entire blade.

A preliminary hazard analysis was prepared to consider and assess the potential hazards and risks posed by the project and the management measures proposed to address these potential hazards and risks in accordance with the requirements of State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021 (Resilience and Hazards SEPP).

The preliminary hazard analysis identifies the hazardous materials to be stored on and transported to the study area and consideration of the applicable Resilience and Hazards SEPP threshold. The analysis shows that none of the Resilience and Hazards SEPP threshold levels are predicted to be exceeded during any phase of the project and therefore the battery energy storage system infrastructure would not be a potentially hazardous development. The management measures to be implemented as part of the project would further minimise the potential impacts from these materials.

A detailed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) has been prepared in consultation with Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) for the project. The ACHAR can be found  here  and includes:

• background research, and a predicative model to assist in the identification of potential constraints
• identification and recording objects or sites of Aboriginal heritage significance, as well as any landforms likely to contain further archaeological deposits
• assessment of Aboriginal cultural values that have potential to be impacted by the project assessment of the significance of any recorded Aboriginal sites, objects, or places likely to be impacted by the project
• assessment of the likely impacts of the proposed work to Aboriginal cultural heritage and development of management recommendations

Five new Aboriginal sites were identified during the field survey. The location of one previously recorded NSW Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) site (36-3-0111) was ground-truthed during the inspection. One other known AHIMS site (36-3-0113) was unable to be inspected due to access restrictions.

The five new Aboriginal sites included:

• Orana OS-1 – artefact scatter with potential archaeological deposit (PAD)
• Old Farm OS-1 – stone quarry and artefact scatter with PAD
• Kensington OS-1 – artefact scatter
• Cainbil Creek OS-1 – artefact scatter with PAD
• The Rock IF-1 - isolated find

Of the six Aboriginal sites, one has been avoided by the project through the exclusion of a turbine. The remaining sites can be avoided through the implementation of the environmental exclusion zones and a formal survey of unassessed areas within the survey boundary by archaeologists and representatives from Aboriginal parties post approval.

Refinement to the road design has allowed Cainbil Creek OS-1 PAD to be avoided completely, however, the site extent cannot be avoided entirely. The project commits to artefact collection and fencing to protect unimpacted portions of the site during construction. 

An Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan will be developed to guide management which is to be agreed to by the RAPs and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment prior to commencement of construction. 

A heritage impact statement has been prepared as part of the EIS for the project. The assessment can be found  here  and includes:

• background research and desktop information review
• site survey
• assessment of the historic values of items that have potential to be impacted by the project

Four historic heritage items were recorded within the survey boundary. No areas that are likely to contain significant archaeological deposits of conservation value were identified within the survey boundary.

The four sites included:

• Mt Hope-HS01: trigonometrical station
• The Rock-HS01: trigonometrical station
• The Rock-HS02: rural structure
• Collier Creek-HS01: rail bridge

The four identified historic items have been assessed as having no significant historic values under the current Heritage NSW guidelines and the Burra Charter. Regardless, UPC\AC is committed to avoiding disturbance to each of the sites to the extent practical, and no impacts to items of are currently expected.

A historic heritage management plan will be developed prior to commencement of construction to guide the management of non-Aboriginal heritage items.

A social impact assessment (SIA) was completed for the project and can be found  here . The SIA included establishment of a social baseline through the collection of information from desktop analysis of demographic data as well through an impartial and participatory engagement process, undertaken independently of the project EIS engagement activities. 

Perceived positive and negative impacts of the project identified through the social impact assessment consultation cover a range of social impact categories and reflect the fears and aspirations of the stakeholders consulted. In summary, the fears and aspirations identified through the research related to the following categories:

• visual Landscape
• social amenity
• sense of community and culture
• land use change and conflict
• access to and use of infrastructure and services
• economic contributions and sustainability
• intergenerational equity
• cumulative impacts
• health and wellbeing

Feedback received indicated that the project provides an opportunity for Coolah and surrounds to achieve increased community resilience and improved access to services, employment and economic stimulus. For this benefit to be realised, it is important that the economic stimulus is distributed in an equitable way, and directly to the towns and villages that will experience the greatest change as a result of this project, including Coolah, Leadville, Uarbry and Dunedoo.

The results of the SIA have allowed a number of mitigation measures to be either incorporated into the projects design or committed to during the operational phase of the project. The intention of these strategies is to maximise the benefits to the local communities and minimise negative impacts.

An economic assessment was undertaken to assess the economic impacts and benefits of the project. The assessment can be found  here .

The average annual construction effects of the project on the regional economy are estimated at between:

• $274M and $284M in annual direct and indirect output
• $109M and $115M in annual direct and indirect value-added
• $41M and $43M in annual direct and indirect household income
• 518 and 569 direct and indirect jobs

The project is estimated to make up to the following total annual contribution to the regional economy:

• $132M in annual direct and indirect regional value-added
• $8M in annual direct and indirect household income
• 106 direct and indirect jobs

Foregone agriculture as a result of the project is expected to be <0.26% of total agricultural economic activity in the region. The regional economic activity impacts of potential foregone agricultural activity are minor and significantly less than those of the construction and operation of the project. Therefore, as well as increased benefit to the private landholders, in terms of economic activity, the regional economy would also be better-off. 

Our aim is to be a valued and trusted member of the local community throughout the entire life cycle of the project. This means finding ways to contribute to the social fabric and development of the region by enabling local participation in the project through procurement, employment, skills and training. 

UPC\AC will work in partnership with Warrumbungle Shire Council and the local community to help maximise the projected regional economic benefits. Some schemes to achieve this include:

Procurement of goods and service from local businesses and suppliers

• Hosting of procurement forums to prepare businesses to participate
• Tenders are reviewed prior to release to extract smaller packages where there is known local and business capability
• Tender evaluation criteria and weightings built into evaluation processes to prioritise local procurement

Employment, training and skills development

• Identification of priority roles and the skills required for local residents
• Investment in initiatives to facilitate the transition from training to long term employment for local participants
• Investment in education, training and jobs pathways programs to facilitate long term employment for local participants
• Recruitment evaluation criteria and weightings built into evaluation processes to prioritise local candidates