Southdown Solar Farm - Request for Secretary’S Environmental Assessment Requirements Juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd Page 2 of 37
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SOUTHDOWN SOUTHDOWN SOLAR SOLAR FARM FARM Request for Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – Scoping Report ‘Cal Col’, 6304 Cobb Highway, Deniliquin NSW 2710 Rev Date Description By Approved 1 22/04/2020 First draft Russell James 2 24/04/2020 Second draft Russell James 3 21/05/2020 Third draft Russell James Amy lane juwi details Name juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd Address (Physical) Level 3, 199 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 4000 Address (Postal) PO Box 13106 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4003 Australian Business Number 42 159 228 145 Primary Contact Russell James Project Development Manager russell.james@juwi.com +61 (0) 7 3107 0908 +61 (0) 447 749 914 Secondary Contact Amy Lane Head of Development amy.lane@juwi.com +61 (0) 7 3107 0908 +61 (0) 413 882 566 Website www.juwi.com.au Southdown Solar Farm - Request for Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd Page 2 of 37 Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 The Project ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Site and surrounds ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2.1 Regional Context .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.2 Local Context .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.3 Site .................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Landowner .............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.4 Applicant ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Capital Investment Value ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Purpose of the Report ........................................................................................................................... 9 2 Planning Framework ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 NSW Environmental and Planning Assessment Act 1979.................................................................. 10 2.1.1 Approval Process............................................................................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Permissibility ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Other State Legislation........................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.1 State Environment Planning Policy Koala Habitat Protection 2019 ............................................... 11 2.2.2 Riverina Murray Plan 2036 ............................................................................................................. 11 2.2.3 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ...................................................................... 11 2.2.4 Water Management Act 2000 ......................................................................................................... 11 2.2.5 Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 ................................................................................................ 11 2.2.6 Biosecurity Act 2015 ....................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.7 Roads Act 1993 .............................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.8 Rural Fires Act 1997 ....................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.9 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ............................................................................................. 13 2.2.10 Heritage Act 1977 ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.11 Crown Lands Act 1989 ............................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Commonwealth Legislation ................................................................................................................. 13 2.3.1 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999...................................................................... 13 2.3.2 Native Title Act 1993 ...................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.3 Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 .................... 14 3 Project Description ...................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Design and Configuration ................................................................................................................... 16 3.1.1 Electricity grid and road access ...................................................................................................... 16 3.1.2 Key elements .................................................................................................................................. 16 3.1.3 Potential for battery energy storage ............................................................................................... 18 3.2 Construction ........................................................................................................................................ 18 3.3 Operation ............................................................................................................................................ 18 3.4 Decommissioning ................................................................................................................................ 18 4 Justification and Alternatives Considered ................................................................................................... 20 Southdown Solar Farm - Request for Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd Page 3 of 37 4.1 Project Justification ............................................................................................................................. 20 4.2 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................................... 21 4.2.1 Site selection .................................................................................................................................. 21 4.2.2 Project design and configuration .................................................................................................... 21 5 Preliminary Impact Identification and Assessment ..................................................................................... 22 5.1 Project Issues and Risks ..................................................................................................................... 22 5.2 Biodiversity .......................................................................................................................................... 22 5.2.1 Existing conditions .......................................................................................................................... 22 5.2.2 Preliminary Impact Assessment and Management ........................................................................ 23 5.2.3 Need for further assessment .......................................................................................................... 24 5.3 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................................ 25 5.3.1 Existing conditions .......................................................................................................................... 25 5.3.2 Preliminary Impact Assessment and Management ........................................................................ 26 5.3.3 Need for further assessment .......................................................................................................... 26 5.4 Other Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 26 6 Community and Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................................................. 32 6.1 Consultation activities undertaken ...................................................................................................... 32 7 Proposed Environmental Assessment Requirements ................................................................................. 33 8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................