Environmental Impact Statement AVONLIE SOLAR FARM
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Environmental Impact Statement AVONLIE SOLAR FARM JUNE 2018 Environmental Impact Statement Avonlie Solar Farm Document Verification Project Title: Avonlie Solar Farm Project Number: 17‐439 Project File Name: Revision Date Prepared by (name) Reviewed by (name) Approved by (name) Draft 0.1 16/05/18 Sarah Hillis Erwin Budde Erwin Budde Draft 0.2 25/06/18 Sarah Hillis Erwin Budde Erwin Budde NGH Environmental prints all documents on environmentally sustainable paper including paper made from bagasse (a by‐ product of sugar production) or recycled paper. Amendment Section Page Reason 17‐439 Draft 0.1 i Environmental Impact Statement Avonlie Solar Farm Certification For submission of an Environmental Impact Statement under Part 4, Division 4.1 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. EIS prepared by: NGH Environmental Applicant: RES Australia Pty Ltd Proposed development: The Avonlie Solar Farm proposal includes the construction, operation and decommissioning of a photovoltaic solar farm that would produce up to 200 Megawatts of electricity. Associated infrastructure includes a substation, battery storage facility, staff amenities, internal access tracks and fencing. Land to be developed: Lots 1 and 2 DP 606800, and Lots 13, 22, 26, 30, 43, 53 DP 754538. Certification: I certify that I have prepared the contents of this Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. To the best of my knowledge, this assessment contains all available information that is relevant to the environmental assessment of the project and that information is neither false nor misleading. Name: Sarah Hillis Qualifications: Bachelor Environmental Science (Land and Water), Master Environmental Management Address NGH Environmental 1/39 Fitzmaurice Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Signature: Date: 10/07/2018 17‐439 Draft 0.1 ii Environmental Impact Statement Avonlie Solar Farm CONTENTS TERMS AND DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................... XIV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... XVIII PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................ XVIII PROJECT NEED ......................................................................................................................................... XIX PROJECT BENEFIT ..................................................................................................................................... XIX KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ISSUES ............................................................................................. XX Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................................... xx Aboriginal heritage ..................................................................................................................................... xxii Land use and resources ............................................................................................................................. xxiii Visual amenity ........................................................................................................................................... xxiii Noise xxiv LOWER RISK ISSUES ................................................................................................................................ XXIV 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS DOCUMENT ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 The proponent .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Development site location .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.3 Key components of the Avonlie Solar Farm ........................................................................................ 2 1.2.4 Capital investment .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.5 Land ownership .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.6 Development history .......................................................................................................................... 2 2 STRATEGIC JUSTIFICATION AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ...................................................... 5 2.1 STRATEGIC NEED .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1 Global warming .................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 National renewable energy targets..................................................................................................... 5 2.1.3 Finkel Report ...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.4 NSW Renewable Energy Action Plan ................................................................................................... 6 2.1.5 State and Commonwealth support for renewable energy .................................................................. 6 2.1.6 Climate Change Fund Draft Strategic Plan 2017 to 2022 ..................................................................... 6 2.1.7 NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW Number One ................................................................................... 7 2.1.8 Greenhouse gas emissions ‐ life cycle analysis and benefits of solar technology ................................ 7 2.2 PROPOSAL BENEFITS ......................................................................................................................... 7 17‐439 Draft 0.1 iii Environmental Impact Statement Avonlie Solar Farm 2.2.1 Key benefits ........................................................................................................................................ 7 2.2.2 Broad benefits .................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Local benefits ..................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 PROPOSAL OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED............................................................................................................. 9 2.4.1 The ‘do nothing’ option ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.4.2 Technology alternatives ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.4.3 Alternative site locations .................................................................................................................. 10 2.4.4 Alternative PV technologies .............................................................................................................. 10 2.4.5 Scale of the proposal ........................................................................................................................ 12 2.4.6 Site suitability and justification ......................................................................................................... 12 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 13 3.1 DEVELOPMENT SITE DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 13 3.2 THE PROPOSED AVONLIE SOLAR FARM .......................................................................................... 19 3.3 PROPOSAL LAYOUT ......................................................................................................................... 20 3.4 SUBDIVISION ................................................................................................................................... 21 3.5 PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................................... 25 3.5.1 Solar arrays ...................................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.2 Battery Storage Facility ................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.3 Power Conversion Units (Solar) ........................................................................................................ 26 3.5.4 Power Conversion Units (BSF) .........................................................................................................