Lightsource Development Services Australia Pty Ltd (LSbp) proposes to develop the Sandy Creek Solar Farm, which is a large-scale photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility and associated battery energy storage system (BESS) and infrastructure (the Project, or proposed action). The Proposed action lies approximately 25 kilometres (km) south-west of the township of Dunedoo, New South Wales (NSW) and is located within the local government areas (LGAs) of Warrumbungle Shire Council and Dubbo Regional Council. The proposed action is within the NSW Government-declared Central-West Orana (CWO) Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

The electricity generated onsite will connect to the national electricity grid via the proposed CWO REZ Elong Elong Energy Hub being developed by the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) as part of the Central-West Orana REZ Transmission Project (SSI-48323210; EPBC ID Number 2022/09353). The proposed action will contribute to the overall storage capacity and reliability of the National Electricity Market (NEM) and will also support State and Commonwealth emission commitments by facilitating renewable energy input into the grid network.

The Proposed action involves the development, construction and operation of a solar PV electricity generation facility and associated BESS. The proposed action comprises the following key components (the disturbance footprint) (refer to Att 1 – EPBC Referral Supplementary Report – 2023, Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2):

• a disturbance footprint of approximately 1,707 ha (refer to Att 1-EPBC Referral Supplementary Report-2023, Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2) comprising:
  • a network of approximately 1.5 million PV panels and associated mounting infrastructure with a generating capacity of up to 700 MW (AC) 
  • either a DC or AC coupled BESS with a maximum capacity of 700 MW (AC) and a maximum duration of two hours
  • electrical and conversion systems including inverter, transformer units and a high voltage switchyard
  • ancillary infrastructure, including:
    • temporary construction compounds and operation maintenance facilities
    • a construction accommodation facility located within the Project boundary with a separate access point on Dapper Road
    • parking facilities
    • internal access roads and electrical cable trenching
    • two internal bridge crossings over Sandy Creek
•  a road upgrade corridor (i.e. area of direct impact for public road upgrade works to a portion of Dapper Road)
• construction footprint of the public road crossing of Sandy Creek Road (i.e. proposed intersection between internal access tracks and the public road to allow for construction and operational traffic and cable crossings between the east and west of the development footprint).

The Project area (comprised of 25 lots) is approximately 1,707 ha in size, comprising:

• 612.67 ha of native vegetation 
• 1,081.83 ha of exotic vegetation
• 2.69 ha of planted native vegetation
• 0.84 ha of planted exotic vegetation
• 9.00 ha of cleared land, including farm structures and dams.

The area subject to the proposed action (disturbance footprint) is approximately 1,487 ha in size, comprising:

• 450.00 ha of native vegetation 
• 1,030.12 ha of exotic vegetation
• 0.26 ha of planted native vegetation
• 0.80 ha of planted exotic vegetation
• 5.71 of cleared land, including farm structures and dams.

Refer to Att 1-EPBC Referral Supplementary Report-2023, Table 3.1, page 16.