Metz Solar Farm Approved for New England Tablelands (NSW)

Tuesday, 5 September, 2017

We are pleased to acknowledge the recent development approval of the State Significant Metz Solar Farm proposal (SSD 7931). 

We were engaged by Infinergy Pacific to assist to secure planning approval for a 100 Megawatt solar farm at Metz, near Armidale in the New England region of NSW.  Fully developed, this exciting proposal will comprise 400,000 photovoltaic solar panels generating enough energy to power 40,000 NSW households each year and displace up to 200,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Our team worked side-by-side with Infinergy Pacific to identify and mitigate a range of potential environmental, social and economic issues associated with the project; from the initial preparation of the preliminary environmental assessment to the final documentation for inclusion in the conditions of consent.  The entire project was completed within 12 months and without cost escalation.

We led the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for this development, as well as preparing a wide range of supporting technical studies, including:

  • Biodiversity, adopting the Framework for Biodiversity Assessment (FBA) methodology including Biodiversity Assessment Methodology  and Biodiversity Offset Methodology assessments
  • Historic heritage 
  • Aboriginal heritage was subcontracted to a local archaeologist and coordinated by ELA
  • Visual impact assessment
  • Land and water impacts, including flood risk modelling
  • Bushfire and electrical fire hazards
  • Electromagnetic hazards
  • Air quality
  • Waste management


The project stands indicates our company's experience, local knowledge and capacity to assist clients to deliver SSD projects in a timely and cost effective manner, as well as our respected reputation with key regulators at NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage for the quality and accuracy of our work.

Contact:

Robert Cawley

RobertC@ecoaus.com.au

Senior Consultant