PUBLIC MEETING ON BENDEMEER SOLAR FARM
The local community is invited to make written or verbal submissions to the Independent Planning Commission about a State significant development application (SSD-36651552) lodged by Athena Energy Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd for a solar farm located near Bendemeer, approximately 46 kilometres northeast of Tamworth in the Tamworth Regional Council local government area.
The proposed development includes the construction and operation of a 200-megawatt solar farm with energy storage and associated infrastructure.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has completed its whole-of-government assessment and has referred the application to the NSW Independent Planning Commission for determination. The Commission is the decision-maker because the Department received more than 100 public submissions objecting to the application.
Commissioners Sarah Dinning, Duncan Marshall and Mike Smart have been appointed by the Commission Chair to determine the development application.
The key issues identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include land-use compatibility, biodiversity, visual, traffic, cumulative impacts on accommodation and workforce and public benefit.
The Commission has access to all previous written submissions made to the Department, however it is particularly helpful for the Commission to also hear the community’s views on the Department’s Assessment Report and recommended conditions, which can be found on the Commission’s website.
The Commission is inviting the public to make written submissions via the Make a Submission portal on the Commission’s website. Written submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm (AEDT) on Sunday 13 December 2026.
Community members are also able to make a verbal submission at a livestreamed public meeting on the Bendemeer Solar Farm to be held at the Bendemeer Town Hall, 87-89 Caroline Street, Bendemeer on Saturday 5 December 2026, commencing at 10:00am (AEDT). Speakers at the public meeting must pre-register on the Commission’s website using the Speaker Registration Form. The deadline for speaker registrations is 12:00pm AEDT (noon) on Friday 27 November 2026.