About the project
The proposed Bullawah wind farm near Hay in NSW will have an installed capacity of up to 1000MW that will generate clean green renewable energy to power 500,000 homes. A battery facility on site will allow for the capture and storage of dispatchable energy.
The power generated either direct from the turbines or released from battery storage will feed into the electricity grid via the proposed Project EnergyConnect transmission line.
The project includes 170 wind turbines, with a maximum blade-tip height of 300m above the ground.
During the scoping report and environmental impact statement preparation phase, technical studies will be undertaken and their outcomes as well as community input will inform the wind farm design.
To learn more about the BayWa team who are developing the project, please meet the team.
Benefits
- Diversifying the local economy
- A community benefit fund
- 400 jobs during construction, 40 jobs during operation
- Business opportunities for local suppliers
- Economic multiplier effect for local economy
- Significant investment in local infrastructure
- Renewable energy to power 500,000 homes
Community Engagement
BayWa r.e is working with residents of Hay, Deniliquin, Coleambally, Darlington Point and surrounds throughout the development stage. We have supported a range of community initiatives since 2022, including the Hay Business Awards, Hay Show, Country Education Foundation of Coleambally/Darlington Point and Edward River. We supported an additional 13 organisations through the 2023 Community Grants Program. BayWa will continue to share information about the project and contribute to community benefit sharing schemes throughout the development and construction process.
Bullawah Community Grants Program
BayWa r.e. is proud to have run three rounds of the Bullawah Wind Farm Community Grants Program since 2023. We have delivered over $95,000 of direct funding to local community and not-for-profit groups in Hay, Murrumbidgee and Edward River regions.
The successful applicants of the third round of grants were announced in December 2024 and include:
- Deniliquin Boat Club Incorporated- $5,000 towards installation of 13kW rooftop solar power system at Deniliquin Boat Club
- Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council- $2,500 towards goods and equipment for the Milimpilyi Women’s Gardening Group
- South West Music Regional Conservatorium - $2,500 towards planning and running the regional Mini Music Tour
- Deniliquin Racing Club - $1,000 contribution to purchase of seating
- Deniliquin Kolety Lagoons Landcare Group- $3,500 towards environmental restoration and rehabilitation of North Lagoon, Deniliquin.
- Hay Junior Magpies Rugby League- $1,000 towards purchase of first aid equipment
- Hay Public School P&C- $2,500 for new phonics reading resources for primary students
- Hay Golf Club- $1,500 towards sponsorship of Hay Golf Open 2025
- Hay Girl Guides- $1,000 towards purchasing manuals, resources and badges for guides
- Hay Country Women’s Association (CWA)- $1,500 towards planning and running community ‘Casserole Days’ in 2025
- Hayland Gathering- $1,500 towards planning and running the Hayland Gathering Scottish cultural festival in Hay in 2025
- Many Mobs Indigenous Corporation- $1,000 towards running a local Harmony Day Event in 2025 ‘Celebrating Australia's Cultural Diversity’
- St Joseph's School Jerilderie Social & Fundraising Committee (P&C)- $3,000 towards running the Jerilderie Fun Fair in 2025
- Darlington Point Rugby League Club- $2,500 towards purchasing new game day video camera equipment
We look forward to seeing these projects and events come to life in 2025. If you would like to see other organisation who received funding in previous rounds, here is the list.
Community Newsletters
Project development & location
Bullawah Wind Farm development is well underway. The scoping report is complete and the Environmental Impact Statement will be submitted in 2024. The development will include:
- Internal access roads and upgrades to existing access roads, and access points from public roads
- Hardstand and laydown area used for wind turbine installation and storage of wind turbine components
- Infrastructure to connect to the Project EnergyConnect transmission line
- Temporary and permanent meteorological monitoring masts
- Operations and maintenance building
- Temporary infrastructure including construction compound and site office buildings, storage areas and concrete batching plants
Bullawah scoping report
The Bullawah Scoping Report was completed in October 2022. It is available on the NSW Government website. The report was prepared by the BayWa r.e. Projects Australia team with support from Umwelt Environmental & Social Consultants.
It is an early part of the State Significant Development (SSD) application process under which the project is being assessed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE). Among other things the report describes the project in simple terms, takes in early community views, describes a community engagement plan, and identifies matters for further assessment in our Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
It also identifies environmental, social and economic matters of relevance to the project to inform the preparation of the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). The SEARs identifies specific assessment considerations relevant to the Bullawah project that must also be addressed in our EIS. The next key step is preparing the EIS to accompany our SSD application.
