Plans for a Kootingal solar farm have come before Tamworth Regional Council for approval, adding to the growing number of solar projects slotted for the region.
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The Development Application (DA) has been listed for Tamworth Regional Council's assessment this week.
The developers, ITP, told the Leader the solar farm project will generate employment in the Tamworth area, and support the development of local expertise and skills.
"The solar farm will add diversity to the local economy, by creating new jobs and potential opportunities for businesses to grow via supplying goods and services to the solar farm project," a spokesman said.
The five megawatt solar farm is estimated to cost a little over six and a half million dollars.
If approved, this will make the second solar farm the company will build in the New England North West region.
ITPD currently have approval for a 12.6 hectare, 16,000 module solar farm on Dangarsleigh Road in Armidale.
The solar farm will add diversity to the local economy, by creating new jobs and potential opportunities for businesses to grow via supplying goods and services to the solar farm project.
- ITP spokesman
"It is progressing well with construction due to begin later this year," the spokesman said of the New England build. The plan had previously garnered concern from Armidale residents for being located too close to a residential area.
This current plan for the Tamworth region is slotted for a lot off the New England Highway, about one kilometre west of the Kootingal township.
It would comprise of a solar farm and ancillary facilities, with 12,100 solar modules to be installed in 140 rows, running north to south.
The solar farm would be decommissioned in approximately 35 years from approval.
The plan will use 11 hectares of the 58.2 hectare property, and will need consent by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.
Separate approvals are also required by Transport for NSW and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The spokesman said their developers are drawn to sites where high-quality solar resources are available, and are close to the electricity distribution grid to enable connection.
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"ITPD is focused on town-scale developments in the New England region," he said.
"We hope to support the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
"Town-scale developments tend to be sited on the fringe of towns as they require connection to low-voltage electricity distribution network infrastructure, which are the lines, poles and wires that deliver electricity to consumers within towns and cities."
