The New South Wales (NSW) government has approved an amendment to expand the Liverpool Range wind project to 1.3 GW by utilizing fewer, more efficient turbines.
Initially approved in 2018, the project modification requested in 2022 aims to boost energy generation with updated technology and a reduced turbine count.
Located northeast of Mudgee in NSW’s Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), the $2 billion investment will create 550 jobs during construction and 47 permanent roles during operation. Local councils will benefit from $35 million allocated through voluntary planning agreements.
The community consultation process led to a decrease in the number of turbines from 267 to 185 to minimize visual impact, with turbine heights increasing from 165m to 215m. Once fully operational, the wind farm is projected to prevent 2.8 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to NSW’s clean energy goals.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, highlighted the project as a crucial part of the state’s renewable energy future, commending the collaborative approach between the developer and the local community to address aesthetic and environmental concerns.