Hills of Gold Nundle windfarm project moves forward after Engie submits plans

It's the final planning stage before the $750 million renewable energy project faces the planning approval process.

French multinational ENGIE, which announced they had purchased the project in early November, plans to build as many as 70 turbines on the Hills of Gold about 5km south of Hanging Rock, near Nundle.

John Krsulja, president of Hills of Gold Preservation Inc, said the scheme does not have the support of the community of Nundle.

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He said the project would make Nundle "a power station not a tourist destination".

The group, which opposes the project, recently took a community petition against it to NSW parliament.

He said the turbines would be up to 220 metres tall, the tallest in Australia, and would dominate the view from the tourist village of the range.

"One turbine is too many up there," he said.

Because the 420MW Nundle wind farm is deemed a state significant development, it will be assessed by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, not local councils.

But if there are more than 50 objections, it could go before the state's Independent Planning Commission.

Mr Krsulja said that was almost certain to happen.

A spokesperson for Hills of Gold Wind Farm said years of studies had proven the project would not generate serious ecological costs.

"The wind farm has been designed to, as much as possible, take advantage of local topography and vegetation," they said.

"This has significantly reduced the visibility towards the proposed wind farm from the residential homes assessed. The area for the wind farm was chosen due to lower population density and a wind resource that can provide power for 185,000 homes."

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The project will also fund a community enhancement fund to the tune of $2,500 per turbine, per year.

"Existing tourism will continue with new opportunities to introduce renewable energy to education and eco-tourism customers."

The project will go on public exhibition next week, with its environmental impact statement to be made public on Wednesday.

The power plant, which would also include battery storage, would generate enough power to supply 185,000 homes. It would create as many as 15 direct jobs and about 430 indirect jobs during construction, according to ENGIE.

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