Engagement Snapshot
Here is an overview of all the activities involving community for the purpose of participation.
Overview
Growth Planning is publicly exhibiting a draft Planning Agreement with the Trustee for WEBESS01 PROJECT TRUST that relates to the Wellington South Battery Energy Storage System at 6773 Goolma Road, Montefiores.
The draft Planning Agreement and Explanatory Note are on public exhibition from Wednesday 7 August 2024 until 9am, Monday 9 September 2024.
Development Information
On 22 December 2023, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment approved a State Significant Development Application for the construction and operation of the Wellington South Battery Energy Storage System, which includes:
- batteries with an overall capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and up to 1,000 megawatt hours (MWh)
- connection to the existing Wellington substation to the north-west
- upgrades to existing site access off Twelve Mile Road.
Planning Agreement Information
Under the terms of the Planning Agreement, the Developer will pay to Council a monetary contribution per five-year period, with the amount equal to the following formula:
- Monetary contribution = Capital Investment Value x 0.45% x (Operating Capacity ÷ Total Delivery Capacity) ÷ 4.
Payment of first contribution will be at commencement of operation. Operation means the operation of the development, but does not include construction, commissioning, trials of equipment or the use of temporary facilities.
Prior to commencing operation, the Developer must specify to Council the Capital Investment Value of the project.
Funds are proposed to be allocated to the following public purposes:
| Timeframe | Development Contribution | % pa |
| Years 1-5 | Youth and Welfare Support Initiatives Funds allocated towards not-for-profit organisations that focus on intervention strategies for disengaged youth. |
98% |
| Administration The costs, charges and expenses of administering and auditing the Monetary Contributions under this Agreement |
2% | |
| Year 6 - 30 | Strategic Projects Strategic infrastructure projects located within the former Wellington Local Government Area that are not otherwise to be carried out or funded by or on behalf of a government entity. Strategic Projects are projects that are in accordance with Council’s Renewable Energy Benefit Framework and the Developer’s Business Standards, as amended from time to time. |
54% |
| Administration The costs, charges and expenses of administering and auditing the Monetary Contributions under this Agreement |
2% |
Location
A Planning Agreement is an agreement entered into between Council and a developer where the developer agrees to fund public amenities or infrastructure, dedicate land at no cost to Council, or provide monetary contributions or any other material public benefit, for a public purpose.
In accordance with Division 7.1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, a public purpose includes any of the following:
- The provision of public amenities or services;
- The provision of affordable housing;
- The provision of transport or other infrastructure relating to land;
- The funding or recurrent expenditure relating to the provision of public amenities or public services, affordable housing or transport or other infrastructure;
- The monitoring of the planning impacts of development;
- The conservation or enhancement of the natural environment.
The use of Planning Agreements has increased as a result of their flexibility in allowing councils to capture public benefits outside the infrastructure contributions system.
The Towards 2040 Community Strategic Plan is a vision for the development of the region out to the year 2040. The Plan includes six principle themes and a number of objectives and strategies. This report is aligned to:
Theme: 2 Infrastructure
Objective: 2.2 Infrastructure meets the current and future needs of our community
Delivery Program Strategy: 2.2.5 Council maintains infrastructure and delivers services at the adopted service levels as agreed with the community
Submission Process
In accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 1998, written submissions received by Council containing personal information may be made public when the matter goes before Council for consideration, as it may be included in Council’s Business Papers. Persons have the right to remain anonymous if they so choose by refraining from submitting their personal information, however, the submission may be given less weight in the overall assessment and consideration of the draft Planning Agreement.
