131 wind turbines
500k average Australian homes powered each year
500 jobs during peak construction

The project

Valley of the Winds is an approximate 900-megawatt wind project proposed south of the township of Coolah in the Warrumbungle Shire of NSW. The project site is located in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which is being managed by EnergyCo NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

131 wind turbines are proposed across three clusters named Mount Hope, Girragulang Road and Leadville, with underground electricity cabling connecting each turbine to an electricity substation.

The undulating terrain in that area allows for the wind turbines to be sited on ridge-lines within cleared land that is currently being used for livestock grazing. The Project will generate enough renewable energy to power appx 500,000 average Australian homes per annum and contribute to Australia’s domestic and international commitments of renewable energy development, including NSW’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030.

A high voltage transmission line will be developed by EnergyCo as part of their Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone Transmission project, which will enable the Valley of the Winds project to connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

A temporary workforce accommodation facility is proposed for the construction workforce.

The operational footprint of the project makes up less than 2% of the overall project site, with the remainder continuing to be used for agricultural purposes.

Project assessment process

The project is being assessed as a State Significant Development of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is the responsible state planning authority for the project. A range of assessments and site surveys have been undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which was submitted in 2022. The project is currently under assessment by the NSW Government.

Site plan

For more detailed maps, please go to the Documents section of this page.

At a glance

appx

900MW

installed capacity
Approximately

500

jobs during construction
power appx

500,000

average Australian homes
employ and buy

local

commitment
Help Australia transition to

clean energy
up to

131

wind turbines

CENTRAL WEST ORANA REGION

ACEN Australia is committed to the Central-West Orana region for decades to come. Learn more about the NSW Government's Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.

Learn more

Community

Built on a foundation of trust and shared value, we seek to develop relationships with communities that create enduring and positive impact. Here are some of the things we are doing and have proposed to implement for Valley of the Winds following project approval.

ACEN Australia Social Investment Program (SIP) available to the Coolah and surrounding communities from now and into construction of the project.
Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with Warrumbungle Regional Council, commencing at construction of the project through the end of the project life. Likely to consist of a payment to the equivalent of 1.5% of the project’s capital expenditure to Council for the purpose of delivering and facilitating community projects and infrastructure
Through the payment of Access Fees allowing connection into to the Central-West Orana REZ infrastructure, ACEN will make significant financial contributions to the NSW Government to be directly invested into communities within the CWOREZ
Neighbour agreements so that eligible properties within 5km of project infrastructure receive a direct benefit
Commitment to responsibly decommission all project infrastructure at the end of project life
Commitment to prioritise the participation of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to deliver goods and services
Commitment to product stewardship through environmental and social procurement that encourage circular economy outcomes
Addressing housing affordability and availability through a proposed temporary workers accommodation facility
Commitment to First Nations participation through areas such as contracting, employment, training and business innovation
Commitment to Learning Worker participation through areas such as traineeships and apprenticeships
Commitment to using local content for construction materials from Australia or New Zealand

Social Investment Program

ACEN Australia Social Investment Program (SIP) available to the Coolah community and surrounds. This is ACEN Australia’s voluntary contribution available now and into construction of the project. Funding is available to not-for profit organisations and activities that directly benefit and enhance the liveability and vibrancy of the community

Worker accommodation

The expected peak construction workforce for Valley of the Winds is 500. To limit the use of short-stay and/tourist accommodation in the region, ACEN Australia has the option to a build temporary workers accommodation facility.

This option will:

Limit the impact on regional housing availability and affordability
Enable the region’s thriving tourism industry to flourish
Offer contracting and employment opportunities for local providers for the construction and servicing of a facility
Maintain the current social fabric of communities, including security and traffic by limiting the majority workforce to one location
Offer a positive health and well-being experience for workers through appropriate accommodation design
Potentially provide local government or other entities with accommodation facilities that can be re-used to meet community needs in the future

First Nations participation

As a company seeking to harness wind, solar and water resources for energy today, we reflect on the contributions made by First Nations over thousands of years. We recognise the value of a better understanding of Aboriginal history and culture, and commit to meaningful participation with First Nations groups to support the protection of country, culture, and the development of their aspirations.

Jobs and business

We have a commitment to employ and buy locally where we can so we can keep the benefits local. With such a significant construction investment, it is anticipated that there will be many opportunities for regional businesses to be involved. Goods and services likely to be procured locally include:

Central -West Orana community impacts and benefits

We are planning several projects in the NSW Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ) in the coming years and we are working with stakeholders and communities to balance the impacts and opportunities that a growing renewable energy industry can bring. We want to maximise local employment and business opportunities and deliver the most appropriate accommodation solutions for our workforces. Our preference and priority is to employ locally first, however current skills and labour shortages are a considerable barrier in achieving this.