The 100MW PV Solar Farm located at Yarranlea, some 45km South West of Toowoomba, was approved last week by the Toowoomba Regional Council.Director, Nick Canto and icubed consulting, Principal Urban Planner, Elizabeth Cruice, attended the Toowoomba Regional Council, Development Assessment Panel meeting to present for the project, which was Impact Assessable under the local government planning scheme. In an amazing milestone for the project, approval for the project to proceed was granted by the elected members present.

icubed consulting undertook the majority of the studies required to support the development application for the project. Where required we identified industry specialists to prepare supplementary expert technical reports, which combined to provide a very robust submission which ensured the Council officers supported the project, hence their recommendation to grant an approval. Given the project was subject to public notification due to the high level of assessment, gaining an approval in under six months from lodgement was an incredible achievement. It is a testament to the icubed planning teams’ ability to develop complete and compelling material to support applications for major projects. Whilst there was opposition to the project and a number of properly made submissions, icubed assembled a great team of experts, who were able to address all of the key concerns to ensure the outcome achieved at the recent council meeting.

icubed continue their brief on the project, now moving to the delivery phase which sees their team finalise arrangements with Ergon Energy and AEMO for the electrical connection of the completed facility and Construction Phase Project Management. Further information about the Yarranlea Solar PV project and all of the submission documents can be found at www.yarranleasolar.com.au

Yarranlea Solar has also created a role for a full time Community Liaison and Environmental Officer who will be specifically focused on community engagement activities and ensuring the project achieves all of its environmental obligations set out in the Development Approval conditions. Further details of this appointment will be make in the new year.