The NSW Independent Planning Commission granted development approval for the Baldon Wind Farm on 10 November 2026, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for the 1,400 MW on‑shore wind project.

The approved scheme allows up to 175 turbines, each with a tip height of 300 metres, making them more than 100 metres taller than any existing turbines in the state.

The development will be delivered in two stages: an initial 46 turbines generating 368 MW connected to an existing 220 kV line, followed by 129 turbines adding roughly 1,032 MW.

A battery energy storage system of up to 200 MW/400 MWh is also included, which may be built as a central facility or as distributed units attached to individual turbines.

The project’s location is about 64 km south‑west of Hay in the Riverina region, within the South West Renewable Energy Zone of New South Wales.

Goldwind Capital must address a key grid‑connection issue: while stage one will use the existing 220 kV X5 Balranald‑to‑Darlington Point line, stage two will require additional transmission capacity that has not yet been allocated.

The approval follows strong community opposition – 72 of 80 public submissions opposed the project – but Hay Shire Council supported it and the IPC imposed conditions on traffic management, road upgrades and a de‑commissioning plan.

Economic benefits include up to 400 construction jobs and about 35 permanent positions, plus a community benefit contribution of $1,100 per megawatt, largely directed to Murray River and Hay Shire councils.

Environmental conditions require biodiversity offsets, a management strategy for threatened species such as the Plains‑wanderer and Southern Bell Frog, and participation in a regional working group.

The developer must still secure grid‑connection agreements, finalize engineering and procurement, and obtain financing before construction can commence, with an estimated 42‑month build period if stages are delivered consecutively.