| Following our trip to Inverell this week, we would like to provide you with an update on the proposed Inverell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project, share a summary of what we heard from the community and outline the Project’s next steps towards submitting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). |
Community engagement events
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| Firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with us, ask questions, and share your thoughts while the Project team was in town. We understand that participating in these activities takes time out of your day, and we sincerely appreciate your willingness to be involved.
We would also like to extend our thanks to TAFE Inverell, The Inverell Club and Union Cafe and Bar for generously allowing us to use their venues for our engagement activities. Their hospitality and support played an important role in making our time in town such a success.
During our time in Inverell, the team was able to:
- Host a near neighbour information evening
- Meet with the Inverell Shire Council
- Host two community information sessions
- and, have multiple meetings with our nearest neighbours.
We appreciated the wide range of conversations and feedback shared throughout the week. Local knowledge and perspectives are important and will help inform the Project’s ongoing investigations, specialist assessments and design as we continue progressing through the planning approvals process.
Thank you again to everyone who engaged with us. We look forward to continuing these conversations and keeping the community informed as the Project progresses. |
| Community members shared valuable feedback and raised a number of important topics relating to Project development, Project benefits and wider needs of the Inverell community during the engagement activities, including:
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| Each topic raised by the community will be carefully considered as part of the Project’s ongoing planning, investigations and specialist assessments.
A more comprehensive summary of the community’s feedback will be provided in the EIS. |
| The purpose of the EIS is to assess the Project’s economic, environmental and social impacts. It helps the community, Council, government agencies and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) better understand the Project so informed decisions can be made regarding the Project’s merits.
South Energy aims to submit the EIS to DPHI in late 2026. Community and stakeholder engagement will be summarised within the EIS, along with the outcomes of the specialist reports such as noise, visual, traffic, bushfire etc.
Once submitted, the EIS will be placed on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days. During this period, community members, stakeholder groups and government agencies will be able to provide a formal submission through the NSW Major Projects Portal. |
| South Energy will be available during the exhibition period to help community members navigate the documentation and understand how to make a submission. Submissions do not need to be technical or lengthy to be considered, just specific to a known consideration of the Project.
Following exhibition, South Energy will prepare a Submissions Report responding to submissions raised by the community and stakeholders. DPHI will then assess the Project and make a recommendation on whether approval should be granted.
We recognize that the technical language used in NSW planning legislation can sometimes be complex and difficult to navigate. We aim to communicate consistently and clearly, making the State Significant Development (SSD) process information as accessible and easy to understand as possible, so you feel informed and confident to engage with us throughout the Project. |
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Community feedback survey
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| If you were unable to meet with us in Inverell in person, we would still like to hear from you.
We encourage you to complete our community feedback survey if you haven’t already.
Click the button below or scan the QR code.
The survey focuses on the social impacts, opportunities and issues that are important to the local community and will help inform the Project’s Social Impact Assessment (SIA).
Your feedback will provide valuable insight into community perspectives on the proposed Project, including potential impacts, opportunities and local priorities.
The survey takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete (19 questions) and will close at 5:00 pm (AEST) on Friday, 14 August 2026. |
| Kind regards,
Inverell BESS Project Team
South Energy |
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