The NSW Government has established several renewable energy zones (REZ) to ensure the development of wind, solar and battery energy storage projects can be cost-effectively connected to existing or purpose-built transmission infrastructure.
Aviation Projects is working with a number of developers in the various renewable energy zones, preparing Aviation Impact Assessments for the proposed developments to identify and mitigate any potential impacts to local aviation activity. The scope of the assessments include instrument approach procedures and obstacle limitation surfaces for certified aerodromes, enroute traffic and the range of activities at other aerodromes and airfields on private property in the general area.
A site visit to the area around a wind farm is normally carried out to ensure that the physical environment surrounding the wind farm is what we expect from our desktop studies, and to find any other airfields or aviation activity that might not have been obvious during our desktop work.
On a recent site visit to some projects within the Central-West Orana REZ, our Melbourne based consultant Peter White flew to Dubbo from Essendon on a Link Airways Saab SF40 aircraft and then drove around the roads surrounding those wind farms. Avoiding the airport terminals in Sydney and Melbourne airports reduced the COVID risk for this trip.
His observations were consistent with the findings from the desktop study, and he even visited two local private airfields to see the local environment and the area where the potential wind farm, and in this case a potential solar farm, were to be located in relation to these private airfields.
Regional NSW is well served by airlines such as Rex, QantasLink, Link Airways, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which has a regional base at Dubbo Airport. Aerial application operators are active in the area as well.
We like to consult with aircraft operators to make sure that they are aware of the proposed development and to allow them to assess if it might have any adverse impact upon their flight operations. Any feedback is consolidated in our final report which normally forms part of the Development Application, which in this case will be considered by the local planning authority and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Any potential impacts to aviation procedures, flight paths and take-off and landing patterns at private airfields are also considered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Department of Defence.
To find out more about how we can support your renewable energy project through a detailed and thorough assessment of aviation impacts, please contact us.
Tags: Wind Farm, Aviation Impact Assessment, Renewable Energy Zone
