Arabic version: الموافقة على مزرعة رياح بالدون قرب هاي
According to ABC News, the NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved Goldwind Capital’s 1,400-megawatt Baldon Wind Farm near Hay in southern New South Wales, despite substantial community opposition.
The state-significant project is planned for the South West Renewable Energy Zone, about 64 kilometres south-west of Hay. It will include 175 turbines up to 300 metres tall, making them 100 metres higher than any turbines currently operating in NSW.
Baldon is expected to be the state’s second-largest wind project by capacity, after the Bullawah Wind Farm and battery energy storage system, which was approved in October. During the original consultation period, 72 of 80 submissions opposed the proposal, while Hay Shire Council supported it.
The three-member IPC panel considered concerns about traffic, possible contamination, cumulative impacts, decommissioning and rehabilitation. Its approval requires a traffic-management plan, upgrades and maintenance for local roads, repairs for development-related damage, and a decommissioning and rehabilitation plan.
Baldon did not receive access rights to EnergyCo’s South West Renewable Energy Zone transmission infrastructure in December 2025. Goldwind says the first development stage would build 45 turbines and connect through the separate 220kV X5 Balranald-to-Darlington Point transmission line. The company may seek access rights later.
