Stop Venn Energy
Boree Solar Project Opposition · Geurie NSW
Boree Solar Project EIS · NSW Planning
How to Submit Your Objection to the Boree Solar Project EIS
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) public exhibition is your legal right to be heard. Anyone in Australia can lodge a submission — you do not need to be a landholder or local resident. This guide explains exactly how to do it.
On this page
EIS Preparation Underway — Exhibition Window Not Yet Open
SEARs have been issued. Venn Energy is preparing the EIS. Once submitted and accepted, the EIS will be publicly exhibited for a minimum of 28 days. Sign up for updates so you don’t miss the window.
50+ Objections Triggers Independent Review — This Changes Everything
Under NSW planning law, if 50 or more public submissions object to the Boree Solar Project during the EIS exhibition, the decision is automatically referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) — removing it from the Minister for Planning's sole discretion. The IPC holds public hearings and operates independently of government. Every unique submission counts. Note: submissions using substantially the same text count as one — write in your own words.
Why It Matters
Your Submission Has Real Legal Weight
The Boree Solar Project is classified as State Significant Development (SSD) under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This means it bypasses local council approval — Dubbo Regional Council cannot approve or refuse the project. The decision rests with either the NSW Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission.
Public submissions during the EIS exhibition are a formal part of the assessment process. The NSW Department of Planning is required to consider them. Venn Energy must respond to issues raised in submissions — and if those responses are inadequate, it can delay or derail approval.
The submission window typically opens for a minimum of 28 days once the EIS is publicly exhibited. You will not get another formal opportunity after this window closes.
Anyone can submit — not just locals
You do not need to own land near the project or live in Geurie. Any person in Australia can lodge a formal submission through the NSW Planning Portal.
50+ objections triggers the IPC
If 50 or more unique objections are received, the project is automatically referred to the Independent Planning Commission for independent review and public hearings.
Short submissions count as much as long ones
Each submission counts as one, regardless of length. A genuine personal account of how the project affects you is valuable. You do not need a legal or technical background.
Your contact details can be kept confidential
You can request that your personal contact details be kept confidential in the public record. Your submission itself will be published, but your address and phone number do not have to be.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to Lodge Your EIS Submission
1
Create a NSW Planning Portal account
All submissions for State Significant Development must be lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. You will need to create a free account using your email address before the exhibition window opens. Do this now so you are ready.
If you need help setting up an account, call Service NSW on 1300 305 695.
Tip: Set up your account before the exhibition window opens. Don’t leave it until the last week — allow time in case of technical issues.
2
Find the Boree Solar Project project on the portal
Once the EIS is on public exhibition, go to the Boree Solar Project project page on the NSW Planning Portal. You will see a “Make a Submission” button appear during the exhibition window.
You can also navigate to Major Projects → search “Boree Solar Project” → select the project → click “Have Your Say.”
Tip: Bookmark the project page now and subscribe to notifications on the portal so you receive an alert when the exhibition opens.
3
Write your submission — in your own words
Your submission does not need to be long or technical. What matters most is that it is written in your own words and reflects your genuine concerns. Submissions using substantially the same text as others count as a single submission — personalise yours.
Include: your name and contact details (address can be kept confidential on request), whether you support or object to the project, how you are personally affected or concerned, and which specific issues you want the Department to consider.
Tip: Use the objection points below as a guide. Pick the issues most relevant to you — a focused submission on one or two genuine concerns is more effective than a generic list.
4
Lodge your submission before the deadline
Submit your objection through the NSW Planning Portal before the exhibition end date. The exhibition window is a minimum of 28 days — but do not wait until the final days. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email. All submissions are published on the NSW Planning Portal once the exhibition period closes.
Tip: Sign up to our email list at Join Us — we will send an alert the moment the exhibition window opens and a reminder before it closes.
5
Ask others to submit — every unique submission counts
Share this page with family, friends, neighbours, and allied groups. Anyone in Australia can submit. The more unique objections received, the stronger the case for Independent Planning Commission review — and the harder it becomes for the project to be waved through.
Share via the campaign Facebook group, regional newsletters, local schools, church groups, farming networks, and any allied organisations. If 50 or more unique submissions object, the IPC is triggered automatically.
Remember: Petitions count as one submission regardless of signatures. Individual written submissions — each in the person’s own words — are far more powerful than a mass-signed petition.
What to Write About
Key Objection Points to Consider
The following are the strongest objection grounds for the Boree Solar Project EIS. You do not need to cover all of them — choose the issues that genuinely concern you and write about them in your own words. Refer to specific sections of the EIS where possible.
Loss of prime agricultural land
1,322 hectares of RU1-zoned Primary Production land — some of Central West NSW's most productive farming country — permanently removed from food production for 30+ years. Class 1 agricultural land cannot be replaced.
Flood and drainage risk
Conversion of vegetated farmland to hardstand and panel arrays changes flood plain drainage and runoff. Geurie village already floods — increased impervious surface may worsen existing flood risk for residents and businesses.
Visual and amenity impact
A 1,322-hectare industrial installation with 10-foot perimeter fencing, security lighting, cameras, and tens of thousands of panels fundamentally changes the open agricultural landscape of the Geurie and Wongarbon district for 30 years.
Biodiversity and riparian areas
Parts of neighbouring properties hold biodiversity and riparian protection orders. The project's impact on these protected areas, including dust, water pollution, and habitat fragmentation during construction, requires thorough independent assessment.
Local economic and social impact
Geurie's economy depends on agricultural activity. Reduced farming means fewer workers, less trade, and reduced viability for local businesses including the 123-year-old Geurie General Store. A social impact assessment should be conducted prior to approval, not after.
Inadequate community consultation
Land was leased before any social or environmental assessment. Dubbo Regional Council found out via Facebook. Landholders were given fewer than 30 days to respond to a survey. Community meetings were refused. This process failure should inform the rigour of the EIS assessment.
Construction traffic and road impact
A project of this scale requires sustained heavy haulage over an extended construction period across Albion Hills Road, Firbank Road, Westella Road, and the Mitchell Highway. Impacts on road condition, dust, noise, and remediation costs have not been addressed.
Site selection — better alternatives exist
Solar development on degraded land, industrial zones, and rooftop installations could achieve the same energy outcome without sacrificing prime agricultural land. The EIS should demonstrate that less harmful alternatives were genuinely assessed and rejected on merit.
Cumulative impact of multiple projects
The Boree Solar Project is not proposed in isolation — the area is also facing the Hampton Park Solar proposal. The cumulative impact of multiple large-scale renewable energy projects on the same agricultural district must be assessed together, not in isolation.
Template Letter
A Starting Point — Not a Form Letter
Use this template as a starting point only. The most effective submissions are written in your own words, describe your personal connection to the issue, and focus on the concerns most relevant to you.
Do not copy this template verbatim — submissions using substantially identical text count as a single submission under NSW planning law. Personalise it. Add your own experience. Refer to specific sections of the EIS once it is published.
A downloadable PDF version of this template will be added when the EIS exhibition window opens. Sign up to be notified.
Sample EIS Submission — Boree Solar Project
To the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure,
I am writing to object to the Boree Solar Project proposal (State Significant Development) by Venn Energy, located north of Geurie in Central West NSW.
My name is [Your full name] and I live at [Your address — or note if you wish this kept confidential]. I am [a neighbouring landholder / a Geurie resident / a concerned Australian / describe your connection].
My primary concerns with this proposal are:
[Write your concerns here in your own words. Refer to the objection points above. Be specific — e.g. “As a farmer whose property shares a boundary with the proposed site, I am concerned about…”]
I urge the Department to conduct the most rigorous independent assessment of this proposal, with particular attention to [the issues you raised above].
I request that my submission be considered and that I be notified of the outcome.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Date]
PDF download available when EIS exhibition opens
Beyond the EIS
Who Else to Contact
- Local Government
Dubbo Regional Council
Local Government Authority — Dubbo Regional LGA
While Dubbo Regional Council cannot approve or refuse the project, a formal council objection counts toward the IPC trigger and carries significant weight in the Department's assessment. Encourage council to lodge a formal submission opposing the project.
- State Government
Your Local NSW MP
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly
Write to your NSW state electorate MP. The relevant electorates include Dubbo and Bathurst. Ask them to raise your concerns in Parliament, write to the Minister for Planning, and publicly oppose the project. Politicians respond to constituent contact.
- NSW Government
Minister for Planning
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
The Minister for Planning is the consent authority for State Significant Development unless the IPC is triggered. A direct letter to the Minister's office — separate from your formal EIS submission — keeps the community's concerns on the political record.
EIS Exhibition Deadline: Not Yet Open
The EIS has not yet been submitted or publicly exhibited. SEARs were issued in late 2025. Once Venn Energy lodges the EIS with DPHI and it is accepted, the exhibition window will open for a minimum of 28 days. We will update this page and notify our email list the moment the window opens. Do not miss it.
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