Muckaty Solar Precinct

Proponent: AAPowerLink Australia Assets Pty Ltd

Overview

The proposed action is the development of a large-scale solar generation and battery energy storage system precinct on Muckaty in the Barkly Local Government Area.

The proposed action is located within NT Portion 5173 approximately 27 km west of the Stuart Highway, 121 km north of Tennant Creek and 81 km south of Elliot (Kulumindini).

Energy generated at the precinct will be dispatched through the Australia-Asia Powerlink Project’s transmission system on Powell Creek Station.

The proposed activities require a project area of approximately 105,000 ha. A disturbance footprint of approximately 49,300 ha has been identified as potentially suitable for development of:

• solar generation sites (including solar panels, local collector network, inverters, batteries, substations).
• transmission infrastructure (including switching station, and overhead transmission line).
• non-process infrastructure (including access roads, airfield, rail siding accommodation, borrow pits, laydowns, borefield).

Solar generation sites will be constructed in stages. Each generation site is expected to take approximately five years to construct and operate for approximately 70 years following commissioning.

Temporary non-process infrastructure is expected to be progressively decommissioned. Solar generation sites will be decommissioned and rehabilitated progressively at the end of each site’s operational life.

Stage 1: Referral

NT EPA notices

• Notice of Decision to accept referral for standard assessment – 20 October 2025 PDF (1.6 MB)
• Direction to provide additional information – EP Reg 83 – 23 December 2025 PDF (78.1 KB)
• Notice of decision and statement of reasons – assessment by EIS – 4 February 2026 PDF (176.0 KB)

Public consultation

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 28 October 2025 to invite public comment on the referral for standard assessment submitted by AAPowerLink Australia Assets Pty Ltd for the Muckaty Solar Precinct, located within the Barkly Local Government area. The proposed site is approximately 27 km west of the Stuart Highway and 121 km north of the Tennant Creek township and sits within Aboriginal freehold owned by the Muckaty Aboriginal Land Trust (NT Portion 5173).

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 25 November 2025. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Documents

Submissions received on the referral

Public consultation

The NT EPA directed AAPowerLink Australia Assets Pty Ltd (AAPL) to provide additional information under Environment Protection Regulation 83.

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 6 January 2026 to invite public comment on the additional information submitted by AAPowerLink Australia Assets Pty Ltd for the Muckaty Solar Precinct.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 28 January 2026. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 85(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Stage 2: Assessment

Assessment by environmental impact statement

NT EPA notices

• Notice of decision on terms of reference - 2 July 2026 PDF (81.2 KB)

Draft terms of reference

Documents

Public consultation

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 21 May 2026 to invite comment on the draft terms of reference for preparation of an environmental impact statement for the Muckaty Solar Precinct proposed by AAPowerLink Australia Assets Pty Ltd.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 12 June 2026. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 102 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

The following submissions are published in accordance with regulation 267 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Terms of reference