Proponent: Department of Mining and Energy
Overview
The Department of Mining and Energy is proposing to construct and operate solar generators in the Weddell region of the Northern Territory, supplying an additional 180-210 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and battery storage directly into the Darwin-Katherine electricity system.
The proposed action includes:
- a generation precinct (located approximately 16 km south of Palmerston) comprising:
- 3 to 6 solar farms arranged in 30-35 MW lots over a total area of 360 ha
- a substation
- battery energy storage systems
- overhead transmission lines connecting the generation precinct to the existing Channel Island-Hudson Creek overhead transmission line near the Weddell Power Station on the Middle Arm Peninsula.
The life of the proposed action is approximately 30 years including construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning.
Stage 1: Referral
NT EPA notices
- Notice of decision to accept referral for standard assessment – 16 June 2025 PDF (1.1 MB)
- Notice of decision and statement of reasons – assessment by referral information – 19 August 2025 PDF (705.0 KB)
Statutory notice (19 June 2025)
The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 19 June 2025 inviting public comment on a referral for a standard assessment submitted by the Department of Mining and Energy to construct and operate solar generators in the Weddell region of the Northern Territory.
Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 17 July 2025. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
Documents
| Referral | Type |
|---|---|
| Referral form | PDF 11.8 MB |
| Referral submission | PDF 14.4 MB |
| Appendix A – Proposal area coordinates | PDF 426.4 KB |
| Appendix B – Summary of public consultation | PDF 1.2 MB |
| Appendix C – Impact assessment criteria | PDF 438.5 KB |
| Appendix D – Impact assessment register | PDF 361.3 KB |
| Appendix E – Ecology report – Part 1 | PDF 19.1 MB |
| Appendix E – Ecology report – Part 2 | PDF 9.0 MB |
| Appendix F – Transmission corridor – Ecology report | PDF 13.2 MB |
| Appendix G – Stormwater management strategy | PDF 10.3 MB |
| Submission received on the referral | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Government authority submissions | ||
| 1 | Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority | PDF 416.8 KB |
| 2 | Department of Health – Health Protection Branch | PDF 167.6 KB |
| 3 | Department of Lands, Planning and Environment | PDF 713.4 KB |
| 4 | Department of Logistics and Infrastructure | PDF 436.1 KB |
| 5 | Department of Tourism and Hospitality – Parks and Wildlife Commission | PDF 215.8 KB |
| 6 | NT WorkSafe | PDF 206.6 KB |
| Public submissions | ||
| 7 | Heidi Jennings | PDF 74.0 KB |
| 8 | Justin Tutty | PDF 68.7 KB |
| 9 | Pauline Cass | PDF 76.9 KB |
| 10 | The Environment Centre NT (ECNT) | PDF 559.8 KB |
Stage 2: Assessment
Assessment by referral information
The NT EPA decided the method of environmental impact assessment to be by referral information (tier 1) on 19 August 2025. A general overview of timeframes under the Environment Protection Act 2019 is available in the flowchart of the environmental impact assessment process PDF (689.7 KB).
Stage 3: Assessment completed
NT EPA notice
Statutory notice
The NT EPA provided its assessment report and draft environmental approval to the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security on 11 October 2025, under sections 64 and 65 of the Environment Protection Act 2019.
The assessment report and draft environmental approval may be inspected and obtained above.
The NT EPA publishes this notice in accordance with section 67 of the Environment Protection Act 2019.
Once the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment’s decision is made, to view it, go to the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment website.