In Feburary, Albury-based solar energy company Green Switch Australia unveilled its plans for the 90-hectare solar farm, which is intended for the corner of Redbank and Boiling Down roads near the tip. 

On Thursday, Green Switch’s commercial director Simon Grasby was happy to announce that the project was one step closer to being granted its final planning permit.

“We have just made our responses back to Planing NSW to address the different matters raised throughout our public consultations with key groups like the local council and other government bodies,” Mr Grasby said.

“That was mainly about addressing some traffic management comments we received and also undertaking some additional work to look at water flow across the site during times of flooding.” 

If its application for a planing permit is successful, Green Switch’s solar farm will take six to nine months to build and should have a total lifespan of 30 years. 

The 47 megawatt solar generated station would be comprised of some 122,000 solar panels and could help reduce the city’s reliance on pricey coal-generated power. 

With things progressing very well so far, Mr Grasby said he is confident construction will be under way before the year’s end. 

“We would hope to receive our consent later on in the year, and then from there we need to complete the grid connection process,” he said.

“So we’re still looking to get in to build towards the end of this year or beginning of next year – there’s some way to go yet, but I remain confident we’ll get there.” 

Green Switch’s proposed Gregadoo plant is just one of many solar energy projects now on the horizon in Wagga and the wider Riverina.

There are currently $750 million worth of renewable energy projects slated for the region, including farms at Bomen, Coleambally, Griffith, and Hay.

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