All NSW SSDs on exhibition
Battery energy storage · Cessnock City · SSD-92914712

Object to Sunshine Estate Battery Energy Storage System at Rothbury.

SSD-92914712 is a State Significant Development on public exhibition until 10/07/2026. Anyone can lodge a public submission — objections put your concerns on the official assessment record.

4 days left to object
Public exhibition 12/06/2026 – 10/07/2026. Confirm on the official portal.
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What is proposed at Rothbury

Construction, operation and decommissioning of a 120 MW / 480 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure.

Read the full application on the NSW Planning Portal

In plain English

Sunshine Estate Battery Energy Storage System is a battery energy storage proposed at Rothbury. In plain terms: Construction, operation and decommissioning of a 120 MW / 480 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure.

What it is
Construction, operation and decommissioning of a 120 MW / 480 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure.
Where
Rothbury, Cessnock City
Who decides
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (not the local council).
Why it matters

It is on public exhibition now, which is the window when the community can put concerns or support on the official assessment record. Once it closes, that opportunity is gone.

Who it affects

Residents and businesses in and around Rothbury (Cessnock City) — anyone affected by traffic, noise, overshadowing, character or amenity changes during construction and once it is operating.

This is a State Significant Development, so it is large or sensitive enough to be decided by the NSW Department of Planning rather than the local council.

Plain-English summary generated by ObjectionEngine to help Rothbury residents understand the proposal. Always verify against the official material.

Sample objection for this proposal

A starting point prepared by ObjectionEngine (template mode). Make it yours — submissions carry most weight when they add what only you know.

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1.Fire risk and emergency response

Material

The proposal has not demonstrated that its impacts on fire risk and emergency response are acceptable for nearby residents, and the exhibited material should be tested on this point before any approval.

Based on the resident's stated local knowledge; the exhibited application material should be checked on this point.
Source Resident-supplied information — verify against the exhibited material
Assess against Relevant planning controls and public interest assessment

2.Noise from inverters and cooling

Material

The proposal has not demonstrated that its impacts on noise from inverters and cooling are acceptable for nearby residents, and the exhibited material should be tested on this point before any approval.

Based on the resident's stated local knowledge; the exhibited application material should be checked on this point.
Source Resident-supplied information — verify against the exhibited material
Assess against Relevant planning controls and public interest assessment
Read the full sample letter (all 3 grounds)

I object to SSD-92914712 at Rothbury, NSW. The exhibited development application should not be approved in its current form because the proposal asks the consent authority to accept material planning and amenity impacts while key evidence remains incomplete, fragile or insufficiently tested.

My local context is: I am a local resident near the site. This is a general sample submission prepared before individual residents add the specific details only they know. The development application is SSD-92914712, a development application before NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The key concerns are fire risk and emergency response, noise from inverters and cooling and visual impact on rural character.

1. Fire risk and emergency response. The proposal has not demonstrated that its impacts on fire risk and emergency response are acceptable for nearby residents, and the exhibited material should be tested on this point before any approval. The current record says: "Based on the resident's stated local knowledge; the exhibited application material should be checked on this point." (Resident-supplied information — verify against the exhibited material). This should be assessed against Relevant planning controls and public interest assessment.

2. Noise from inverters and cooling. The proposal has not demonstrated that its impacts on noise from inverters and cooling are acceptable for nearby residents, and the exhibited material should be tested on this point before any approval. The current record says: "Based on the resident's stated local knowledge; the exhibited application material should be checked on this point." (Resident-supplied information — verify against the exhibited material). This should be assessed against Relevant planning controls and public interest assessment.

3. Visual impact on rural character. The proposal has not demonstrated that its impacts on visual impact on rural character are acceptable for nearby residents, and the exhibited material should be tested on this point before any approval. The current record says: "Based on the resident's stated local knowledge; the exhibited application material should be checked on this point." (Resident-supplied information — verify against the exhibited material). This should be assessed against Relevant planning controls and public interest assessment.

For those reasons, I ask NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to refuse the application unless the applicant resolves the identified statutory and evidentiary gaps. Require corrected and independently reviewable supporting material before any favourable determination.

This sample is drafting support, not legal advice. Verify every point against the exhibited material before lodging anything.

Concerns residents commonly raise about battery energy storage proposals

Tap one to start your submission with it. The strongest submissions add specifics only locals know — what you see, when, and how it affects you.

How to object in three steps

  1. 1Write a structured objection here — grounds, evidence points and a letter in your own voice.
  2. 2Verify the details against the exhibited material on the NSW Planning Portal.
  3. 3Lodge it yourself via the portal's Make a Submission page before 10/07/2026.
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Everything you need to lodge a real objection yourself.

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  • Sample objection for this proposal
  • Blank template document to write into
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Everything we can assemble about this SSD, organised for objectors.

  • The planning controls that apply, with provision text to cite
  • Comparable determinations and what swayed them
  • Evidence checklist against the exhibited material
  • Citation-ready annexure format for your grounds

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A bespoke deep-research objection built for your situation.

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Rally your neighbours — submissions count most before the deadline.
Drafting support, not legal advice. Verify deadlines and documents on the official portal.More

ObjectionEngine prepares draft wording for your review only. It does not check current planning controls, exhibition periods or official documents, it does not lodge anything for you, and no legal relationship is created. Check the official application record and every factual claim before relying on any wording.