Greater impact together: Fyfe and NGH set to lead environmental solutions together
The Blind Creek Solar Farm in Bungendore, NSW, is more than a significant renewable energy project — it’s a masterclass in how thoughtful environmental planning and engagement can shape better outcomes for clients, communities and the Country.
NGH, who recently joined Fyfe, managed the environmental planning and approval process for the Blind Creek project, handling everything from initial scoping through to post-approval environmental management plans.
Now, with NGH joining Fyfe, our collective environmental expertise is set to deliver both value and enhanced environmental services to our East Coast clients.
Comprehensive Environmental Services and Community Engagement
Backed by Stride Renewables and Octopus Investments, the Blind Creek project will generate around 350 MW of clean solar energy, supported by a 300 MW-hour battery storage system to stabilise supply during peak demand.
But the success of this project goes beyond its green energy capabilities, touching communities, local flora and fauna, and even a few hundred sheep.
Besides leading the environmental planning process from day one — scoping, assessing, negotiating, and navigating the approvals process — the team delivered a full suite of services, including biodiversity, cultural heritage, soil, and social impact assessments. Additionally, NGH managed sub-consultants for hydrology, noise, visual and hazard assessments, ensuring a cohesive and integrated approach.
Deep engagement with local Aboriginal groups also culminated in the creation of a dedicated learning zone along the Lake George shoreline. Not a condition of approval, the zone is an above-and-beyond initiative made possible through genuine collaboration and relationship building with local groups.
The innovative agri-solar approach also deserves attention. The Blink Creek site has been designed with rotational sheep grazing in mind, integrating clean energy generation with ongoing agricultural use, setting a new benchmark for dual land use that other projects can follow.
Overcoming Challenges and Setting new Standards
Of course, no sizable project is complete with a few curveball challenges, and at Blind Creek, this came in the form of prickly nesting habits. During fieldwork, team ecologists discovered that threatened White-fronted Chats were nesting in noxious thistle — typically a target for weed removal.
The solution? A species-specific management plan developed before approval (unusual in NSW) that negotiated a delicate balance between weed control and wildlife protection.
The Department of Planning and the Biodiversity Conservation Division, both signed off on the proactive approach, a testament to the team’s technical skill and stakeholder diplomacy.
While components such as soil and agricultural assessments went smoothly, it was the challenging parts where NGH’s true value emerged. The team’s strategic advice saved time, reduced risk, and protected irreplaceable environmental and cultural assets.
With the environmental work on Blind Creek now complete, the site stands as a model for how collaboration, engagement, and dedication to heritage and culture can combine in a single, significant project.
NGH and Fyfe and look forward to delivering environmental excellence together.
Connect with our NGH colleagues here.
