The Wilpena Pound Solar Farm and Energy Storage Facility involved the upgrade and expansion of the existing renewable energy system servicing the Wilpena Pound Resort within Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park. The development included an expanded 300 kW solar array and a 250 kW battery energy storage system, improving the resort’s renewable energy capacity and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.
MasterPlan was engaged to prepare the necessary application plans, undertake the planning assessment, and prepare and lodge the development application for assessment by the State Commission Assessment Panel.
The project presented a unique planning challenge due to its location within a gazetted National Park in an Out of Council Area, where planning policy provided limited guidance for renewable energy infrastructure of this nature. MasterPlan prepared the development plans and a comprehensive planning assessment addressing the environmental, land use and policy considerations associated with the proposal, demonstrating that the development could be accommodated without compromising the values of the surrounding national park.
The project highlights MasterPlan’s ability to deliver planning approvals for renewable energy infrastructure in environmentally sensitive locations, combining planning, design and project management expertise to facilitate sustainable development in some of South Australia’s most significant landscapes.
