City of Newcastle Proposes Solar Farm and EV Charging Facility in Shortland as Part of Climate Action Plan 2030

City of Newcastle has proposed the Astra Street Community Energy Precinct at a remediated landfill in Shortland, which aims to address the city's renewable electricity needs and include a renewable energy sharing scheme. This initiative is part of the draft Newcastle Climate Action Plan 2026 - 2030 (CAP 2030), which will be voted on by Councillors for public exhibition.

The CAP 2030 outlines actions to achieve net zero emissions from city operations by 2030 and support a transition to net zero emissions across Newcastle by 2040. The project could feature a 10-megawatt solar farm and a 20-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System.

An estimated $42 million in investment is needed to implement the plan, with a potential return of $3.5 million to $4 million per year by 2030. Community input will be sought in early 2026 if the draft CAP 2030 is approved for exhibition.