Bendemeer Solar Farm

I believe this project would be helpful in making energy without causing any damage to nature since it's generating power with no gas emission, meaning it's good since it's not adding any air pollution.

Bendeemer Solar Farm has always been playing a vital role utilising environmental energy resources. They have been producing materials which are believed to be very environment friendly and safe to use by mankind. With their project, they are saving the environment and providing resources that can be widely used by humans.

I object to the proposed Bendemeer Solar Project
My reasons include the following
1. This project appears not to comply with Large Scale Solar Guidelines particularly in relation to—
Bushfire Risk
Proximity to Bendemeer Village
Cumulative Impact
Watercourses
2. Environment— This project requires significant Landclearing . The Bendemeer area is being impacted by a Transmission Line ( dual 500kv lines),this Project and a Wind Project The cumulative land clearing would be Environmentally disastrous.
3.Bushfire Risk— This area is a high risk Bushfire zone.
There is no way bushfires can be fought in a dollar plant from the ground. With the proposed Wind Project next door, Aerial fighting would not be possible.
5.Run Off—- the run off from this project will enter the adjacent river which is a human and animal water supply. Damaged panels can release heavy metals.Who is signing off to take responsibility for the economic backlash of a contaminated beef or sheep
carcase on our export market?
6. Source of Panels. Who will give a written guarantee that the panels are not manufactured by slave Labour.
7. Cumulative Impact— New England has been allocated 8 GW which I understand equates to 10,000 ha of Solar and 1500 wind towers. The majority is proposed for Southern New England
This project must be considered in conjunction with
Bendemeer Wind
Thunderbolt Wind
Ruby Hills Wind
Balala Wind
Yarrowyck Wind
Boorolong Wind
Salisbury Solar
Salisbury Wind
Winterbourne Wind
Hills of Gold Wind
Transmission Lines
Plus Other NERez projects

Traffic— there is one road in for all infrastructure, theNew England Highway
Estimates of the Traffic Movements for construction of New England REZ , Wind Towers alone—
18,000 Os OM vehicles
1,175000 B Doubles
580,000 Semi Trailers
Most of these heavy vehicles will pass through Bendemeer
We have a farm not far from Bendemeer . How are we going to get our stock to market and run our day to day business?

I fully support this project for its contribution in combating climate change, making the shift to renewable energy and the impact this will have on the Australian economy.

I object to this proposal.

We support the Bendemeer Solar Farm. Further detail on reasons for support are provided in the attached letter.

I am a local resident of the New England region and support the development of the Bendemeer Solar Farm.
Reasons for my support are provided in the attached letter.

Please see attached letter in objection.

Water Cycle – Northern Hemisphere view, but an able perpective of a Vital Cycle of Water to Evaporated, and then Uplifted water molecules, into Cloud, seen or unseen, that journey over the Land surface each and every day the Human alters every every every Land Surface area every day , while Unaware Heat evaporates this moisture. Evaporates, due to the Unseen Cumulative Impacts of 88 in number on a Dry Continent that has No No No Glaciers upon it, nor Ice At All upon it, you see.

And what is coming en masse , unless it is Ceased Immediately please, Please, Please.

Heat Islands , aka , Solar Farms . And On Prime Agricultural Land Our dear Dear Dear Farmers Need For Future Food Growing.

What are You Doing to a Dry Continent You know Nothing about , gov.au , ie Ignorant and ever so Ignorant All in gov.au are, are, are.

God Had a plan for Earth you see , a plan.

Life was a Journey With , not a Mass Extinction of . What are You doing to a Dry Continent , ah , gov.au .

You will dry it and dry it and then Dry It until it won’t Flow Rainfall it won’t be creating when Renewables cover Prime Agricultural Land, plus Wilderness, You , gov.au , have Not Protected , and Must , Must , Must from Now, August 23 , 2023 , when a Solar Farm proposal, Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub, Will Not Proceed , when I Say You Threaten every Catchment in Australia , before 2030 .
What are You doing to this Continent , known as The Driest Continent On Earth , gov.au , ah .

Cease and Desist this Threat – Bendemeer Solar Farm - to Vital Upper Tributary Macdonald River Catchments, into Namoi River Vital Upper Tributary Catchments to Our Australian Food Production regions.

This is a message to gov.au , today , 23 August 2023 , where I predict the Extinction of Koala by 12 years into 23 years from now.

Cease and Desist the Renewable Lie , Lie , Lie , Lie , Lie , Lie , Lie . Evidence says so that Renewables are Not the Solution to a power what , Climate Change issue , when Our government , named Australian Government , is Increasing Coal Mining, as it states that Coal is Not for Australia . Well , you suggest to the Farmer Why Our Coal Exports Increase OS , while You , yes You , Australian Government , Open More Coal Mines on the Eastern Seaboard Artesian Basin region, that Harm Vital Vital Vital Artesian Basin Water , Not Your Right to Harm , nor Create Loss of.

You will need to Explain What you are Doing to Prime Agricultural Land , in A Dry Continent you haven’t noticed getting drier. La Nina was a Blessing in the Eastern half of a Dry Continent from early 2020 to late 2022 into early 2023 . La Nina will Not be Back for another 18 to 20 years , If she can ever have a way to return to Southern Hemisphere Hotter than Yesterday , than day before Yesterday , etc , etc , etc .

Solar Farms , aka , Heat Islands , Evaporate Vital Moisture in Air , above Human Made constructions of hectare upon hectare size , where once a Farm had the Land as the Surface itself . Human Made Surfaces Heat Air into Atmosphere , eg , an Urban area has a hotter temperature over it than a Farm Land area .

Heat uplifted Into atmosphere , anywhere near a Solar Farm , Impacts Cloud , Seen or unseen , Seen or Unseen . Have a Look Outside , personnel who work Inside all day on screens . You Do Not understand a Dry Continent , or What Cloud is. You do not understand Heat to Air into Atmosphere Into unseen Cloud , as Water Vapour area above our Land Surface. Cloud has Not Even been Researched in a Dry Continent , has it , ah , gov.au .

Understand what Australia was prior to 1770 to 1894, because it Was a Forest and Wetlands Until Bores and Immense Deforestation began around the time from 1842 to 1898 to 1974 , when National Parks started protecting Original Native Forests. When you can understand that, you will understand the Impacts, Over Time, by a Northern Hemisphere Land Management, Inappropriate for a Dry Continent - Unlike any other on Earth, on Earth - named Cumulative Over Time, being 148 or so years On A Dry Continent, that has Lost 80% of Wetlands And 88.8% of Original Native Forest, Still Threatened in 2023, by Australian Government, I Need under a Royal Commission for these things:

1. Harm and Loss to Original Native Species, Original, Original, Original.

2. Increase in Cumulative Impact Threat to :

- Catchments in a Dry Continent , Rain-watered, Not Glacial-watered, and Excess Extracted In a Dry Continent, losing Catchment Flow Ability day by day, day by day.

- Farmland, as Habitat Also, Also, where Endangered Species are able to exist currently, but get no rights to Habitat Trees, do they, gov.au, re Renewable Energy Projects, offering EIS statements saying, Felling of a Habitat Tree is OK. How Dare You, gov.au, accept Big Dollar EIS Paid-for-by-government reports, that state, Felling of Habitat Trees is OK, if they are well known Koala habitat trees of high need On Country All over the Eastern half of a Dry Continent.How Dare You, gov.au, how Dare You.

- Wilderness.
- Catchments watering the Australian Food Bowl with Rainfall from Clouds, Not Included in EIS research or Guidelines, Why ? Clouds are Vital to a Dry Continent, gov.au

- Waterways. Um. Our Precious Catchment Flow is Needed to Water both Urban and Farmland areas, you see. Is government aware Rainfall is a Decreasing Rate over Time. Over Time. No. Thats Obvious.

- Catchments Excess Extracted by Urban Communties in A Dry Continent. Unseen Cumulative Impact to Catchment Flow Ability as a government Increases Excess Extraction of Catchment Flow as Rainfall Declines Over Time. This is a Serious Issue that is Creating a Drought- often Australia, where Drier Dry Droughts have Impacted Vital Upper Tributary Catchments of the Great Dividing Range, Under Increasing and Ever Increasing Cumulative Impact To Catchments that Flow Rainfall, Not Glacial Flow, Not Glacial Flow. Do you understand, gov.au ? Add the Issue of Excess Extraction of Catchment Flow to Build Renewables On Country, Not On Rooftops. Renewables Increase Threat to Catchments, and are Therefore a Threat to Our Food growing Industry, that needs Catchment Flow , of a declining nature.

Understand Here Now Dry Time, Here Now Dry Time. And Renewables need Water from Catchments, Declining in Ability ??? Not even being built yet, are they. Yet about to Immensely Threaten Our Future Food Production, Urban Water Supply, etc – Just to place Renewables On Country , and Not On Rooftops, where They Should Be. Wake Up Please, government of Australia.

You know Nothing about this Continent, Nothing, yet place it under Immense Threat due to Ignorance.

And Look Here, ah. Who sponsors Right Way Australia Land Care, Mulloon Institute, that Really cares for Country, ah.

You, gov.au, Need a Very Education About this Dry Continent, you Harm and Create Loss upon, and Increase the Harm and Loss to All On Country, Just for Money, Just For Money, whilst Ignoring Dry time After Dry Time After Worst Ever Dry Drought Ever in History in NSW into QLD into Vic in 2019 into 2020, then Those Fires, Devastating Catchments.

Put the Renewables On Rooftops , And Do So from Now, And Do So From Now, And Jobs Agenda is taken care of Forever, you see.

Ban Solar Farms upon a Dry Continent Immediately Immediately, Immediately , as a Cumulative Impact Threat to the Future of a Eastern half of Australia, Becoming Drier while Cumulative Impacts to Catchments, therefore All On Catchments.

Government, named Australian, Cease and Desist Every Solar Farm On Country, On Farmland, in Australia Immediately because it is a Necessity, because I am Watching Rain Cloud fall rain Too High up in the atmosphere to reach the Land Surface of a Cool Climate area, Too Hot in Winter, Too Hot in Winter, as a Huge Solar Farm near Uralla Increases in Size, while Cloud Disperses and It Does, and It Does, and It Does, Does, Does, Does. I watch it Disperse upon the Cool Climate Top of the Range of Northern Tablelands region, as a Hotter Temperature region, you see, you see, Why ? Why ? Why, because the Rain Cannot reach Land Surface you see, and that means No Precipitation is measured On Country upon the Drainage Divide of the Great Divide, nor into the catchments, excess extracted Continually by human, times by population Urban, Mining, Farming, Industry, on any Catchment from top of the Range to where, where ? To the Sea you see.

Which Sea, is it, Australian Government, that is not now able to be watered by Darling Catchments, Mm.

You, as a Government, are not capable of running a Dry Continent, Proven.
I Demand a Royal Commission into Renewables, Transmission Lines, Australian Government, and Serious Catchment Flow issues that are threatening the Future of Our Australian Food Bowl, under Threat from a Quite ignorant and unaware government named the Australian Government, who Threaten Life on Catchments in a Dry Continent, with figures showing Rainfall Decline Over Time.

You cannot know the Threat you offer our Nation of a Dry Continent kind.

You cannot even realise this is a Dry Continent, as the research clearly shows Rainfall Decline over time, over how long, Eight Decades, only Eight, of Interference to Catchments, that water a Dry Continent.

Please say you will place our power On Rooftops, and cease and desist Reneawables On Country, On Farmland, In Wilderness, In Oceans immediately.

I Need an Inquiry into Reneawables that are Not Researched as Harm and Loss Infrastructure.

I Demand a Immediate Cessation of Renewables On Country On Farmland In Wilderness and In Oceans Immediately. Evidence is Available to say so, to say so, to say Cease And Desist Renewables, On Country named Australia, and On Country named Earth. Earth. Place Infrastructure For Power and Energy On Rooftops, and Cease and Desist Threat to Australian Catchments, Farmers, Wilderness Areas, and Endangered Wild Life of Australia, without rights you see.
Cease and Desist Renewables On Country Immediately Immediately

Renewable energy in Bendemeer is fully supported by Tamworth Workers Village Pty Ltd.

This development will further strengthen Australia’s transition away from fossil fuel.

While there are benefits already submitted by Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub, there are other community benefits to be considered.

Solar and Wind Energy coming to this area will help protect “the food bowl” of the Liverpool Plains and surrounding areas. Farmers do not want their land disappearing with more coal mines (Whitehaven, Garmet & Glendora coal mines).

It would be hoped that interest in renewables will encourage local school leavers to study and find a career in this field.

We envisage that the greatest benefit for bringing renewable energy to the region will be the cash injection to the local economy, through employment and the subsequent flow-on effect through population growth, which in turn sees community growth filtering down from new business to schools and sporting groups.

Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub will also provide a Community Benefit Fund (which is administered and managed by a committee of local community). These funds are available to fund local projects and infrastructure further developing a stronger community spirit within the region and supporting local businesses through implementation requirements. This rarely happens in small communities.

Bringing a renewable energy project to the region will endorse the need for a workers village, which will create the flow-on effect of services benefiting the community.

The proposed Tamworth Workers Village headed up by Mark Hinman, understands that building a workers village is a new concept for the region. The village will be an essential service providing workers accomodation at a level beyond current expectations and ideals . It will completely change the notion of “traditional” workers accomodation.

His vision for the Tamworth project encompasses providing a service to different local and transient industry bodies, and will provide an essential service to the region, easing pressure on an already under supplied market.

Local service businesses will be given first opportunity to provide contracted services.

Mark has a strong background in the planning, construction and implementation of workers accomodation within the mining industry in Queensland and international consultation.

The Bendemeer Energy Hub will inject a direct cash injection into the local economy, it will assist Tamworth in reaching its forecasted growth modules and entice people into the area, further expanding Tamworth and securing the city’s future economy.

We thank you for the opportunity to express our positive submission on this energy project.

Regards,

Tamworth Workers Village Pty Ltd

My objections are numerous:
1. Potential leakage of chemicals into watercourse and farmland;
2. Cumaltive impact;
3. Far too close to the village of Bendemeer;
4. Repairs and maintenance including - where/how what land fill will be used? cost to local council and more importantly ratepayers?;
5. Decommissioning cost to local ratepayers - what the company brings in the company should remove;
6. Decommissioning bond of one million dollars per estimated year of life span of the project (i.e. one million dollars per 25 years equals twenty five million dollars) should be paid upfront before the turning of any sod of dirt, should the project be approved such funds to be held by council in trust to ensure land is 'put back to original status', although we know this is an impossible task;
7. Roads and bridges are not sufficiently roadworthy for the amount of construction vehicles to access the area, again locals will suffer the burden;
8. Existing shortage and cost will naturally increase by supply and demand of gravel, water, sand and cement for construction, leaving local residents with no materials available and exorbitant increase. that is if they can obtain such materials;
9. Current regional shortage of housing, doctors, nurses and all medical related personal, will the company bring in their own medical team so that we the locals do not go without?;
10. Environment - endanged flora and fauna species, particulary koala habitats will be destroyed with the felling of timber;
11. It is the landholder/neighbour/resident who will lose: –
Devalue of land;
Visual scarring/pollution;
Flora and fauna that the landholder/neighbour/resident nurture;
Lifestyle gone for ever (depending on age of the landholder/neighbour/resident). Consider if you were an 80 year old living the lovely scenic rural village life, this will totally destroy that lifestyle;
Suffer from the potential leakage into water supply and farm land;
This is a real case of 'destroying the environment to save the environment' and destroying the village and peoples lives.

I am a great supporter of the development of Australia’s renewable energy sector but have grave concerns about the plans for this particular development. I have read the environment impact statement for this project and find it insubstantial.It clearly states around 100 ha of native vegetation will be cleared threatening endangered species such as kolas and grey-headed flying fox habitat. With all the clearer land available in the area it is unacceptable to threaten endangered species habitat. Surely, the projects footprint can be relocated to not encroach on this highly valued land.
Secondly, the proximity to the McDonald River is of concern and has not been adequately addressed in the EIS. I have a property downstream on the McDonald River with a healthy platypus population and the threatened Bell turtles along the bank. The potential for this development to pose a threat to the water quality of the river and this critically endangered fauna has not been adequately addressed. Again, this points to a poor site for this development.
Finally, the close proximity to Bendemeer village is also issue for the people living in the village.
Further consideration needs to be given to the site for this important piece of infrastructure not taking what is available.

I object to the solar farm at Bendemeer as it will have a huge impact on the nabering properties as follows.

A decrease in their land value
The 24/7 noice it will have keeping families up and little kids that have school.
The dust and mess it will create when under construction.

In concussion I think it is very rude that a major company thinks that they can come to our little community and build such a monstrosity with no consideration for the families it will negatively impact.

I support the proposed solar project for the following reasons:
1. Economic benefits: The proposed solar project will create 307 jobs during construction, and 15 during the long-term operational phase, which is vital for the growth of regional economies. The project will also provide a diversified income stream for local landowners, drought proofing their properties and allowing agricultural production to continue for the life of the project. There will also be a number of employment and contracting opportunities for local business owners associated with the project and a dedicated community benefit fund will see the local Bendemeer community directly benefit through the contribution of $50K per annum for the life of the project.

2. Environmental benefits: This project is vital as Australia transitions from coal-fired power generation to green electricity productions. Once operational the project will product enough electricity to power 74,000 homes annually and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding 420,000 tonnes CO2 each year.

The Salisbury Plains Renewable Energy Action Group objects to the proposed Bendemeer Solar Farm.

• Project is just over 1km from Bendemeer village - no other such development has been located as close to a rural village as this proposed development (Uralla solar 6kms from township) - protections in place via 10km buffer for Tamworth; Armidale; Wagga; Goulburn; Dubbo; Mudgee but no such protections for Bendemeer
• Solar radiation level is average at most
• Host land NOT flat but hilly/mountainous terrain in the Moonbi Ranges
• NOT cleared will require the felling of trees, removal of top soil and animal habitat
• Highly visible - high negative impact on landscape and residences/properties
• On ag land in high rainfall area
• Soil prone to erosion
• Host land beside Macdonald River and across hills that feed into this source of village water supply
• Bushfire prone land (fire April 2023 stopped just before solar land host boundary)(Moonbi Complex Fires 2019 - village cut off from Tamworth several days)
• Cumulative impact - Bendemeer straddles the New England Highway and at the junction of the Oxley Highway therefore all NE projects will travel through Bendemeer
• Lowe Observatory located in Bendemeer for its dark sky - project lighting will impact this
• Wind project to follow solar and more powerlines - Bendemeer will be more heavily impacted than most with this unfortunate landscape destroying trifecta
• Project has divided the village and torn friendships of many years
• Negative effect on property prices due to impact on views, peace & quiet to be destroyed with 24/7 noise from industrial plant
• ONLY justification for this project is location of existing powerline and willing landholder host (resides in Sydney)

This project is too close to the town of Bendemeer and will impact dramatically on the community.
I object to this project going ahead due to culminative impact, too many in too short a space.
The land will need clearing and levelling which will change the biodiversity of the area.
What are the benefits for the community of Bendemeer, cheaper power bills? Aquatic Centre, school infrastructure, tourism.

Noise Pollution
My home is situated directly opposite the solar farm in a valley with Perry Ponds Creek approximately 50 metres from my backyard. What consideration has been given to me about the 24 hours a day noise coming from the solar farm as noise concentrates around my home because of its low-lying location. Moving the substation x number of metres from my boundary is of little help to me with this noise issue.
Soil Conservation.
There is ongoing gully erosion where the solar farm is to be situated causing 1000’s of tonnes of sand to wash into Perry Ponds Creek causing major silting issues for the creek and then flowing into the McDonald River causing silting issues that in turn will effort our iconic platypus population. What soil conservation plans are in place to control this erosion and what is the effect of the rainwater running off 1000’s of solar panels will this in turn exasperate the soil erosion problem as all this water has to go somewhere and as the solar farm will be situation on granite soil which is very vulnerable to soil erosion by nature.
Foreign Owned Not Community Based.
This solar farm does not take into consideration the citizens of Bendemeer and district and the long-term effects it will have on the citizens and the beautiful scenery of the district. The community fund is a token gesture the figure of $50,000 a year is of little consequence when we will have our quiet lifestyle lost to greedy overseas investors with only one thing in mind big profits leaving our country. Again, Australian’s are being sold out and the local community will be changed forever and will bear the fallout of this solar farm.
Fire Risk
Bendemeer has a small voluntary ageing rural fire brigade and the threat of a fire occurring in or near the solar farm is a high risk as we saw with the Moonbi fires a few years ago coming within close proximity of the solar farm area. Bendemeer has severe lightning strikes, the risk of fire (manmade) due to closeness of the Oxley Highway by way of a cigarette butt or deliberately lit or from heavy transport is an ongoing concern as seen by recent roadside fires. A fire can quickly become a raging inferno with the long vegetation mainly love grass and undergrowth that is around the proposed area. The solar farm panels maybe in a cleared area but what about the outside perimeter. Our fire brigade does not have the resources and manpower to cope with a fire outbreak and Tamworth brigade is a minimum time of forty minutes away to assist.
Dividing the community
This solar project has already created great division amongst the local community, be it town residents or landowners. There is uncertainty and disharmony and where will this lead?
As someone who is directly affected by the construction of this major project why have I not been offered any compensation for the lose of my unique, quiet environment. I will have no choice but to look at this monstrosity when I am working my property. There have been no fruitful discussions regarding how I will access and to continue to operate my farming business.

Submission by attachment

Really great to see another Solar + Bess asset in NSW, I think it will help to suppress pricing and help the local Tamworth region.

The path to decarbonising the Australian economy has been long and difficult. Quite separate to the shifting sands of government support or skepticisim about the renewables industry, the process of developing, building and connecting projects has also been difficult.

The result is that NSW, and Australia as a whole, will need to move quickly to rollout sufficient renewable energy generation to replace coal (and gas) fired power. The Bendemeer Project is a very large solar project which is not dependent upon the completion of the New England Renewable Energy Zone (which remains many years in the future).

I fully support this project, and consider that it to be an essential part of NSW's transition to renewables.