Jindera Solar Farm

Property owned by Dennis & Faye Trezise is shown as R22 Sparkes Road in the EIS. Our property is shown further in Table 5-5, being Viewpoints 10c and 11c. SUBJECT to the mitigation measures identified in the VIsual Impact Assessment and in Figure 6-11 Proposed landscaping forming part of the conditions of consent (in some enforceable form) we do not object to the development.

As neighbours of the proposed Jindera Solar farm site we do not support the application.

We do not support solar farms being located on prime agricultural land. Considering most of NSW is in drought, one would propose that all productive agricultural land in NSW should be protected and acknowledged to be of great asset to the country. According to an article in the Guardian on solar farms throughout the world ‘policies usually dictate that only low-grade agricultural land can be used’. Policies protecting the land should apply to sites such as that of the proposed Jindera solar farm. We understand that the proposed site is attractive to Hanwha and Green Switch due to its proximity to a sub station. This convenience and the resulting financial gain for one company does not justify the adverse impact the solar farm will have on the local and wider community.

Our family have chosen to live in the country to enjoy the surrounding countryside and farming community, not to be surrounded by an industrial landscape. The proposed solar farm will remove trees that are of significance for both aesthetics to the local community and the environment in that they create habitat for threatened species. Future connectivity though wooded corridors for wildlife will be made impossible.

The glare factor and the micro climate that is generated from the proposed solar farm also causes us great concern. Given the extreme heat of summer temperatures in this area a ‘heat island affect’ could be disastrous for the local community and environment, in particular neighbouring properties.

In short we object to the proposed solar farm and our view is that it only benefits a company whose main object is to cut costs to be in conveniently close proximity to a sub station. If Hanwha and Green Switch have a genuine commitment to renewable energy then a location on non-arable landscape would make far more sense. If the proposed Jindera Solar farm were to proceed it would devalue neighbouring properties and permanently scar and degrade prime agricultural land and natural habitats.

We are objecting to the proposed Jindera Solar farm for the following reasons;

;The area in question is situated on the best agricultural land in the region.

; The proposed site is located in one of the few areas of NSW that is not drought declared

; The region is renowned for cattle, sheep and cropping industries in a drought free environment

; Solar panels are known to create an adverse mini climate change in respect of heat and air quality

; There is increased fire risk due to dry grass building up between solar panels

;The land surrounding the farm will be devalued

; The visual dominance over properties facing the proposed solar panels would impact upon the value and aesthetics of the said properties

I DO NOT want this large scale solar industrial project to be established on highly productive agricultural land. This will take away family’s, create loss of agricultural jobs, and has created decisions in the community. People have moved to this picturesque area to raise their families and have a peaceful life. I also are very concerned about the environmental damage this will do to the exisiting trees and landscape on these farms and surrounding areas, and especially the wildlife that lives in these existing trees.
Please Do Not let solar companies establish themselves in these highly productive agricultural areas.

The area of the proposed Solar is Prime Agriculture land that in a drought has been able to produce food and fodder.
I believe in renewable energy but strongly believe their are more suitable locations not on productive land, better suited on the roof top of every building structure. While we are custodians of the environment and need to protect it for the future, we are also custodians of the land and we need to protect this for the future of food and fodder for the population, Solar plants have been around for some time, yet no one has evidence to show us as farmers that this will not damage the land or that of the surrounding properties.
This area has extreme hot and cold weather and being undulating country it has high fog through the colder seasons, the only reason these foreign companies are here is because of a power line, not because they want to save the environment or care for the community or the social impacts and divides they have placed on neighbors and friends in this process. This gives them easier access to the grid and while possibly not the best for energy production they still gain the energy credits to sell
If there where no impacts that will affect the agricultural and surrounding lands then why not provide this evidence, this is not the desert or Barron land it is dry acre farm land that produces good yields with natural rain fall.
Why not be honest with the community and tell them the truth and back it up with some substantial data, why pay ridiculous amounts of money to lease the land, unless there is a catch??
We need to protect our food and fibre industry especially when this region is still producing and a large portion of NSW has been unable to do so because of extreme drought.
These are industrial projects not farming projects and no one has been able to demonstrate that they are compatible to farming in this region and the conditions we produce under and until this can be demonstrated Industrial projects like these should be placed in areas where it will not have such a financial, social and production impact on the broader community.
The close proximity to homes and residence will possibly reduced value on these homes. This is not about statistics but a simple question to yourself would a majority of the population buy a house next door to an industrial plant??? I don't believe it can be proven either way but I believe it would deter people from looking in the first place potentially reducing buyers.
Lack of evidence of long term benefit to the community and any short term financial gain would possibly benefit Albury/Wodonga and not the Greater Hume Shire community because of the close proximity and housing availability.
I strongly believe these belong in areas out west of vast flat country that does not produce food and fiber for the population

I support the fact that a solar farm is proposed for the Jindera area Solar power is the new IN way of renewable energy which is suited to this area because it is in close proximity to a sub station also the land is relatively flat and very few trees to be removed This solar farm will not be lost to agriculture as it will be graized with sheep the grass will stay green longer because the ground will be shaded by the panels and will not dry out as soon In the building period it will also employ a lot of people and local business will be required to manufacture materials helping the local economy I feel the Jindera Solar Farm should go ahead to supply power into the Grid to help secure power for the local area

I live within the Greater Hume Shire LGA and live within close proximity to a number of the proposed solar developments. I object to the Jindera Solar 'Farm' on a number of points, it should be noted that I am NOT against renewable energy, but strong consideration needs to be made as to the where it is placed:

1. Loss of Highly Productive Agricultural Land - The land upon which this proposal is planned is highly productive agricultural land. Over the last two years close to 100% if not 100% of NSW has been drought declared. Land with Greater Hume Shire Council has been consistently productive agricultural land for many years. This is in essence our 'food bowl'. You only need travel a very short distance out of this Shire to see the devastation and barren fields caused by drought. Farmers within our Shire are producing grain and fodder (hay) for livestock. This is sustaining farmers who are unable to produce their own hay. Although the purchase of hay is expensive for these farmers, it alleviates a lot of mental and financial stress as opposed to watching their livestock wither and die. Agricultural land within our Shire needs to be preserved to continue to provide food.

2. Visual impact - The proposed development will directly impact upon 62 households that have direct views over the proposed development. Albury Wodonga is a rapidly expanding town. Albury is rapidly running out of areas to populate. Jindera is a small town due north of Albury that has become a rural village allowing residents of the region to continue to enjoy a rural lifestyle. Jindera has a high percentage of growth of residential areas. This development will drive away investors in the town and limit growth. The impact upon current residents cannot be understated. They will go from enjoying a rural existence and outlook, to living adjacent to an industrial development. These developments are repeatedly referred to as 'farms'. They are not farms. They are industrial developments that are converting agricultural productive land to weed infested industrial sites. It is NOT possible to farm this land when covered in solar panels. Sheep may well graze the weeds and grass, but weeds and grass is not conducive to productive animal growth as it contains no protein and is almost worthless as feed for livestock. The impact of living in close proximity to the large scale solar developments will cause mental stress upon local landholders and residents.

3. Vehicular traffic - During the construction phases (many months), there will be a significant increase in truck and car movements throughout Jindera. This poses an increased risk to residents due to increased traffic and directly affects the other residents of Jindera, increasing traffic includes increased noise and pollution. Jindera has 3 primary schools located with in the township and many buses going through town picking up students of all ages, I believe the extra traffic will be a danger to school aged children that have not been exposed to such high level vehicle movements in the past.

4. Fire Danger - The proposed development will be surrounded by a chain mesh fence. I have visited several solar developments within NSW including the Coleambally and Finley site. Both sites were extremely infested with broad leaf weeds. The management of both sites was using lawn mowers (ridiculous) to try and control the weeds. It is impossible to control broadleaf weeds by mowing. This action simply spreads the seed and causes the plan to grow wider and lower. This significantly increases fire damage. I am a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service. I have spoken with dozens of Rural Fire Service members. It has been a unanimous decision that we WILL NOT enter a solar development in order to fight a fire. This is due to the increased risk of entrapment due to the fencing and the way that the solar panels are installed, increased risk of electrical shock exposure and increased risk of inhaling dangerous and potentially carcinogenic chemicals due to burning electrical cabling, electrical equipment and solar panels. A decision has been made by many brigades to wait until a fire exits the site. This will cause larger and more difficult fires to be require containing but reduces the risk to the life of volunteer fire fighters. It is apparent that the developers are showing little concern for adjoining land holders as they are glossing over fire risk. I have many years experience as a fire fighter. The risk to adjoining land and households by fire can not be understated. Fire is extremely dangerous and is a major part of our climate. I believe that the only way to mitigate the fire risk is for extremely stringent conditions to be enforced relating to weed and fire mitigation.

5. Dust will be a huge, impacting anyone living within Km's of this project. How is this ever going to be mitigated in these drought conditions without using hundreds upon thousands of litres of water daily, simple things like pegging out the washing, opening windows or having evaporative air conditions running will not be able to happen to residents living near this development.

My reasons for objecting are in the attachment.

I object to the project for a number of reasons as listed below.
1. This solar project has a large number of affected neighbours, mostly families that have invested large sums of money to have their own piece of paradise, only to now be faced with living beside an industrial zone and being subjected to undesirable side affects such as heat island effect, glare and noise and air pollution, particularly during construction periods. I'm sure that those that pay multimillion amounts to have Sydney Harbour views would be just as upset if an industrial site was set up in their line of sight. Our country side is our Sydney Harbour, we work hard and pay good money to live with our vista.
2. The proposed site will take a large amount of highly productive land out of production, at least reducing its capacity by 80%. I have been part of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, delivering hay to communities in desperate need of fodder to survive. In the 5 years or so I have been involved a massive amount of fodder has come out of the Greater Hume Shire, an area recently recorded as continually producing the highest quality fodder on the east coast of Australia, this is a result of our productive dryland (non irrigated) country, highlighted this year as the entire state battles crippling drought, we were still able to be productive, again producing fodder for the rest of the state to survive.
3. As a member of the close knit communities commonly found in the small country towns, I have already noticed a fracture of friendships in these communities, number one issue, solar developments. One time friends now on opposite sides of the solar debate, local community groups suffering in numbers because "I'm not playing in the same team as Mr X" or "I'm not buying from that business because Mr X works there". Its not too late to stop our communities collapsing completely and there is still a chance to mend the fractured relationships by stopping the solar development.
In conclusion I believe these developments are better suited in areas that a 2000 acre development can be hidden, 5 to 10 kms from the nearest affected resident, such as the Hay plains. The government should have the foresight to force these foreign companies to develop our country by building high voltage transmission lines to these areas rather than rape and pillage our productive land, communities and lifestyle just because the aging infrastructure is available for them to make a massive amount of money for the least amount of outlay.

I Stirling Moll declare that I have not made any political donations in the last 5 years.
I would like to state my objections to the Jindera Solar Farm (SUB-5634) for the following reasons:
The land taken up by this project is prime agricultural land which will have a flow on effect to the local economy where once some of the profits earned of this land would of went to stock and station agents, grain receival sites, local machinery dealers, mechanics, fertiliser merchants, agronomists and other agricultural sector suppliers the money will now go to an overseas energy company. This land is also some of the most productive land in the state and when NSW is drought declared we are still growing crops, making hay and growing livestock for market, this land is too valuable to put masses of PV panels on in my opinion.
Site selection is done from existing infrastructure alone and not put where these installations would receive more sunlight hours, for example in winter this part of the greater Hume shire can have a heavy fog which may lift at 3-4pm and come back in at 5-6pm and can go on for a week sometimes. There are plenty of places out west which would receive much better sunlight all year round, the installation would barely be noticed as it is more isolated and farming families could actually do with the exuberant lease payments being made in these areas.
This project is turning good farmland into an industrial zone which is not aesthetically pleasing and with this it will in turn drop land values in this area which will have an effect on farmers that rely on equity to operate. It will also make established property near the proposal near impossible to sell.
The fire risk for such a project is unknown, with the likelihood of these installations breeding a large number of weeds such as hairy panic the fire risk could be quite a concern.
Large amounts of established gum trees will be cut down and farm dams filled in which will vastly change the landscape and may cause an increase in salinity.
Increased water shedding from the panels which could cause flooding in heavy rainfall events, we are located down stream of the proposed installation and no one could give us any accurate data on the water shedding on the installation.
Increased heat or microclimate from the installation which would impact on farming practices and increased temperatures.
Jindera is a go ahead town and has growing semi-rural areas, such an installation would put a choke on its development. Such installations of this size would also dwarf the Jindera township.
The proposed development has residences within 100 meters which is unacceptable.
The development has divided the community, more so due to the way consultations have been conducted.

As a resident of the Greater Hume Shire I am writing to object to the proposed Jindera Solar Farm SSD-9549.

While I am not opposed to solar or renewable energy, I am concerned that not enough independent research has been done on solar complexes of this size and nature in the Australian Climate in such close proximity to homes, families, livestock and food production. I am concerned that not enough thought has gone into the full lifecycle of these types of projects. In 25 years when the panels have reached the end of their life where are they to be recycled? And if the foreign companies cannot get government incentives to renew the panels where will we get our power from?

My husband and I live and farm within the Greater Hume Shire and we know the productivity of our land and that of many farmers within the region. At a time when most of NSW is drought declared (including our area) we have produced food, fibre and fodder off our natural rainfall (which has been significantly reduced this year). Grain and Fodder that has been produced in our area will be used to support farmers in areas less fortunate. We know how blessed we are to be farming here and it’s clear that the reason this region has weathered everything that mother nature has thrown at it is due to the capacity and capability of our land.

The question must be asked, why are we using viable productive agricultural land for something that can be placed on roof tops, over dams and lakes, over irrigation channels and in arid non-productive areas? I feel that that is something that should not be ignored for the sake of a climate target and/or foreign profit.

The money we and many farmers in our region make off our land goes back into our local community. If this project goes ahead the financial impact will be felt by stock agents, grain traders, machinery dealers, rural suppliers, car dealers, Ag and Vet Services and local businesses. The money the Solar Company makes will predominantly go offshore. The solar company suggest that there will be financial benefits to our community if this goes ahead. I disagree and feel that there “may” be short term financial benefits, but they will not extend beyond the construction period and as such in the long term will cost the community more than they are worth.

I feel that this type of facility within the shire will detract from the rural aspect and as such will put downward pressure of land values and home values particularly those with views of this project. I see this as a negative when land values and housing prices have steadily risen over the last few years despite falling property and housing markets in other regions.

The Greater Hume Shire is being targeted by 4 companies at this time. It has pitted resident against resident. Friendships that are decades old have been torn apart. Businesses have been boycotted. And for what? The landholder who has leased their land and the solar company will do well out of this, but the losses will be felt by many.

Given that there has been a large number of these types of power plants approved over the past few years throughout Australia. I would suggest that now is the time to stop placing them willynilly and start investing in the necessary infrastructure to get them out of rural residential area’s and away from productive land.
Thank you for your time.

I am disgusted that that this solar farm is being considered. The district is some or the most reliable farming country in Australia. Being in the drought we are currently in the proposed site has produced hundreds or hay bales to feed cattle and stock. Where will that come from if we loose that land ? We can grow crops and pastures in the district even in one of the country's worst droughts ever. We can grow crops here without irrigation even. Sad we are putting Solar farms ahead of FOOD farms. Food for humans and stock. Not enough testing has been done with long term solar and health risks either. It will create a heat soak and mess with the weather patterns, well it may not but thats my point nobody knows the repercussions. It will be a lot of glare being on both sides of the road even though they claim they will be putting up a barrier of trees. The farm is planned to be on hilly ground. There will be a lot of economic losses. Being flow on , Contractors, fertilizer suppliers, stock agents, chemical purchases to name a few. Its Disappointing to hear of all the money they are bribing the community with too . Offering a new hall ect.
I strongly object to this project.

I would like to object to the proposed solar farm at Jindera because of the following concerns:
- whether the panels will increase the temperature of the local environment and also change the local weather patterns.
- whether the surface area of the panels could cause flooding to local properties and properties further down the water systems.
- whether the value of properties in the area will be diminished with this installation.
- that the area marked for the panels is on very productive farming land and in an expanding area of population.
- the mental well-being of those farming nearby with this proposal is certainly an issue!

As a resident of the Greater Hume Shire I am writing to object to the proposed Jindera Solar Farm SSD-9549.

As a fourth-generation farmer within the Greater Hume Shire I am concerned that our area has been targeted for large scale solar generation projects. My family and many others within the region can attest to the productivity and capability of land in this area. We have produced food, fiber and fodder at a time where much of the state has not been able to. Even during drought our area generates enough to supply other areas in need.

I am concerned for the neighbouring land holders who have received no compensation or meaningful assurance that this will not harm them, their families or their financial future. I believe that during construction the impacts of dust, noise, lighting and traffic and will physically and mentally affect neighbours. Many are already feeling the effects on their mental health as a result of this process.

I feel that if Australia was serious about reducing its carbon footprint and supporting a worldwide reduction, they would first need to commit to stop mining coal for export to countries that have far greater carbon emissions that we do. As this does not seem to be something, they are considering I would ask why they are allowing such productive land to be consumed for such a project?

The Greater Hume Shire is supported by many businesses whose sole purpose is to supply and support agriculture within the region. These businesses will be financially impacted if any of these 4 solar projects are approved. The financial benefits touted by the Solar Company are nothing more than smoke and mirrors providing a short-term false economy that will disappear when the power is switch on.

Greater Hume Shire roads are already a disgrace and impacts of the construction transport influx would further damage them. Causing further ongoing pain for residents in the area and again reducing values.

A facility like this within the shire will detract from the rural aspect and segregate farmland. The Solar Company is stating that as they can run sheep under the panels it is still agricultural land. I disagree and feel that given the significant reduction in carrying capacity and the fact that there has been no long term study into grazing sheep under panels this is just a marketing pitch based on little fact designed to distract people from the fact that this is a power production facility.

I thank you for taking the time to read my submission.

To whom it may concern,

My name is Sarah Arieh-Parnell and I am writing to voice my opposition to the proposed solar panels at Glenellen Rd. I have been a resident of Glenellen Rd for twenty-five years. My family and I selected the area for its tranquility and the rural aspect of the land. It is beautiful and rich farming land which produces valuable commodities such as hay, livestock and grain – all sorely needed in our drought-stricken country. The NSW DPI Policy that states “Only 11 % of NSW is used for higher productivity agricultural uses such as cropping” & that the NSW Government “is concerned about the potential loss or impaired use of agricultural land”. It makes no sense to take away valuable and productive land to place solar panels on, when these would be better suited in more arid and unproductive areas. It is also highly unfair to allow a project which will substantially devalue the surrounding properties. The areas around the proposed farm include both large farmland and hobby farms, many choose to move here specifically for the rural outlook and lifestyle. It would be very difficult indeed to lure new buyers to purchase properties that directly onlook solar panels rather than fields with crops and/or grazing animals. Nor should current owners be expected to replace their scenery with fields of solar panels. There are numerous homes within 50-90 metres of the proposed Glenellen Rd solar panels, this will have an unacceptable impact on rural living.
We encourage you to take the only logical measure in soundly rejecting the proposal to place solar panels on Glenellen Road and to do the responsible thing by continuing to encourage and develop rich farming practices in the local area.

Kind regards,

Sarah Arieh-Parnell
219 Glenellen Rd
GLENELLEN NSW 2642

To whom it may concern,

My name is Diane Parnell and I am writing to voice my opposition to the proposed solar panels at Glenellen Rd. I have been a resident of Glenellen Rd for twenty-five years. My family and I selected the area for its tranquility and the rural aspect of the land. It is beautiful and rich farming land which produces valuable commodities such as hay, livestock and grain – all sorely needed in our drought-stricken country. The NSW DPI Policy that states “Only 11 % of NSW is used for higher productivity agricultural uses such as cropping” & that the NSW Government “is concerned about the potential loss or impaired use of agricultural land”. It makes no sense to take away valuable and productive land to place solar panels on, when these would be better suited in more arid and unproductive areas. It is also highly unfair to allow a project which will substantially devalue the surrounding properties. The areas around the proposed farm include both large farmland and hobby farms, many choose to move here specifically for the rural outlook and lifestyle. It would be very difficult indeed to lure new buyers to purchase properties that directly onlook solar panels rather than fields with crops and/or grazing animals. Nor should current owners be expected to replace their scenery with fields of solar panels. There are numerous homes within 50-90 metres of the proposed Glenellen Rd solar panels, this will have an unacceptable impact on rural living.
We encourage you to take the only logical measure in soundly rejecting the proposal to place solar panels on Glenellen Road and to do the responsible thing by continuing to encourage and develop rich farming practices in the local area.

Kind regards,

Diane Parnell
219 Glenellen Rd
GLENELLEN NSW 2642

I object as I know that the land proposed to house the Jindera Solar Farm is beautiful multi purpose farm land suitable for both stock or cropping and should not be developed for a solar plant. As a farmer driving past this farm for many years I have seen how productive it can be and what it has produced.
Once this land is lost to a solar farm it will be difficult to return this land to the farm that it previously was. Australia has so much land that does not grow anything and solar should be built on poor land to allow for the growing of food on the best land.
I think it is sad that the many nearby residents that have chosen to live in this area for a rural lifestyle will have to put up with the construction and the view of thousands of panels for the long term of this project. They did not chose to live next to thousands of panels and this could affect their health and wellbeing.
I have worries that this solar plant will also be a fire risk to the people nearby and the town of Jindera.

This is the wrong location for a solar farm, and is being constructed for the wrong reasons. As a 21 year old, I will be the generation that will have to deal with the consequences of this attempted short term gain for funds, instead of the potential of actually making a difference in the world. I am studying at university and now have to come back to a location which will be overrun with issues, such as; the heat that the solar farms will produce, the infertility of the land due to the proposed farms, and the building of these farms on land that can actually grow food. These farms if they are to be built, need to be built in an area where they are sustainable and not causing negative effects on those people around it. This is not the right move for the future, as even the power is not going to the area.

This good farm land should be kept as farm land.
I work in an agricultural job and think work will be lost in the long term and food and wool will be lost for the long term.
Solar farms should only be allowed on poor land that does not affect people.
Bushfire risks are too dangerous.
There is no gain for locals over so many years and the Jindera solar farm has so many neighbours that like their country homes and peace
Solar in this part of Jindera may stop the town from growing
Too many trucks through town might affect business, safety and roads.
The Jindera Solar Farm should be stopped from going ahead as it is not the right place.

Dear Sir/Madam,
We are writing in response to the exhibition of the EIS for the Jindera Solar Farm (SSD 9549) and wish to formally object to the proposed development for the following reasons:
Loss of high quality agricultural land
The EIS indicates that the land on which the subject development is classified as class 3 land and class 6. Perusal of Figure 6.13 in the EIS and Figures 3.9 and Figures 3.10 reveals that a large majority of the development footprint is situated on the Class 3 High Capability Land rather than the Class 6 Low Capability Land. We believe class 3 land should not be used for a solar farm development and should be maintained as agricultural land, particularly given the relatively higher rainfall received in this area compared with western areas and the current climatic conditions across Australia. This area has a higher potential to ‘feed’ Australia than many other locations.
Impacts on native vegetation and aboriginal heritage
The removal of 17.41 hectares of native vegetation, including 33 out of 40 paddock trees, and a total loss of value of 24 items of Aboriginal cultural heritage should deem this site unsuitable for a solar farm development. We consider the loss of this important habitat vegetation and aboriginal sites unacceptable.
Number of impacted neighbours
25 residences within 1km and 48 households and an additional 9 landowners within 2km of the site should deem this site unsuitable for a solar farm development. This is a large number of people in our local community who will be directly impacted by the development.
Cumulative impacts of multiple proposed developments
There are 4 proposed major solar farm developments in the area; Jindera, Glenellen, Walla Walla and Culcairn. While the above mentioned impacts on agricultural land, neighbours, native vegetation and aboriginal heritage may be considered acceptable by the developer, the combined impact of four developments in a relatively small area is unacceptable. As young people looking to get into the agricultural industry, we are particularly concerned about the amount of agricultural land being ‘locked up’ for 30 years in a solar farm development.
In summary, while we support solar development in Australia we believe there are far more suitable sites in Australia than that proposed for the Jindera Solar Farm. Solar farm development should be limited to where land is marginal for agricultural use and there is minimal disturbance to the surrounding community.