Middlebrook Solar Farm

I object to the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm development. My daughter-in-law’s family farm is located on Marsden Park Road in Loomberah. The family has expressed great concern about the proposed development.
The main objection I have is the visual scarring of the landscape in prime areas of natural beauty. Farms are generally peaceful locales set in a natural environment with minimal buildings. A sprawling solar farm does not make everyone comfortable. Similar scarring occurs with giant wind turbines as seen all across the globe.
Solar farms need to be large in area. Typically a 5 MW solar farm would take up around 10 hectares of land. In the US, it is estimated at 4 hectares/MW which includes the development of the surrounding area for access roads. One of Australia’s largest solar farms is at Tennant Creek. This is far away from large centres of human population minimising its visual impact. It was easily connected to the existing grid without the need for expensive new pylons to be built.
If a solar farm is to go ahead in the New England area, it needs to be located as much out of sight as possible away from objecting landholders. Perhaps a more remote farmer could have the farm on their property and earn an income, as long as this was accepted by their immediate neighbours. The associated increased traffic needs to be considered so that it does not affect regular farming practices.
I am a recently retired Physics teacher and whilst I like the idea of alternate energy I am a supporter of “denser” energy-rich sources of base power with minimum pollution. Renewables do not yield enough base power because they rely on “thin” energy i.e less dense energy compared to fossil fuels, nuclear energy and even hydroelectric energy. I grew up in Morwell amongst the power stations of the Latrobe Valley which reliably supplied over 85% of Victoria’s energy for decades with minimal adverse effect. The now almost defunct open cut mines could be filled with vast solar arrays and connected to the existing power lines that already go to Melbourne. This re-cycled use of an already scarred landscape is sensible and is not scarring beautiful farmland, especially when it is located below eye level. The Hunter Valley coal mines in NSW could also be used in this way to have a more aesthetic solar farm.
Base power should be the focus of the federal government. Fewer power stations would be required and not spread out across Australia’s relatively small prime agricultural areas. We should definitely be investigating Thorium reactors, for example, to supply clean, low maintenance base power for many decades. It is not sensible to have low-yielding wind and solar farms endlessly being installed blighting our unique landscape to meet future demand.
Richard Bouvier

* Deep concern for the overall impact on rural land, landowners and the people within the community of Loomberah
* Unwelcome industrialisation of our landscape!
* Land prices within the Loomberah area are set to plummet due to the devastating visual impact and flow on effect on rural real estate
* Concern for traffic, dust, road degradation and increased traffic on rural roads
* Concern for heat load and rainfall impact for surrounding neighbours due to the reflection off solar surfaces and heat 'islanding'
* Concern for ongoing noise associated with infrastructure, such as humming from the substation.
* Human health concern for residents exposed to electro-magnetic fields (EMF) within close proximity
* Agricultural land degradation, weed impact, native pasture devastation, land clearing, habitat loss, flora and fauna impact, as well as fire threat
* Residents worry for their insurance coverage with the presence of solar farming in close proximity
* Overall aesthetics of a rural outlook, interrupted and degraded
* Inflicted mental health concern for surrounding residents, with an unwelcome development forced upon them.
* Segregation of a tight knit community, turning neighbour against neighbour
* Site location is OUT of the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), where these projects are meant to be zoned.
* Immediate neighbours not being offered fair compensation for property value degradation, visual impact, increased traffic and overall loss of amenities
* Threat of company insolvency, leaving the landholders to remove the significant infrastructure at the end of the project's life.
WE IMPLORE NSW PLANNING TO REJECT TOTAL EREN'S MIDDLEBROOK SOLAR FARM SUBMISSION.

We should not allow a foreign company to build a solar farm and switch yard on first class farming country in the Middlebrook community. Apart from this revolting eyesore proposed in a picturesque and productive farming valley, this solar farm will significantly reduce land value in a wide area around the location. The short and long term environmental impacts are a grave concern for our community. Solar farms such as the one proposed destroy productive farming land and in the long term the impact of huge numbers of these panels ending up as landfill is a massive concern both locally and globally. In a world where recycling is being enforced at all levels of government, how can these large scale so called ‘greener power’ alternatives be considered when there are no well researched methods of recycling after their use by date of 15 years.

I am a Psychiatrist, working in Newcastle, NSW, after completing the final stages of my training in the Hunter New England training network. I grew up on the North West Slopes and Plains, completing my High School years in Tamworth. My parents own a beef cattle farm on Marsden Park Road, less than 2km from the proposed Middlebrook Road Solar Farm. I therefore write from the perspective of a medical and mental health professional, and with many connections to the Loomberah area professionally, and with significant family and social ties.

I strongly oppose the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm. I note in Total Eren’s Engagement Strategy they describe their core values are based on the belief that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process, including a promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision. I point you toward the Social Impact Assessment where an online survey was conducted with thirty nine respondents, of which only 5% (ie one person surveyed) strongly supported the project. The vast majority of the respondents, particularly near neighbours, oppose the project, based on landscape and views, and community and family ties, noting strong family values and community connectedness were important to the local Loomberah community.

I am aware of local community groups (mainly local landholders and near neighbours) who have formed with strong opposition to the project, and therefore worry greatly of the negative impact upon their mental health. As noted in the Social Impact Assessment, near neighbours are concerned about the visual impact of 750 000 solar panels, and their associated substations and generators, the potential for their property to be devalued or unsellable, stress and lack of agency, lack of engagement with affected landholders, loss of agricultural land, industrialisation of prime agricultural land, and very significant concerns around dust, road safety and traffic.

There are considerable workforce shortages in mental health, and medicine in general, in the greater Tamworth area. With increased rates of stress in those whose strong opposition are not being heard, I worry about lack of access to mental health services, and the potential for increased rates of mental illness, and increased rates of suicide. Rural Australia already has a higher suicide rate than metropolitan areas, with greatest concerns for Australian males, with the highest suicide rate for males occurring in those aged 85 years and over, followed by 80-84 year olds, and 50-54 year olds. Without knowing the exact age and gender composition of the farmers experiencing significantly high levels of stress, I can make the assumption that many will fit within these demographics.

In addition to concerns around industrialisation of the agricultural land, visual impacts and decreased personal agency, many farmers are concerned about the potential for land devaluation, and the impact this will have on their children and grandchildren. Total Eren state that there is “no evidence” of this occurring, however this is only because studies have yet to be completed in Australia. There is at least one study published in Energy Economics by Gaur and Lang in 2023, that found for properties lying in the vicinity of solar installations in rural locations, the decrease in value is between 2.5 and 5.8% post solar installation construction. If this were to occur in the Loomberah area, particularly given the proximity of several other proposed solar farms, the rate of mortgage stress, forced sales, and risk of significant levels of depression, anxiety and suicidality could be substantial.

In regards to the construction and decommissioning phases of the proposed Solar Farm, I note expectations of up to 400 FTE workers, travelling along dirt roads to and from the proposed Solar Farm site. Despite Total Eren stating they will provide a shuttle bus to assist with transport, this will still leave many large trucks, regular buses, and many more vehicles using a poorly maintained dirt road (Middlebrook Road). The Proposal states they will ensure all traffic use Middlebrook Road, however given this may not be the most direct route for some workers, the use of Marsden Park Road, and the New England Highway in general, will see significantly increased traffic volume. There have not been assurances of the road being sealed with bitumen, which leaves many locals concerned about dust and road degradation. There is also no assurance of a turning lane being added to the New England Highway, and I greatly worry about the risk of motor vehicle accidents along this stretch of road.

Further in regard to dust, I understand Total Eren is proposing to “water” Middlebrook Road as a dust mitigant, and to also regularly water the internal Solar Farm road network (almost 50km of dirt road). Dust is a known issue for many living with asthma and other chronic lung diseases. How often this will happen is questionable as the amounts of water suggested in the EIS appear to be drastically underestimated. Total Eren commit to not using local creeks and estuaries, rather to purchase water from Tamworth Regional Council, who regularly experience severe drought conditions with water restrictions frequently in place. If Total Eren is given priority access to water, or push up price of water, where will locals be able to purchase safe drinking water and water for their own livestock? Or if Total Eren does not have access to this water, what will happen to the dirt roads and dust pollution? I would put to any Planner involved in this decision they would need to work more closely with Tamworth Regional Council about this possible issue.

From the perspective on an individual with close ties to the local Loomberah and Tamworth communities, I question the proposed positive social and economic benefits put forward by Total Eren. They claim enhanced local supply chains will benefit businesses in Tamworth, and also lead to increased local employment and procurement opportunities. The unemployment rate in the Tamworth area is 3.9%. The suggestion of 200-400 skilled workers coming from this pool is laughable, and instead will consist of already employed skilled workers moving from farming and other local employment to Solar Farms, further creating workforce shortages in the local area, and likely the vast majority of workers being bought in from outside the local area. Total Eren claim this will be of benefit to the local community as it will increase use of accommodation and food services. Tamworth currently has a rental vacancy rate of 0.6%. If Solar Farm workers are to encroach en masse to the Tamworth area, rental prices will soar, leaving vulnerable Tamworthians with even less affordable and safe housing options than are currently available. Any influx of workers will further put strains on the local health service and hospital, with already a shortage of general medical practitioners in the local area.

And finally, I question Total Eren’s commitment to a Community Benefit Fund, noting this to equate to something like $32000 per year. What this will include is unknown, and the suggestion it will be spent on school textbooks for the very small local primary schools, or upgrades to the Loomberah town hall, is again questionable. My personal feeling is this Fund is nothing more than a smoke screen, when the individuals being directly affected by the Proposal, will likely see no monetary compensation, and possibly significant financial, physical and mental health impacts.

For the reasons outlined above, I again repeat that I strongly oppose the Middlebrook Solar Farm, and worry greatly about the negative social, mental and physical health impact it (and other similar Solar Farm proposals in the local area) could have on neighbours, other landholders, and the larger Loomberah and Tamworth communities.

I have lived & worked within the Tamworth district all my life & have been directly involved in agriculture during that time.
Whilst I agree with the need to develop renewable energy options, I object to the proposed development on the following grounds,
1. The proposed project is on prime agricultural land
2. The degradation of air quality, due to increased traffic flow on underdeveloped road infrastructure.
3. Devaluation of neighbouring landholder’s properties with respect to change in landscape.
Regards Rod Smith

My concerns are that you are ruining valuable farming land, destroying the aesthetics of the area, increasing pollutants, decreasing the value of surrounding properties.

And for what?

Go find some marginal land to create your eyesore.

I object to this project as the location is inappropriate and is outside the New England Renewable Energy Zone. and contains some of the most productive livestock farming land in the Tamworth region.

Submission objecting to the Middlebrook Solar Farm and BESS Project being granted a planning permit.
It is vitally essential that an electrical generating project, generating electricity to supply to the Grid must have a full supply of fuel in order that it is able to supply electricity for every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every hour, of every day, of the year, when it makes a bid to do so.
The Middlebrook Solar Farm and BESS Project has an insurmountable lack of fuel, which renders it to be impossible to ever be considered as a practical and economic supplier of electricity to the Grid.
To explain. The Middlebrook Solar panels will be powered by a weather fuel, Sunshine. At 12am, every day, the Middlebrook fuel tank is empty and will remain empty for the next seven to eight hours, until the Sun rises at 7am or 8am. If the weather is fine there may be six hours of viable fuel (10am to 4pm) and a further three hours (8.30am to 10am and 4pm to 5.30pm) of less viable fuel available. For a total of nine hours of fuel availability. But even this is very uncertain, because of the presence of fog, overcast cloud cover and rain, the fuel tank can suddenly become empty at any time. The amount of fuel available may be reduced to four hours or even on many Winter days, zero, with no electricity being produced. Beginning between 5pm and 6pm, the Middlebrook Solar Farm fuel tank becomes empty and remains empty for the next fourteen or fifteen hours. This means the fuel tank for solar panels is empty for a minimum of fifteen hours of everyday and could even be empty for the whole day, with no electricity being produced.
As for including batteries, they alone can never produce electricity. Batteries only take in electricity and release less than they take out. Therefor batteries are inefficient in storing electricity. As the Solar Farm has such a short and uncertain window of opportunity to generate electricity the likelihood of there being a surplus to store is very uncertain and does not justify the cost of having the batteries. And only increases the cost to the consumer.
For the reasons stated above, which leaves the Middlebrook Solar Farm with no control over a daily, very significant shortage of fuel supply, that is held captive to the vagaries of the weather. I believe it would be highly irresponsible to grant a planning permit to the Middlebrook Solar Farm and BESS Project.
Further points of objection.
1. In addition to my main objection, The Middlebrook Solar Farm will take up large areas of agricultural land. The loss of agricultural production can be substantial, both in volume and financial per annum and the loss could continue for one hundred years or more, if the land is not restored. This has a wide effect on the surrounding towns and cities. Set against the electricity production of a Solar Farm, the lost agricultural production, may be more than the economic electricity production of the Solar Farm while it is in production. Once production of the Solar Farm has ceased in fifteen or twenty years time, then the lost agricultural production will be a very significant for the surrounding towns and cities.
2. As all solar panels are declared hazardous e-waste in Victoria, the European Union and parts of the US., decommissioning will be a huge problem. With the Middlebrook Solar Farm, Solar Panels containing heavy metals (such as cadmium telluride), glass, metal, sealants, copper, concrete steel reinforced blocks, steel stands, electrical cables, etc. They cannot be demolished by bulldozing and removal by excavators. But instead, they have to be removed carefully by hand which makes the cost prohibitive. And results in a huge amount of waste to be disposed of, with in most cases landfill being the only option. Unless the Middlebrook Solar Farm puts up a restoration bond, there will be nothing stopping them from walking away and leaving the local Council and community with a very expensive noxious, Junkheap, that will desecrate the landscape..
3. Consisting of so much electrification, the Middlebrook Solar Farm will create an extreme fire hazard to surrounding areas, particularly on a Total Fire Ban Day with the temperature at 43dC and a NW wind blowing at 50km/hr. Being so tightly packed together it would almost be impossible to contain a fire started within a Solar Farm perimeter. The surrounding land owners should be very concerned about their welfare.
4. It should be mandated that Middlebrook Solar Farm have a Public Liability policy to cover damage to surrounding areas of at least $500million to $1billion.
For the above reasons I strongly believe the Middlebrook Solar Farm should definitely not be granted a planning permit.

Develpoment will have huge visual impact . The impact will result in negative mental health of those impacted due to a change from rural/farming environment to industrial setting and significant reduction in property value. The access road is dirt creating massive amounts of dust and will be negatively impacted by increased traffic . Productive farming land will be rendered useless and wildlife habitats and corridors will be impacted.

Further detail around how the assumption that 70% of personal will travel by shuttle bus was estimated in the Traffic impact assessment is needed. Without further context, it seems an unrealistically high figure. The Tamworth Active Transport Study (2021) quotes a journey to work Public Transport (PT) mode share of 2%* within the Tamworth region. Furthermore, blue-collar workers tend to have a lower PT mode share as they tend carry tools of the trade with them. Staggered finish times among the workers will also present a challenge as the project is committing to running no more than 8 busses in each direction each day; workers will likely not be content to wait long for a bus.
If the 70% PT mode share figure is to be achieved, it's clear that strong policies will need to be put in place to prevent workers from choosing to drive their own private vehicle instead. The traffic impact assessment in its current state does not clarify this. The assessment needs to be updated to address this by answering questions like;
- What measures are being put in place to prevent workers from driving?
- How large will the car park be?
- How will the workers tools-of-the-trade be transported to the site?
- Will the shuttle bus be mandatory for some staff? If so, how will this be enforced?

*Tamworth Active Transport Study: https://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/220/Active%20Transport%20Strategy%20document.pdf.aspx)

The erection of this solar farm will have a negative impact for a number reasons -
- Visually this will have an impact on neighbouring properties to the farm. One of many reasons to move rurally is to escape the 'built up' lifestyle for a more natural surrounding. Building this infrastructure will directly impede on the intrinsic value of the natural environment.
- Value of surrounding properties - this project will drive down prices of the surrounding properties as it will be a reason not to buy, rather than adding value.
- This particular site is not apart of the renewable energy zone
- In order to erect this project, significant clearing of the site will need to be undertaken which results in the clearing of native trees and grasses, including the endangered blue grass.
- Another result of this clearing means the destruction of the natural habitat for native wildlife including endangered species such as koalas.
- Significant land clearing will impact the natural water course over this part of the land, directly resulting in erosion due to increased runoff
- The road leading to the proposed site is currently not sealed, meaning the increased traffic that will naturally increase will cause greater dust pollution to the surrounding area. The road will also not be able to withstand this increase, leading to an acceleration in the wearing down of the surface.
- There is then a potential off being cut off from town in the event of an emergency as this is the only route out of the area if there is a need for road closures to complete the project.
- After the significant drought experienced in this part of the country, and then the addition of covid the last few years, this will only serve as another impact on the mental health of the surrounding community of this site. They have chosen to live the rural lifestyle and will do whatever it takes to protect this lifestyle - so having to fight yet another issue that threatens this way of life will have immensely reduce the mental health of these families. There is still not enough resources in these communities to handle this issue - and after covid it has only become more evident that the health system is failing and cannot cope with the increase in the need for support that this project will no doubt create.
- This area is prime farming land - reducing the physical area that this can be carried out on will directly result in a reduced yield for the agricultural industry. What would be more favourable, would be to research and identify a site that yields poor agricultural results and use this instead. We are a farming country and will always be a farming country - renewable resources needs to find a way to work in harmony with this, rather than destroy it.