Middlebrook Solar Farm

Distribute solar panels across multiple properties, rather than just one

Impacts too many people's neighborhood farms.

We manage a 23,000 acre cattle breeding business on the southern end of the Middlebrook Rd where this solar farm is being placed. We only heard about the project a few weeks ago when a local colleague enquired as to whether or not the project was on our place, due to its location. We have since learned that many of the land holders around the area knew nothing about it, only those within the 1km radius of the project.
This is itself is an outrage due to the potential impact this project will have on our business being along the one and only road in and out of the area. We rely on the Middlebrook Road for stock, supplies, produce etc to be transported on a daily to weekly basis to Tamworth. One road in and out also makes Middlebrook Road our fastest way to Tamworth in times of emergency. To learn how long this project will take to build and the required traffic that it will place a long that road as part of the Traffic Impact Statement is a great concern to our business.
The location of the solar farm also represents good agricultural land and we expect that the solar farm project will drop land values quite significantly in the area, including ours. How will this be compensated if the project goes ahead?
To also hear from neighbours in direct line of sight to the project that the area is deemed low in visual quality so a solar farm "won't disturb the visual beauty of the area" is crazy! Even the EIS states that people live and work in the area for the surrounding views and the benefit these views have to mental health and serenity. Put solar farms out west in areas deemed inhabitable and bad for agricultural use due to lack of water resources and where there is plenty of sunshine, and not an area that is deemed the "golden circle" of Tamworth for productive agricultural land use and value! What a joke!
How this ever got past RU1 zoning for PRIMARY PRODUCTION is beyond me! And we certainly don't believe the road will support the vehicles needed, nor will there be enough housing in Tamworth for 400 workers for 18 months - 3 years during construction!
Setting a precedence for privately owned companies to take hold of primary agricultural land in such a favoured area of a region and OUTSIDE THE CURRENT RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONE is scary! When does it stop? When does agriculture start fail so renewable energy projects can take over? There is a REZ in place for a reason! Keep renewable energy projects within that zone!!! And leave agriculture to its zone! Total Eren just think this is an easier and cheaper option due to being so close to a major centre and the grid!

The proposed project is not "fit for purpose". It will not reduce electricity costs to consumers, as evidenced by not only the huge frequent increases in Australian NEM prices to date, but also the experience in every country where wind and solar are 30% or more of the capacity mix. Sweden recently dropped its target of 100% renewables as wind and solar generation do not work (unreliable and intermittent). Instead Sweden is to build more zero emissions nuclear plants, as other countries are doing. Australia must do the same! The project must therefore be rejected.

I oppose this project as it is just one of many that will cumulatively destroy our country life-style and country environment, which will be devastating for decades, including for tourists.

The proposed project is not "fit for purpose". It will generate substantial CO2e emissions immediately in its production and installation that will take years to offset from the electricity it may generate. Therefore the project is immediately detrimental to the climate. The project must therefore be rejected.

The proposed project is not "fit for purpose". It will not reduce electricity costs to consumers, as evidenced by not only the huge frequent increases in Australian NEM prices to date, but also the experience in every country where wind and solar are 30% or more of the capacity mix. Sweden recently dropped its target of 100% renewables as wind and solar generation do not work (unreliable and intermittent). Instead Sweden is to build more zero emissions nuclear plants, as other countries. Australia must do the same! The project must therefore be rejected.

I object on the following basis:
All solar panels and lithium batteries cause permanent contamination by leaching toxic waste into rural waterways and soil profiles. Not to mention the humanitarian repression involved to mine and process rare earths for the manufacture of the panels and mega-batteries by slave labour in CCP concentration camps.
I beleive a moretorium should be called by the NSW government until such time as an environmentally acceptable waste management plan is legislated - presently there is no plan.
Ian McDonald, Walcha Grazier.

I absolutely OBJECT to this ghastly, contaminating plan for an obnoxious Industrialised Solar ‘Dump’ & Big Lumps of Incapable, Filthy, Toxic Lithium
Batteries that would be a Visual Amenity Nightmare of 750,000 Glaring panels for the Loomberah Community & an Unethical Slave Labour based, risky Moral Hazard for Tamworth Regional Council.

I Object on the following grounds:-
*Loss of Ag Land Threatens Food Security *Increased, Seriously Toxic - Carcinogenic & Teratogenic Fire/Smoke Hazard Risk
*Solar Panels Leach Numerous, Toxic Contaminating Heavy Metals including Lead - as they age, degrade on site, if inferior, broken, fractured by hail, burnt, etc.
*Batteries are Filthy, Toxic, Incapable & Limited - only lasting 7-10 yrs
*Personal Discomfort caused by Electrical Force (classed as Criminal Assault)
*Unreliable, Inferior, Intermittent, Weather Dependent, Part Time Power
*Uyghur Slave Labour sourced Solar Panels & Unethical Cobalt for Batteries from the Congo, etc. with children as young as 6 yrs old forced to mine this toxic material in terrible conditions with their bare hands!
*Creates a Massive Pile of Unplanned for Toxic Waste
*Glaring Visual Amenity Nightmare
*Extremely Costly Subsidised Energy Poverty, etc.
*Ruination of Our Children’s Intergenerational Equity
*Sovereign 24/7 Independent Australian Power is Essential for Australia’s National Security NOT this CCP Reliant Energy Poverty, Fake Green, RenewaBULL Solar Grift & Ponzi Scheme/Scam.

Total Eren’s selfish, greedy & totally detrimental 320 MW Middlebrook Solar Electricity Generating Works +300 MW/600 MWh BESS is an unreliable, Stone Age weather dependent technology - based on an inferior, part time power plan that is against Australia’s best interests & will forever contaminate our Limited, Irreplaceable Food Producing Land.

It is the antithesis of Caring for Country, defies ALL the Principles of Ecological Sustainable Development, will NEVER protect the land for future Primary Production, has totally ignored the NSW Parliament Modern Slavery Act 2021, the New Modern Slavery Condition & Amended Storm Water Management Plan - failing to recognise the obvious onsite contamination risks to our life sustaining FOOD resource land & vital water sources(Oxley Bridge Rd Solar Uranquinty Determination.)

This plan DOES NOT align with regional and local land use plans & objectives.
NONE OF Total Uren’s claims are true!
2.2.1. Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 (Tamworth LEP)
The subject land is zoned RU1 Primary Production
“To encourage sustainable primary industry production by maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base ….
and the commitment to maintain soil capability after decommissioning…. the natural resource base is likely to be enhanced.”
“The solar farm would be highly reversible with no adverse impact on land capability and therefore primary industry enterprises, after it is decommissioned.
…..After decommissioning, most above ground infrastructure would be removed and the site returned to its existing land capability, for continued agricultural or alternative appropriate uses.”

**WHERE ARE THE RESEARCH FACTS - THE SCIENTIFIC DETERMINATION TO PROVE THIS?
WHAT ABOUT THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE - re- Likely Serious/Irreversible Environmental Risks/Harm from Solar’s heavy metal leachate during its OPERATIONAL LIFE as Solar panels age, degrade, if inferior, broken, fractured by hail, compromised due to foundational fractures, if burnt - with residue causing irreversible harm (Finley Fire Report,) etc.

**WHAT ABOUT STERILISATION OF THE SOIL & DRY-LAND SALINITY - caused by decades long entombment of Ag Land?

**WHERE IS THE UPFRONT DECOMMISSIONING/REMEDIATION - STORM/FIRE DAMAGE CLEAN-UP BOND PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION? As is required for the Coal industry.

**THIS PLAN TOTALLY FAILS THE CLIMATE CHANGE BILLS & RENEWABULL TARGETS eg. Skyrocketing prices & energy poverty due to weather dependent, unreliable RE, Deceptive Sunk Costs (Debunked CSIRO Gencost Report,) Embedded CO2 in Solar Panels (Embedded CO2 Reference) & BESS, Loss of Economic Prosperity, Jobs, Industry/Manufacturing - due to the Loss of our Affordable, Australian Power Advantage, NO PRODUCTIVITY, National Security Nightmare, Environmental Destruction/Vandalism caused by Industrialised Solar at Bomen, Wagga - NOT Clean, Green, Sustainable or part of a Circular Economy at all.
Defies ALL the PRINCIPLES OF ESD - ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT!!
(Reference: Series of Photos & Video emailed to the Planner 31st July.)

**WHY HAVE THEY INTENTIONALLY LEFT OUT & IGNORED THE NSW PARLIAMENT MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2021, THE NEW MODERN SLAVERY CONDITION & THE AMENDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CONDITION?

This Plan Totally Defies All of the following claims:-
**2.1.2. Climate Change Bill 2022
*focused on creating jobs, cutting power bills and reducing emissions by boosting renewable energy (Reference: Solar’s Embedded CO2 Emissions.)

2.1.6. NSW Electricity Strategy
The three objectives of the NSW Government for the state’s electricity system, as stated in the NSW Electricity Strategy are ALL DEFIED BY THIS RUBBISH PLAN:-
1. Reliability
2. Affordability
3. Sustainability.
The NSW Government’s Electricity Strategy IS NOT & WILL NOT EVER ACHIEVE:-
• Improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the NSW electricity market by reducing risk, cost,
* Energy Security Target
*minimises costs to consumers and taxpayers and does not give rise to moral hazard risk.
• achieve the objectives for the electricity system which include reliability, affordability and economic growth and sustainability. The contribution of the Project to local employment and economy

AUSTRALIANS DESERVE FAR SUPERIOR, RELIABLE, EFFICIENT, SECURE AUSTRALIAN COAL, GAS & A CLEAN, SAFE NUCLEAR POWER FUTURE NOT THIS RUBBISH INDUSTRIALISED, TOXIC SOLAR PLAN!

From
Lynette LaBlack

I am writing to voice my complete objection to the proposed placement of the Middlebrook Solar Farm in the Loomberah area. This area is one of the most productive food bowls in the New England. To place a solar farm here is absolutely ludicrous. Replacing prime farms with such an ugly, obtrusive and large solar farm beggars belief. There are so many other areas in NSW that are away from a quiet residential area that are non arable and fit for little else. Why put it here? We purchased property in this area for the quiet life, the beauty and the relative short distance to Tamworth township. You will devalue our properties significantly.

Our roads are not fit for the huge increase in traffic, the visual impact on our beautiful neighbourhood will be substantial. The solar farm will ruin this community.
WE DO NOT WANT THIS SOLAR FARM HERE IN LOOMBERAH.
Please find a remote, non arable, non populated place in this vast state if you have to go ahead with this project.
Kind regards
Annie Young