State Significant Development
Oxley Solar Farm
Armidale Regional
Current Status: Determination
Interact with the stages for their names
- SEARs
- Prepare EIS
- Exhibition
- Collate Submissions
- Response to Submissions
- Assessment
- Recommendation
- Determination
Development of a 215 MW solar farm with up to 50 MW of battery energy storage and associated infrastructure.
Attachments & Resources
Notice of Exhibition (1)
Request for SEARs (1)
SEARs (1)
EIS (11)
Response to Submissions (7)
Agency Advice (23)
Amendments (16)
Additional Information (6)
Recommendation (3)
Determination (2)
Approved Documents
There are no post approval documents available
Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.
Complaints
Want to lodge a compliance complaint about this project?
Make a ComplaintEnforcements
There are no enforcements for this project.
Inspections
There are no inspections for this project.
Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.
Submissions
Caitlin wilson
Object
Caitlin wilson
Message
Adjacent to national park with attendant fire hazard.
Prime agricultural land
Mitchell Hardaker
Object
Mitchell Hardaker
Message
Attachments
Tanya Walsh
Object
Tanya Walsh
Richard Croft
Object
Richard Croft
Message
There has not been any public presentation at any public forum organised by the proponents and they have not attended any community forum to explain or promote their project.
Who are they? Are they financially reputable and will they still be here to clean up when the project deteriorates and is no longer operating? Has the Government required them to put up a bond as the mining companies are required to do? Are they stable companies? Are they being subsidised?
There are too many questions and the proponents are not making themselves available to answer so now it is up to the NSW Government to answer for them.
The New England area has been recognised as a special place to live, there are major tourism promotions aimed at the rivers, waterfalls, National/State Parks, the wildlife and the mountains. This is a unique part of Australia and placing such a project in this area is an insult to anyone who choses to live here and to those who are increasingly becoming enamoured of its uniqueness.
Placing permanent concrete structures here is counterproductive to the environment. There are millions of hectares of land in Western NSW beyond the Darling River system where there is far more sunshine and more appropriate land areas.
Placing this and other structures in New England simply to save the developers money and to take advantage of taxpayer funded infrastructure is shortsighted.
The Government should reject this proposal and suggest the proposers move much further west so that the solar power will be available in the major east coast population centres after the sun goes down there. There would be solar power available for Sydney and the coast anything up to two hours after their sundown and it would not be so disrupted by cloudy weather.
This is high class agricultural land which owners have adapted to produce environmentally suitable rural products and it should not be spoilt by large area industrial sites which should be constructed hundreds of kilometres AWAY.
Justin McTaggart
Object
Justin McTaggart
Message
Attachments
Jonathan Galletly
Object
Jonathan Galletly
Message
Mandi Galletly
Object
Mandi Galletly
Message
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I am also concerned that it may interfere with internet connectivity and wi-fi due to the electrical waves.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I support the concept of renewable energy but do NOT support the placement of an industrial solar plant on productive agricultural land bordering one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area – the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
My parents live in the Castledoyle area and my family and I visit them frequently. To build an industrial solar plant on <5% sloping land, where anticipated runoff will damage the natural environment irreparably, in particular two pristine waterways that then flow through the National Park, and into the Macleay catchment, is irresponsible. As the NSW Farmers “Renewable Energy Landholders Guide” has stated, industrial solar plants should be built in a suitable location on near flat land.
The Oxley Solar Plant will have a hugely detrimental impact on the appeal, recreational and environmental value of the Blue Hole, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and the surrounding areas.
I strongly disagree with the placement of the proposed industrial solar plant which will be detrimental to the immediate community.
Jane McTaggart
Object
Jane McTaggart
Message
Attachments
Andrew Swan
Object
Andrew Swan
Message
1. Negative visual impact for a large number of local residents
2. Proximity to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, with potential impacts including:
a. Environmental damage to the park and surrounds
b. Bushfire risk
c. Negative visual impact for users of the park
3. Cumulative impacts of two solar developments side by side (Oxley Solar Farm and Stringbark Solar Farm)
This development should be re-located to a more suitable site with less impact.
Christine Duncan
Object
Christine Duncan
Message
My second objection is the proximity to lifestyle blocks around Armidale. I'm sure there is no plan to compensate people in that locality for the devaluation of their land. This is another reason to pick the low-producing land - it is not generally near built-up areas.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I object to the application by Oxley Solar Farm-SSD No 10346 to build a very large solar factory, with all the other accompanying out-buildings and stated items, in the Castledoyle area, near Armidale in the New England area of New South Wales.
I support the concept of renewable energy but it must be well thought out, well placed, consideration must be given to all involved and feedback must be responded to appropriately to ensure that decisions made now are not regretted in the future with the loss or damage to irreplaceable natural environments being the unfortunate result.
A key component of any industrial solar plant development is how they approach the community in which the development is proposed. The ‘Ideal’ Consultation Process as outlined in A Guide for Renewable Energy Developers https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/91377/Community-Engagement-and-Benefit-Sharing-in-Renewable-Energy-Development.pdf
p7 states:
“The community engagement principles that should inform a plan are:
• mutual benefit
• mutual respect
• relationship-building
• authenticity
• appropriateness
• ongoing engagement
• transparency and responsiveness”
Upon speaking with my parents-in-law who live in the Castledoyle area, Oxley Solar Development Pty Ltd have failed on each of these stated criteria. Their conduct has been deceptive, questions are either not answered fully, are diverted or are ignored. Community engagement has been superficial at best, there has been no authenticity, no respect for the community and certainly no building of relationships. From the perspectives of the local community, their efforts have been a “tick the box” approach and totally disrespectful. Responsiveness has been non-existent and the entire process has lacked transparency.
I strongly disagree with the placement of this proposed industrial solar plant and suggest that the community engagement process needs to be rigorously assessed.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I support investment in renewable energy and believe solar power is well suited to our country. However, there must be many suitable alternative locations in the region that are not situated so close to town or within view of rural residential zoned land or a popular National Park and picnic destination. Therefore, I ask that the Oxley Solar Farm SSD-10346 submission be rejected.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Michael Murray
Object
Michael Murray
Message
I frequently travel to Armidale for business and I am extremely concerned about the idea of industrial solar plants in the region being so close to rural residential areas.
I am all for renewable energy development, however the proposed location is in full view of rural residential areas and on the boundary of our National Park. There is close to half a million hectares of suitable locations in the New England region, it is not fair to further stress local farmers and residents, following severe drought, when so many other locations are available.
As an owner of a real estate company, I understand the need for development, however I urge you to take into account the local community and realise this project is un-Australian and does not belong in a rural residential area.
In summary, I object to Oxley Solar Farm – SSD No 10346 on the grounds that the proposal will significantly change the local landscape and the applicant (Oxley Solar Development Pty Ltd) has not taken into consideration the impact it will have on local residents.
I look forward to hearing the development application has been rejected so local residents can go about their daily lives without this unnecessary stress.
Please feel free to contact me on 0414 406 965 or [email protected] to discuss further.
I have not made any monetary political contributions.
Many thanks,
Michael Murray
Attachments
Angus Roberts
Object
Angus Roberts
Message
Lachlan Mcphie
Object
Lachlan Mcphie
Message
Attachments
Nanette Peatfield
Object
Nanette Peatfield
Message
Negative effects on the native flora and fauna bio-diversity
The proximity to a national park with the attendant fire hazard
Negative effect on a significant local recreation tourist area
Effect on the water catchment