Oxley Solar Farm

I also believe if the government wants to go solar, all government buildings need to be covered first and then shopping centres.

I am objecting to the proposed Oxley Solar Farm and invite you to read my submission attached.

I strongly OBJECT to the proposed Oxley Solar Farm and I wish you to view my submission in the attachments.

Mr Peter Hall
7 Meadow Road
Dumaresq
NSW 2350


Objection to Oxley Solar Farm-SSD No 10346

I would like to lodge an objection to Oxley Solar Farm-SSD No 10346
A reading of the proposal and consideration of its location would seem to highlight a number of objections based on the published Armidale Regional Plan 2040 for the Armidale area.

Firstly, Goal 4 of the Armidale Regional Plan 2040 seeks to promote attractive and thriving rural communities. Directions 18 and 21 suggest that this is achieved by providing attractive places to live and well planned rural residential housing. The proposed solar farm will be adjacent to an existing small acre rural subdivision around the Castledoyle and Milne Rd area. The proposed site will be in view of all of these residential lifestyle blocks and impact greatly on their enjoyment of the landscape and that of their many visitors. There are many more suitable locations for extensive solar arrays in the area and we don’t need to devalue the lifestyle of existing residential communities to achieve our goals for sustainable energy production. Nor do we need to detract from existing tourist and visitor opportunities.

Secondly, the Armidale Regional Plan 2040 suggests that Goal 2 is to provide a healthy environment for our waterways. The proposed solar farm is located adjacent to two of these - an attractive stretch of Commissioners Waters which then joins the Gara River leading to the Blue Hole nature reserve. The extent of the solar farm and its location across steep country above the waterway means that inevitable erosion will pollute the waterway with silt from runoff, both degrading existing farming land and endangering the habitats of local wildlife, in particular, the local platypus population. This seems to be at odds with Direction 3 (protect and enhance productive agricultural land), Direction 10 (sustainably manage and conserve existing water resources) and Direction 11 (protect areas of potential high environmental value)

Finally, my objection relates to the goal of a strong and dynamic rural economy. The repurposing of existing agricultural land for solar energy farms needs to be carefully managed to avoid soil degradation and irreparable damage to that land. As mentioned, the geography of the location will promote soil erosion and the company involved has a stated intention of on-selling the project with no guarantee that future owners will feel bound to redress that degradation. Again, I’d suggest that there are many more suitable sites that need to be investigated instead of this one. As the owner of a small holding just outside the town boundaries, I would see this as an important precedent for all owners of lifestyle blocks. If this goes ahead, what is to stop a similar solar farm appearing directly in front of our block on the facing hillside above a similar creek.

Please don’t set this precedent, it will destroy the faith of all local owners of small holdings in the Armidale Region’s ability to consider and protect their lifestyle. If this is an important feature of Armidale Regional Council’s planning and a way of attracting residents to the area, then we need to strongly oppose any development that threatens small rural subdivisions and lifestyle blocks.

I strongly object to the location of this proposed industrial solar plant.

I have not made any political donations.

I have written and objection towards the proposed Oxley Solar Farm. I have attached my submission below.

I am objecting to the Oxley Solar Farm. My submission is attached.

as contained in my attached statement
also copied here
The reasons for my objections lies in the location of the planned solar farm, the lack of consultation and the concern about sustainable land use.

1. The planned solar farm will significantly affect the character of the landscape in which my property and the adjoining rural residential neighbourhood lies. The farm is of a size and aspect that it will be visible from many places in a neighbourhood where we have chosen to live due to its natural beauty and rural characteristics. The planned farm will significantly reduce the visual amenity of our own property and the value of the neighbourhood as a whole.
2. Proximity to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Parks. I am concerned about the impact on the NP itself through run off, changes of microclimate and other environmental impact. Commissioner’s Waters is a breeding ground for Platypus. Run-off and resulting changes in water quality and/or water temperature could impact negatively on these animals which have a low tolerance for water quality.
3. Proximity to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Parks (2). I am also concerned about the impact on the amenity value of the recreational area at Gara Gorge (the ‘Blue Hole’ area) to locals and tourists. The planned solar farm due its location and size will have significant impact on the experience of a visit to this area.
4. I have not been contacted by the developer and the complete lack of community consultation by the developer is most concerning.
5. I am concerned about the sustainability of the planned development. I am not aware of arrangements for legacy management. That is, at the end of the lifetime of the solar farm, or in case of lack of rentability, at the end of the active use period, who will carry the cost of clean-up and rehabilitation? It appears that there may be solar farms which end up not profitable, and they may be abandoned and create an industrial wasteland, further impacting the amenity value as mentioned in [1] and [3].

Please see attached objection.

My objection is documented in the attached file.

I support renewable energy projects in general, including solar power, and support this project in particular.
I object, though, to the lack of thoroughness and completeness demonstrated during parts of the process to date - and I especially object to the significant lack of consultation.

Please see attachment for my requests and comments.

I Corinne Annetts of Salisbury Plains NSW object to the proposed Oxley Solar Farm due to the culminative impact this project will have on the diverse environment.
I oppose the impact it will have on the natural landscape and biodiversity within.
I oppose to the position and location of this project on rich soil and pristine world heritage national park.
I oppose the effects of this project on the wellbeing of the community and the richness that is provided by individuals, families, businesses and the detriment it will create.
I oppose to this project because there are already more than enough projects going ahead and this one is not required to meet state government renewable goals.
I oppose the numerous impact on endangered species in the area; koalas, platypus, spotted quolls, eagles, birds.
I oppose the impact to land values due to visual amenity.
The New England has enough renewable projects underway that not all need to go ahead. This one is not right and in the wrong place. Stop the gold rush and allow communities to make sensible decisions about their landscapes without this snatch and grab tactics that divides a community. There is always room for compromise and the need for open communication which will allow a much more successful result for all stakeholders. 28 days to read an EIS hundreds of pages is completely wrong, the developer holds all the information and neighbours, community the public have very little time to make sensible unbiased independent decisions. The guidelines for the REZ need to be made fair for all stakeholders. NSW Planning needs to make fair guidelines that are not ambiguous and that the average person can comprehend without legal advice.
I would like to see a Solar Farm commissioner employed that can guide and be an advocate for individuals and groups. Developers must reimburse all individuals/groups/businesses that have needed to obtain any legal or independent advice/research during the projects development process.
New guidelines that are fair to all stakeholders to have an even playing field to gain maximum knowledge and information related to all renewable projects.
I object to this project for the lack of information and due diligence by the developer.
Yours Sincerely
Corinne Annetts

Please take into account all the issues being raised by our community, as we have not had the opportunity to have them addressed elsewhere.
We object strongly to the placement of this solar factory in our small, rural community as there will be serious, ongoing environmental, physical and social repercussions to this development.

See attached re my objection.

The proposed development will have a major negative impact on the visual amenity and real estate value of surrounding households without any compensation. The proposed project is presumably located to take advantage of existing nearby high voltage powerlines and labour from Armidale. However, the money saved by the proponent due to the proximity to these resources is effectively being shouldered by the many surrounding landholders as a cost in the form of substantially reduced property values and significantly degraded visual amenity. This is unfair. There are millions of hectares of more remote and suitable lands with north facing aspects that would be suitable for this proposed development and that would impact on minimal surrounding landholders. These sites might cost more to the proponent - but the proponent should shoulder that cost rather than burden neighbouring landholders with it. I also object to the size of the development immediately adjacent to Oxley Wild Rivers National Park - part of the Gondwana World Heritage area noted for its wilderness value! The proposed development is not compatible with world heritage wilderness values.

Whilst I encourage the move to renewable energy I absolutely and wholeheartedly object to this development.

I own a rural residential property close to the proposed development site. I purchased this property in 1993 and built a family home. I chose this property because of the beautiful view to the North-East, looking towards Commissioners Waters and out across the hills. My house is positioned on a hill and if this development goes ahead the entire development will be visible from my house and property. This proposed development will effect so many residents this way.

I purchased my land in a rural residential area so that I did not have to overlook at an industrial development! Living 12km from the edge of town means that we forgo many of the conveniences of living in town but we do so because of the aspect and outlook. If this development goes ahead my family’s rural lifestyle will be severely and detrimentally effected.

I object to this development because it will be located on land neighbouring many nearby rural residences which will have their outlook spoiled beyond words. I also object to this development being located so close to our beautiful Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and the waterway, Commisioners Waters that feeds into it.

Site selection should be based on more than convenience for the solar company accessing high voltage power lines. Choose a site that is on level ground, with fewer residential properties overlooking the site. Choose a site that can be screened by planting trees. This enormous development can not be screened by ANYTHING – no tree is EVER going to be tall enough to screen out a solar farm built on this site!

Yours sincerely,
Louise Streeting

The Oxley Solar Farm is to be located on the land adjoining the National Park which Armidale boasts as a wonderful tourist attraction. This unsightly project will be a huge detraction from the beauty of the National Park and is also taking precious agricultural land.
It is next to a renowned local recreation area and again a tourist attraction "The Blue Hole" which can be found mentioned in Visit NSW website.

Why are all the renewable energy disasters being put on regional landsites - they should be established on the many urban roof sites close to where the bulk of the electricity is being consumed. Plop them in the ocean nearby the big cities - perhaps Bondi Beach & see how you guys would appreciate your landscape being ruined.
We, in the country object badly to these unsightly erections which will soon be using our landfill - has the Dept Planning thought about the decommissioning of these projects further down the track?

I strongly object to the Oxley Solar farm proposal (SSD 10346) for the reasons outlined below;
- There has been very little community consultation regarding this proposal with residents forced to seek out the facts for themselves.
- The loss of agricultural land will be significant and it would be virtually impossible to restore to its present state when the solar farm ceases operation.
- The neighbouring National park of World Heritage status will be negatively impacted both visually and by the high pollution potential during construction and throughout the lifetime of the solar farm.
- The solar farm will be positioned on undulating land which raises the potential of soil erosion and associated runoff into the nearby Gara River and Commissioners Waters.
- The proposed location of the Oxley solar farm will increase the fire risk to the community with access for emergency services limited.
- Trees that already struggle for survival in the local area will be removed leading to further loss of habitat, potential for erosion and a possible localised temperature rise.
- The Oxley Solar farm would negatively impact local wildlife and threaten local ecosystems.
- The solar farm will lead to a reduction in property values in the local area.
I strongly urge you to reject the Oxley Solar farm proposal.
Kind Regards
Jane Eastwood

I strongly object to the Oxley Solar farm proposal which is currently under consideration in my community. The developers behind the proposed solar farm have failed dismally to actively engage with the local community. My objections are listed below;
- The solar factory will be adjacent to Oxley Wild River National park and as such will negatively impact the pristine environment with a possible drop in visitors to the park.
- The proposed solar facility is situated on undulating land leading to the high potential for erosion during rain events.
- Run off from the solar factory will impact the local pristine Gara River and Commissioners Waters.
- The solar factory will destroy habitat for local wildlife with the removal of trees and vegetation
- Loss of agricultural land
- The solar factory has the potential to increase the fire risk to the local area with difficult terrain if a fire starts
- The solar facility will negatively impact property values in the local area
- The solar factory will have a negative impact on the mental health of the local community with natural, rural views replaced with an industrial facility.
I urge you to reject the Oxley Solar farm proposal.
Yours sincerely
Steve Eastwood

I object to the Oxley Solar (Farm). The details are in the attachment.