Summerville Solar Farm

I object to the proposed Summerville Solar Farm.
Electricity should be generated where it is needed which negates the need for transmission lines ploughing through agricultural land. Solar projects take valuable food and fibre producing land out of production when in reality Australia's growing population needs more food. How and where will this be produced, and by whom given that our Government is doing everything to chase farmers off their land, and/or restrict their practices?
Visual and noise impacts from solar, and wind projects are felt heavily in rural and regional areas given our scenic and peaceful vistas. The serenity is often a large part of the reason for people moving to these areas. The impact studies are done by professionals who, more often than not live in metropolitan areas where seeing such infrastructure is not unusual, and it is not their homes being impacted. How is this fair to the residents forced to live with such impacts?
The majority of the power produced by large scale solar, and wind, projects will be used in metropolitan areas. Why does rural and regional Australia have to bear the burden of producing all of the power when there is plenty of roof space for solar panels and beaches, golf courses and football fields for wind turbines in our major cities?
The amount of fossil fuels used to manufacture materials, construct and maintain 'renewable energy' projects makes the power from large scale infrastructure projects more brown than 'green'. All of the components of these projects should have to be manufactured, constructed and maintained using renewable energy!
If the "rapid transition to renewables" continues on its current trajectory Australian citizens will find themselves naked, cold and sober as agriculture will be dead.

I object to this unnecessary, unreliable, non-base load power source that is expensive and pays scant attention to damaged fauna habitat. I urge the Government to go nuclear hitched up to the existing grid. We will eventually go nuclear so why not now?

. I represent and Environmental Group known as Save Our Woodlands Inc. our website is http://saveourwoodlands.org

I object to the Summerville Solar Farm on the following grounds:

1: Solar and wind energy is not going to solve our shortage of electricity in the future. Both solar and wind energy are intermittent and will not provide our base power supply. We will need coal, gas or nuclear energy to provide base power into the future. Germany as an example of a country with large amounts of wind and solar energy production, Germany imports power from France, which is nuclear. Germany also exports electricity which is the nature of the intermittent production from solar and wind energy sources. Sometimes there is not enough and sometimes there is too much.

The latest figures are here:
“Germany Electricity Imports: France data was reported at 1,485,644.000 MWh in May 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 489,358.000 MWh for Apr 2023. CEIC Data (2023).”

South Australia the one so called “green” state in Australia, imports brown coal based power from Victoria.

2: When solar farm are decommissioned can the area be returned to agriculture? Solar panels carry toxic waste in the form of heavy metals, (lead, cadmium, lithium, strontium, nickel, barium, zinc, and copper) and metalloids (selenium). We cannot envisage that a huge solar farm will have no broken panels during its lifetime. Panels are broken during construction, they are broken during the life of the project and large numbers can be broken if there is a major storm event.

Robertson et al. (2019) states that Selenium, strontium, lithium, nickel, and barium levels measured in soil samples increased significantly in samples close to PV (solar) systems. The heavy metals then contaminate the land and the water surrounding the land. As these substances do not disintegrate the land can never be returned to agriculture.

3: Can solar panels be recycled? Peplow (2022) states “today’s technologies for recycling these units are inefficient and rarely deployed. That is an enormous problem. PV panels contain toxic materials, like lead and cadmium, that can cause environmental pollution, yet many are dumped in landfills when they die. They also contain valuable materials that could be reused to make new solar cells, but today these resources are mostly wasted.”

4: There is no provision in the legislation for the decommissioning of solar or wind farms. If a company wants to set up a mine, they have to pay a bond for the remediation of the area but a solar of wind farm does not have to pay anything. Our planning bodies hope that the final company owning the farm will remediate the area, as promised, but what if they just say, “Too bad, we're leaving?” These are overseas companies, and we have no recourse. Then the land holder becomes liable, and after they declare bankruptcy, it will be up to the people of NSW, via the Government to clean up the mess. Our Government's planning process needs some serious rethinking.

The Solution.

We are not against the use of renewable energy but we do not need to destroy our environment to achieve our aims. We could easily place solar panels on every building in Sydney and other cities and towns. We could store the energy locally (for each suburb or town) and distribute this locally.

Big Business could still make a lot of money without the environmental cost, each household could be paid for the use of their roof instead on one landholder being paid a huge amount. We would not need destructive and expensive transmission lines and we could start this Immediately instead of having to wait 10 or more years.

In addition we do need to recycle solar panels BUT this cost must be carried by the developer and there needs to be an up front deposit for the decommissioning of any major renewable project.

References:

CEIC Data (2023)
https://www.ceicdata.com› electricity-imports-and-exports

Robinson, S. & Meindl, G. (2019), Potential for leaching of heavy metals and metalloids from crystalline silicon photovoltaic systems. 10.5027/jnrd.v9i0.02.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339029474_Potential_for_leaching_of_heavy_metals_and_metalloids_from_crystalline_silicon_photovoltaic_systems
Peplow, M ( 2022), Solar Panels Face Recycling Challenge, ACS Cent. Sci. 2022, 8, 3, 299–302
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.2c00214

I object the project as I am worried about the accumulating effects of the three solar farms which are planned in the same area. The Summerland solar farm being one of them. The farm is planned in a high prone bushfire area. Which also floods in the event of high rainfall. I am worried about the black panels heating up the environment to very high temperature affecting insects and birds and even effecting bushland. The idea of having big batteries in this high fire prone country is very worrying. Also, I am worried about the scale of radiation. Everyone living nearby can be affected by with physical health. I also like to mention that. Our mental wellbeing could be at risk as we currently living in a beautiful environment and the farms are at such a big industrial scale which we will be everyday confronted with as local residents. It will more likely also effect the property value of the local property's which will make it impossible for people to relocate. We locals feel left in the dark and forgotten. There is not enough community consultation.

I object to this Electricity Generating Works proposal because I cannot support a project that relies on slave labour to provide its hundreds of thousands of cheap solar panels and tonnes of large-scale toxic batteries.

My objection to this project is based on the waste of the Australian's electricity consumers and taxpayers money on what is after all an old previously abandoned technology. No subsidies should be required as the industry is decades old and well advanced in other countries. It is not a start-up industry as over 35% of the NEM capacity is already made up of industrial wind and solar plants and rooftop solar.

Save Our Surroundings objects to this project because:

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

The proposed project is the most environmentally damaging of the alternative electricity generation methods. Not just at the local level but globally too. Wind, solar, BESS and pumped hydro projects require massive amounts of resources resulting in the destruction of wildlife ecosystems, including threatened and endangered species. The project should not be approved.

Save Our Surroundings (SOS) objects to proposed BESS Works in this project because there are still so many unresolved concerns about risks and issues involved with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), for instance:
1. Lack of research into the life-cycle of BESS
2. Resource intensive requirements
3. Involves slavery in mining and production
4. Environmentally damaging
5. Fire starting risks increased
6. Fire-fighting dangers increased
7. Local fire risks considerably increased
8. Expensive
9. Short life-span
10. Variable operation
11. Very little Australian content
12. Increased energy and sovereign risks
13. Roads and road travel are impacted
14. Electricity charging and air-conditioning requirements are high
15. Classed as hazardous goods
16. No certainty at end of the short life of a BESS
17. Increased dependency on intermittent electricity generation
18. Poor viability
19. Increase retail electricity prices.

Please refer to the attachment for details.

Contamination to waterways, soil profiles and waste management arisig from solar components is acknowledged worldwide as a ticking time-bomb.
Presently under Scedule 1 of the POEO Act 1997, elecricity works that generate electricity through the use of solar is not scheduled. THat meand the DPE, EPA and presumably any LGA is absolved from any responsility regarding contamination caused or waste arising from solar generation. So who then is responsible.
Until such time as this conondrum has been resolved and a environmentally acceptable plan is legislated, I call on the NSW government to adopt the 'precautionary principal' and initite a moretorium on all industrial solar applications.

My family have lived and in Ellangowan for nearly 30 years. It is a wonderful place to live - not too far to town, relatively quiet and safe.
This solar farm to be on Avenue Road is huge. This was cattle country and now there will be a ‘sea’ of glass panels instead of grazing land.
What irks me is - when does the little guy ever win? Money rules over everything else and it is so depressing. We don’t want to look at acres of glass. We moved out here for the peace, quiet and beauty.
I also have concerns as the road/paddock floods regularly on the site - what happens then to the panels?
Also - the farm will affect house prices in the area. Again - when does the little guy ever win?

I object to the Summerville solar and BESS facility on the following grounds:
> -BESS pose an unacceptable fire risk
> -lack of social license
-potential for solar panels leaching toxic chemicals into environment.
-potential for visual and acoustic and amenity impacts on those living in close proximity.
> On a broader level, the RE industry is unregulated. Their independent studies are doctored and the government’s regulatory process is compromised by the RUSH for RE in Australia.
> I object to the Summerville
> Alex Matthews - Rupanyup, VIC, 3388.
> No political donations happy for details to be public.
> Thank you
> Sent from my iPhone

This project will have a devastating affect to the biodiversity of the area. Impacted most will be the coastal emu which is critically endangered and known to live in the proposed projects footprint. There are believed to be less than 50 of these emus left in the wild and therefore should be protected from this industrial project. As a resident living near this proposed solar farm development, I strongly oppose this application and suggest there are many other locations available that are more suited to this organisation and other similar organisations projects.

i object on the grounds that solar is too unreliable. Better options need to be investigated. Solar is also toxic to the surrounding environment, communities and animals. We are destroying too much land for unreliable sources of energy.

As a community resident I am very concerned about the mental health and wellbeing and the devastating effects it will have on our family and our close knit community.
As we have already been dealt with floods and severe bushfires with some people even losing there homes.
This is also not including the droughts. And what about the beautiful wildlife that needs to be taken into account.
Koalas, coastal emu, kangaroos etc.

i object to this project as renewable energy is too unreliable and not a solution to power NSW/Australia. More research needs to take place to find a better solution. Solar factories are too toxic to the environment, humans and animals. What happens when they catch on fire? How will developers guarantee safety of the surrounding community and animals?

David Cook,
325 Rappville Rd.
NSW 2469.

Summerville Solar Farm. SSD-46982232.
I support the project.
I have never donated to any political party.
I acknowledge and accept the Dept.’s disclaimer and declaration.
My Wife and I are members of the Local Land Care Group, Rappville & Surrounds Land Care.

My concerns are ;-
1/ Habitat Trees.
2/ Control of feral pests, especially Cane Toads and Indian Mynas.
3/ Control of weeds, especially Cats Claw.

1/ Habitat trees are few in number in this area, because of out of control fires, floods and land clearing. A habitat tree is often dead, or almost dead. These untidy and often dangerous trees are usually the first to get pushed over but they have the most hollows for nesting and must be preserved. When a habitat tree is lost in an area it will take more than 10 man made nesting boxes to take their place. Usually not very successfully because of height, size and temperature control. It would be horrible to see huge piles of dead trees like those recently at the Chicken farm at the Ryans Road corner with the Summerland Way where there was no care at all of the environmental damage.

2a/ The control of feral pests that have recently started invading this area is of high importance. The poisonous Cane Toad kills most predators, thus causing a huge imbalance in the environment. Toads need to be collected by hand at night.. Traps can be used but need to be checked and emptied daily by hand and non target species released ASAP. Dams are their breeding sites along with any other small body of water, tyre ruts to crab holes. These need to be checked during the day for eggs and toadlets and then collected.
All this takes a lot of time and effort but consistency does bring success. My Wife and I have been collecting in the Rappville area for many years and have noticed a steep decline in the number of toads collected and spotted this year.

2b/ Indian Mynas are the next worst thing to arrive in this area. These invasive birds take over nest sites that are already few in number and also kill the young of other species and block up nests they are not using with plastic bags and other rubbish. Once they have used a hollow nest site other birds are reluctant to use the because of the Mynas filth left there.
These birds are very smart and hard to collect. Traps tendered at night are an option.

3/ Cats Claw is a very invasive climbing creeper that kills trees and smothers the ground cover, totally destroying the area of infestation.
This plant is all along the banks of Myrtle Creek that borders the property this solar farm is going to be on.
The Land Care group that we are members of have been working with the help of a Govt. grant, to eradicate this weed from some areas along Myrtle Creek. It is hard work!
It would be of great benefit to the local area if ESCO took on the fight to eradicate this weed off their property and help generally up and down the creek to other properties as well.

P.S. What about Fire Ants when they get here?

Thank you for the opportunity to put my concerns forward to you.

Yours Sincerely,
David Cook.

Area is not suitable for the project. It will negatively impact local farmers and wildlife. Please stop this project and it’s neighbouring solar projects

I object to large scale solar farms on rural farming land, within the vicinity of families and their homes. I hold concerns for the increased dangers of bush fires, floods and contamination of waterways from having large scale solar farm on the land.

Project not needed - we do not have a climate emergency - see attachment.

This project is essential for helping achieve zero emissions and to reduce the risk of catastrophic global warming. The location is not impacting highly productive farming land (the carrying capacity is quite small in comparison with other regions) and the infrastructure will barely be visible to the community.

Objection to Summerville Solar Farm, Richmond Valley LGA - SSD-46982232

I strongly object to Swedish-Owned OX2’s ESCO Pacific ‘Summerville Solar Farm’ in Richmond Valley LGA.

It cannot be demonstrated that this project will not affect public health and safety, nor the harmony of surrounding land uses.
• Fire - The proposed site is located on and surrounded by category 1 bushfire prone land. An increase in the risk and severity of fire would occur due to fuel loading of combustible materials such as the lithium battery storage and other infrastructure, producing highly toxic and carcinogenic smoke. Just one of the many examples of this is in New York, where a solar farm battery fire broke out on 27 July 2023 and took four days to extinguish, the government issued “air quality alerts as large amounts of potentially toxic smoke was affecting the community.”(1). The increase in local ambient temperatures day and night as a result of the well-known heat island effect intrinsically caused by large-scale solar farms would create a more volatile environment for the likelihood and severity of a fire event. The dense native bushland surrounding the property increases the risk of fire being spread to the surrounding properties, endangering lives not only of residents but of the fire fighters who aren’t equipped to deal with lithium fires, and pulling resources which should be protecting homes and lives.
• Flood - significant increase in the frequency and severity of both localised and downstream flooding as the proposed project would be on flood prone land. The earthworks and terrain modification would impact the soil’s current absorption rate.
• Endangered species - Impact on native flora and fauna, particularly that of the Coastal Emu of which there are fewer than 50 and have such a small area of habitation, as well as crucial koala habitat.
• The downstream effects on the surrounding Bungawalbin wetland cluster, a unique riverine environment identified as the nations largest tidal waterpool.
• Heat island effect - this is unmitigable and will increase the bushfire frequency and severity, putting lives in danger as well as potential for property, livestock, horticultural and apiary loss. Decrease of thermal comfort levels experienced by neighbouring properties, including heat-related illness, not allowing for healthy habitation on neighbouring properties. Decrease in primary production sustainability due to heat stress on agricultural and horticultural ventures.
• Significant loss of prime agricultural (SSAL) farmland during a time when Australians are paying more than ever for food
• The release of toxic and known carcinogenic chemicals contained in the solar panels and batteries, in the case of damage from a weather event or fire, ending up in the local atmosphere, water and soil. As well as the chemicals used for maintenance of all infrastructure and groundcover. All of which will end up being consumed by local families and farmers as our food, livestock and water is produced on the land. This will also impact the food coming out of our region from the neighbouring commercial agriculture businesses.
• The unstudied, long-term EMF radiation at such a large scale and in such close proximity to residents, particularly children. Especially the cumulative effect of all three of the proposed large-scale solar farms situated in such close proximity.
• Noise pollution both during construction and operation from the panels, inverters and battery storage systems
• Glint and glare and night light pollution
• The surrounding landowners have already been put in an extremely disadvantageous position through severe land devaluation
• Cumulative effect of all these adverse impacts if all three proposed solar farms within 2km from each other are approved.

Government approval of the proposed solar farm would be a blatant disregard for the health and safety of its people, and would breach its very own local planning and zoning especially over such a vast area of land.

It should also be noted here that there are many more residents in the community who object, however were not given notice of the project, nor the assistance to use the planning portal.

Also to note, we are located within a 5km radius and had no knowledge of the proposal, and received no information about this project from any of the parties involved, until we happened to see it was already on exhibition.

(1) https://www.ctif.org/news/solar-farm-lithium-ion-battery-fire-took-four-days-extinguish?fbclid=IwAR1lbOvFne0uELcLhCPFhzd131N5qV0N5joobHS7eAgJWmo9KkwHkP8XfaQ