Sundown Solar Farm

I strongly object to the development of the Sundown Solar Farm project. As a family member of landholders within the 4 km buffer zone, there has been very little communication regarding the project Which is extremely disappointing from not only the developers but Inverell Shire Council as well.
This project carries with it extreme safety concerns in terms of traffic increases causing congestion and problems with local access along Spring Mountain Road potentially leading to traffic accidents and concerns with emergency access for fire and ambulance.
The project traffic proposed using the rural road networks of Spring Mountain Road, Sturmans Road (from Glen Innes and Inverell) is 428 heavy vehicles (up to 26m long), shuttle buses, and private vehicles/day during construction.
This will greatly impact Swan Vale residents in so many ways.
Firstly I am aware that six children including three of my own family members catch the school bus from the intersection of Gwydir Highway and Spring Mountain Rd
An over 900 percent increase in traffic will not only put these children at risk but impact primary producers ability to move stock safely , and impact the ability of emergency services to access rural properties.
Many of these issues could be mitigated by using an alternative access road. I understand this option was initially considered as a shorter and more direct route to the development however Sundown Solar and Inverell Council decided it was not ‘feasable’ because:
1) a lower cost to the applicant in upgrading the intersection of Gwydir Highway with Spring Mountain Road instead of the intersection of Gwydir Highway with the private road; and
2) less impact on vegetation in using Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road.
Neither of these reasons make using the private road not “feasible”. The capital investment value of this project is approx. $689 million. The profits will be much greater than the capital investment. The costs to Sundown Solar is slight compared to the major impacts the high volume heavy vehicle traffic on local residents and businesses.
Furthermore, I have concerns regarding fire risk and the ability of locals to be able to mitigate this risk.
A 150 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is proposed for the project However, they are a serious safety risk if not correctly installed or commissioned as identified by WorkSafe QLD. They can cause:
Electric shock, Fire and explosion that can also result from excessive temperatures, component failure, short circuit or loose connections.
Flash burns - A battery has sufficient energy to cause an arc flash if it short circuits,
or if a fault occurs. An arc flash can have temperatures above 12,000°C, capable
of melting metal or causing fires and explosions, and cause arc flash injuries. Exposure to hazardous chemicals. Battery casings can degrade or be damaged
from a variety of impacts. They can also rupture because of excessive temperatures generated from a change in chemical reaction from over-charging. If a battery casing is ruptured, the fluid or gel (electrolyte) inside can leak, resulting in toxic fumes, burns, corrosion or explosions.
This project is planned to have a lifespan of 35 years which means, these risks remain for the local community for a very long time.
21 resident homes in Swan Vale are within
4 kms of the proposed project area that will have this battery storage system installed.
Add to this the potential access issues for fire services, inability to use aerial appliances for fire fighting, and the terrain making a major fire event almost impossible to control solely using vehicles, adding this additional fire risk without consultation is a disaster waiting to happen.
Considering people over profits is not occurring here. Please allow meaningful consultation and consideration of this communities concerns.

I strongly object to the development of the Sundown Solar Farm project. As part of a family that has two properties within the 4 km buffer zone, I was saddened to learn of the poor communication regarding the project apart from a letter from the Department of Planning received in July. I understand a community meeting was held where 2 land owners attended. My family and a number of other people were unaware of this meeting and did not receive communications but most certainly would have attended either personally or remotely if this option was given. I am greatly disappointed in both the developer and also the Inverell Shire Council for the lack of consultation, particularly given the safety concerns I have regarding the initial development, and also further into the projects continuation which I will detail below.
Firstly I have major concerns regarding the planned use of Spring Mountain Road increasing traffic flow to 428 vehicles on a 6 day per week basis seems like a tragedy waiting to happen.
Three of my young family members catch the bus from the turnoff from Gwydir Highway to Spring Mountain Road, as I did as a child, and do not see that proposed “mitigation strategies” to avoid school bus times are anything Other than empty promises. Adding the amount of traffic to this road instead of insisting of developers using their funds to make an access road avoiding an impact on the rural road is irresponsible and will impact not only these children’s safety but emergency access and bush fire fighting access.
This brings me to my next point regarding fire safety. great concern to me is also the risk of fire as a result of either panels or battery storage catching fire. This area, as the developer has quoted, is in a renewable energy hub comprising other solar farms and wind farms. As a result of the wind farms in close proximity, it is a no-fly zone for firefighting aircraft. If a fire occurs and is not contained it would become a terrible disaster as a lot of the terrain would be difficult to fight a fire in with vehicles alone.
Part of the appeal of this beautiful part of the world is the natural wild terrain. Unfortunately we are headed into an El Niño period, our country is severely affected by fire and if a major fire event occurs the plans for this project as well as the impact on traffic and roads as well as possible impacts on farm dams under harvestable rights and groundwater depletion if bore access is granted, this could be an unmitigated disaster for rural fire services that my family have been a part of for more than 40 years.
Please consider the impact on hardworking rural residents and not the almighty dollar.

Another solar farm and battery factory Prime agricultural land yet again no respect for the local communities surrounding this construction site, all the money and profits going overseas to offshore businesses. What is the end result for the Australian public community?
There is plenty of land out west to build these solar factories that will not affect the local communities . And reduce our Prime agricultural land
I’m strongly against this proposal

As per attachment

I am currently a university student at a University in Queensland, but assist my family with the operation of our farm Warrawee on Spring Mountain Road, Swan Vale.

I am very concerned with the proposed solar farm development and its impact on my future, my safety and the safety of my friends whilst we are working and enjoying life during my holidays on our family farm.

The access road in question, being Spring Mountain Road, runs through our family farm and the plan to increase the size of the road, the number of vehicles on the road and the size of vehicles regularly running on this road is a direct conflict of use with the farm land surrounding it. How can the developers of the Solar Farm guarantee the safety of not only the farm animals but also my friends and I when we are helping with the cattle on the property? It is a conflict of use to have a 7.8 metre wide road with a speed limit of 100km an hour running directly through Warrawee when we have cattle grazing on both sides of the unfenced road. The development proposal must include a solution which allows direct access for us and our cattle so we do not need to risk our lives when we are mustering our animals and directing them across to the other portion of our property. For the proposal to suggest we can do this in a certain time frame is an entitled statement and shows the developer has no concept of rural life and the time frames kept on farms.

In addition I am very aware of issues surrounding environmental sustainability, particularly when discussing rural land. The proposed development is utilizing water, a scarce resource, for the dampening down of roads and cleaning of solar panels. This water is a valuable resource which has many higher uses than the washing of equipment and dampening of roads.

The dust which will settle over the pastures on the farms impacted will not only have a significant impact on the health of animals grazing these properties but will decrease the ability of the farms to store carbon. The collection and storage of carbon is vital to the health of our lands and our future and it seems short sided to make Australian farmers and in turn future generations including my generation, by way of decreasing their ability to store carbon and paying the price of decreased quality product in the sale yards, pay the cost for the establishment by a large international corporation of a solar farm which will send the majority of its profits overseas.

In addition, I suffer severe hay fever. The constant dust which will be created by the heavy traffic load including buses and trucks on the road through our property, will make my ability to stay in our residence let alone work on the property near impossible. The proposal must make allowance for the amount of dust that will be generated that will not be covered simply by the constant dampening down of the road. The amount of water required to do this, given the length of the road is immense and the need for a water truck to be used virtually full time during the course of the development is unsustainable. This is costly in terms of water and this cost to the community will become even greater if we head into a dry period.

The noise generated from the proposal is well above standards with the developers simply providing residents with advice that this will happen. I do not find this acceptable and I find it damaging to the rural lifestyle and the health and welfare of our animals. This project will provide no benefit to me in terms of a future farmer but may cause immense damage to the infrastructure and animals under our care. It will also make it extremely unpleasant as a place to work and also relax as a family.

Swan Vale is a rural area with large commercial farms and farming families. The development of the proposal and its access road do not fit within the ideals of rural living and do not meet the test in terms of expectations of city dwellers wanting to know the product they buy as a consumer has had a healthy and happy life.

I am writing to object the proposed development by Sundown Solar Pty. Ltd.
I am disappointed that there has been limited community consultation with the community that will be directly affected to this proposed development.
I am concerned that many aspects of the proposed project will have direct adverse impact's to my families health and safety.
The highest concern to my family is the impact of traffic and safety in stage 1 and 2 of the proposed development as we live in a rural zoned area and our home is directly opposite Spring Mountain Rd named one of the preferred routes to the development. As it stands Spring Mountain Road is a no through road and has limited traffic travelling in and out on a daily basis, there would be less than 40 movements on the road on a daily basis. to increase movements to 428 units per day is a significant impact to the safety of my children accessing the school bus of a morning and departing of an afternoon. Movements that will be significantly increased will add to adverse health impacts to the significant dust that will result from the traffic, not only to my family but will also add to the stress to stock and excessive dust can contribute to Bovine Respiratory disease in our animals.
my other main objection to the proposed development is the ground water impacts as a result. Due to prolonged drought impacts to our community over the past ten or so years, levels of ground water in the area were close to collapse. The Swan Vale Landcare group have been working with the Mulloon institute in the last two years focusing on rehydrating the landscape in the Swan Brook catchment, by way of many different activities. The threat to water sustainability in our area with excess use of existing bores (that have been licensed to use for watering stock) would be of a dyer consequence to the survival of our farms as these reserves are relied upon on a daily basis and heavily relied upon in the dryer times for the survival of our families and animals furthermore to my knowledge that has been no communication with neighbouring landholders within 5kms to the site that have licensed bores, in regards to access to use these reserves during the construction phase and the on going maintenance of the proposed wind farm. The proposed development should be creating its own water storage system for the use of construction and maintenance of the development.
Ther following are named on the National Environmental Significance list and will be impacted by the proposed development which l include the project.Box Gum Woodland, Bluegrass, Austral Toadflax, Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot and Painted honeyeater. and also Eight threatened species were identified within the proposed development site, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond firetail, Dusky Woodswallow, Little Lorikeet, Scarlet Robin, Little Eagle, Bluegrass, Austral Toadflax. As a rural landholder I am highly concerned that the majority of our threatened ecological communities will be pushed to extinction during the construction phase of the project and some major protection has to be considered as a result. Koala have also been recorded in the area's surrounding the proposed development and have not been considered to be impacted as a result of the proposed development.
As a rural landholder and the limited consultation to our community I can only feel that I do not matter and my voice is not valued. I have been heavily involved as part of our community over the past 24 years and value our rural community and the pristine landscape that surrounds our valley. I would like Department of planning to strongly consider my objections to the proposed development.

This project is a positive step for renewable energy in NSW.
It will be a benefit to the local community by boosting the local economy through utilising local businesses and providing employment opportunities during the construction phase.
Local landholders will benefit from improvements to the Spring Mountain Road. The improvements which will have to be made to allow the heavy vehicle access required for construction will mean improved access for stock cartage to sale. This is a benefit which will continue long after the solar farm construction.

See Attachment

I fully support this project going ahead as I believe it will be a huge benefit to my local community. It will provide employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy.

Objection to Application No.SSD-8911 by Sundown Solar Pty Ltd - reasons attached.

The Sundown Solar Project will have significant impact on surrounding residents not a part of the project for the following reasons:

Hazards:
With the large battery being installed, there are multiple risks including Fire, Explosive Gas, Chemical & Electrical. These are all outlined by Worksafe Queensland.

Traffic:
The almost 1000% increase in daily traffic on Sturmans Road will create multiple issues for residents even after widening and create a much greater Safety risk for normal users of the road when dealing with trucks. Multiple residents also cross the road with stock, leading to major concerns on the safety of the stock and staff that complete this task often. The increase in trucks using the road will also create dust which will severely impact houses that are reasonably close to the road. On top of this, the proposed upgrade to the road does not comply with Austroads design standard.

Noise
Current noise levels in Swan Vale are currently 30-35dB. The estimate increase to over 100dB from water trucks and vibratory rollers is above Noise Management levels in 11 locations. Also the predicted noise levels for construction will increase to 67dB. Both of these levels will have a significant impact on residents, as will the vibrations that come with the increased noise.

Water usage:
The estimate of 475 kL of water to be used per year is an environmental risk if there is any hazardous material washed off. Drought is a constant risk to the nearby primary industry businesses, and the water from Kings Creek is used by those businesses and in time of drought it will have a severe impact when 475 kL is taken from the local water source in a time when droughts are more likely due to climate change.

I do not believe the above areas have been taken into enough consideration in the Sundown Solar Farm review, and thus I object to this project.

I strongly object to the development of the Sundown Solar Farm project. As a landholder within the 4 km buffer zone, there has been very little communication regarding the project apart from the letter from the Department of Planning received in July that I myself have received. I understand a community meeting was held where only a handful of land owners attended. I and a number of other people were unaware of this meeting and did not receive communications but most certainly would have attended.
I am greatly disappointed in both the developer as well as the Inverell Shire Council for the lack of consultation, particularly given the safety concerns I have regarding the development stage.
My 3 children, as well as 3 other children, catch the Swanvale School bus daily at the proposed location where the construction traffic will turn off the Gwydir Highway onto Spring Mountain Road. What is astounding is that the proposed traffic mitigation strategy that the developer has suggested falls outside the times that the School bus collects and drops off my, and the other Children. The traffic flow of 428 vehicles at this location on a 6 day per week basis is a tragic accident waiting to happen, particularly given there is an alternative point of access that will not affect children catching a School bus. The only reason why I can see this road would be forged ahead with, is that the other option will cost the developer more money. It’s a shame that the cost saving comes before the safety of children. This sounds to me like a very poorly thought-out process and a potential tragedy, but will save the developer some money. This is why I am particularly disgusted with the Inverell Shire Council with its lack of consultation and this flys in the face of its charter to ensure the safety of its Shire residents. Simple phone calls can often solve a lot of problems, but again it comes down to the dollar.
The traffic study conducted by the developer indicates that in the construction phase traffic volume will more than double and will bottleneck to turn into Spring Mountain Road where children catch the School Bus. At the point the School Bus stops, there are already a significant number of children on the bus that have travelled from Glen Innes. I also cannot see how this mitigation strategy could be enforced at all and would seem to me to be absolute sugarcoating. During the construction of the White Rock Wind Farm, 70 odd contractors were stood down on one single day for breaches of their drug and alcohol policy. These workers were already on site. They had travelled on the highway that morning, White Rock Wind Farm’s entrance off the highway was not a School Bus stop. What would happen if the same thing happens on this construction?
Apart from the issue I have with the traffic, a great concern to me is also the risk of fire as a result of either panels or battery storage catching fire. This area, as the developer has quoted, is in a renewable energy hub comprising other solar farms and wind farms. As a result of the wind farms in close proximity, it is a no-fly zone for firefighting aircraft. If a fire occurs and is not contained it would become a terrible disaster as a lot of the terrain would be difficult to fight a fire in with vehicles alone.
My third concern is around water use. The developer is stating they will consult with the existing bore license holders in the area (29 license holders) to use their existing groundwater bores to service their project. I for one will be opposing this point whole heartedly. As a license holder of one of these bores they will not be using my water. Apart from this, I am horrified at the suggestion that they will be able to take water out of farm dams under harvestable rights, and using Kings Creek water to suppress dust and clean the panels is a travesty.
My fourth concern is that of the environmental impact. The site contains threatened ecological communities, specifically Box Gum Woodland and the area has had koalas, the most recent sighting being further up Spring Mountain Road last year. It is a known habitat for the Regent Honey Eater and Swift Parrot whose breeding cycles and community have already been fractured by development. The Biodiversity Assessment Report states necessary clearing of Box Gum Woodland which is a threatened ecological community, as well as 8 threatened species inside or near the development area, and 6 matters of National Environmental Significance that are known, or have the potential to occur in the development area. Destroying this environment for a project where the benefit is questionable, compared to the cost to all, should be unacceptable.
I am also concerned about how the reflection of 1700 acres of solar panels will affect our local weather. Speaking to very knowledgeable people on this matter they are horrified that this development is happening and a common theme is that it will affect out weather patterns, particularly our rainfall. We have been through drought before which almost broke us so we don’t need this mess to affect rainfall even more.
In closing I am not against renewable energy, but a development of this size, and at this location is ridiculous. Yes, it is ideally situated in a renewable energy hub due to the Eastlink powerline however the community fought against this powerline well over 20 years ago, but unfortunately lost. If common sense prevails we won't lose this one.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to object to the use of Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road as part of the proposed development and construction by Sundown Solar Pty Ltd application No. SSD-8911.

I am deeply concerned about the impact this project will have on the health and wellbeing of residents who live in this area, particularly for those who live close to the road. The noise, dust and loss of amenity will be unbearable if Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road carry over 400 heavy vehicles per day. There is ample research evidence demonstrating the impact of noise and dust on human health. In light of this research, please consider the devastating effects of fine particulate dust, noise and vibration will have for the residents living at the “Menari” and “Warrawee” properties. The summer months will be particularly intolerable for dust.

While I am supportive of renewable energies, the government needs to ensure that valuable agricultural land in this area is not monopolised by the project. Finally, an alternative road must be considered to reduce the potential impacts of the Sundown Solar application on the many families who work as primary producers in this area and play an significant role within our society and the economy.

A few examples of research demonstrating impact of dust and noise on human health:

* Khan, R. K., & Strand, M. A. (2018). Road dust and its effect on human health: a literature review. Epidemiology and health, 40.
* World health organisation: https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/noise#tab=tab_1

Kind regards

My family and I regularly use the Spring Mountain Road to access our family farm.
The solar farm project will greatly benefit all landholders adjacent to the access route by upgrading vehicular access for the construction process.
The required upgrades will be of ongoing benefit. In particular:
- access for heavy vehicles on and off the Gwydir Highway at the intersection of Spring Mountain Rd;
- safety upgrade of the crossing over the Swanbrook;
- upgrade livestock grids; and
- surface upgrade of the Spring Mountain and Sturmans Roads for safe school bus and reliable livestock transport access.

I object to the project on the following grounds:
1. Noise, traffic impact and safety.
Residents will face an exponential increase on the daily traffic which will directly impact their properties, movement of stock, and safety for the foreseeable future. These impacts will undermine the security of the area with the introduction of large machineary and construction noise levels are predicted to EXCEED Noise Management Levels at up to 11 assessment locations in community.
The Swan Vale is zoned RU1 Primary Production and in the Inverell Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Inverell LEP). The objectives of this zone will be thwarted by the proposed development, and in particular by the use of the public access roads to the proposed development.
2. GROUNDWATER AND CONTAMINATION RISKS
Kings Creek is named as a source used for irrigation and stock. Kings Creek flows into the Macintrye River and onto Inverell. Contamination of surface water as a result of accidental spillage of materials (fuel, lubricants, herbicides and other chemicals used to support construction activities could also adversely impact water quality and flow downstream.
Droughts a constant reality, Sundown Solar is proposing to access this scarce resource from nearby landholder dams and registered bores within 5 km of project. Harvestable rights allows Sundown Solar to capture and store water without a water access licence, water supply work approval or water use approval.
3. electrical and chemical hazards
Electrical shocks, chemical spills, fire and explosions, and flash burns are all real concerns for the residents as the project is set to run for 35 years. These risks are significant and pose real danger to the community surrounding the project.
On these grounds I submit this to object strongly to the project.

I Submit for your consideration, my objection to the Sundown Solar project application number SSD-8911.

The basis for my objection relates to the significant impact this project will have on the Spring Mountain Road. The additional traffic that will occur during the construction period will create significant safety issues for those who use the road regularly and those who live along the road.

The increase in traffic will cause a lot of dust, noise and a constant stream of heavy vehicles. It will make living along the Spring Mountain a terrible experience. I understand there is massive increase in traffic, particularly large trucks travelling at high speeds. A different way to access the site where the solar farm is to be built should be worked out, one which does not impact residents living along this road.

Regards Lauren Chapman

Anthony Alliston
Manager Development Services
Inverell Shire Council

[email protected]

Dear Mr Alliston

Objection to Application No. SSD-8911 by Sundown Solar Pty Ltd

I would like to state my objections to the named project above.

Although I am in support of renewable energy and that development of programs to access this source for more people, it is imperative that in the process every consideration is taken to protect the lives of rural living, support the community to the very highest level of integrity and be flexible and considerate to those most directly affected by your intentions. More than often, large companies come in to these areas simply to make money without care or willingness to navigate the most important issues that will impact the community concerned. This is such a case.
When access roads to peoples farms and lively hoods are going to be altered to the point that they can no longer easily access their properties and land, and have to alter how they live, or worse, consider moving because of a development plan like this, then this project and company has failed. When a company can not hear It’s community, work with it’s community and support it’s community fully, and for a life time, such that it becomes part of the community , then it should not be there, not get permission to proceed and should not at any cost have the right to impact the lives of those who have been committed to the area for years and years and have supported themselves and their community without the dominance and destruction of an opportunistic enterprise.


Points I would like to highlight:
Swan Vale residence have had little time to consider the impact of this project and make objections. They have lived years and years on this land, committed to it, invested in it, and love it. They must have their words heard, they must have a say, they must be given the greatest consideration when thinking about the impact of this land. Would you be writing this letter if it was happening at the bottom of your garden?


Impact of road changes and property access

The following properties are directly and adversely impacted by the proposed development and the proposed use of Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road:
“Menari” 489 Spring Mountain Road, Spring Mountain
“Numeralla” 1071 Spring Mountain Road, Spring Mountain
“Kokoda” 934 Spring Mountain Road, Spring Mountain
Warrawee” 155 Spring Mountain Road, Spring Mountain
“Lockmore” 170 Northcotts Rd, Spring Mountain

“Menari” as an example of a property particularly adversely affected, it is the dwelling described as R15 on various maps in the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for the proposed development.
“Menari” borders and is immediately adjacent to the project area for the proposed development. The site of the proposed development is, at its closest point, approximately 2 km from the “Menari” homestead. The “Menari” homestead is approximately 45 metres from Spring Mountain Road. There is a vegetable garden approximately 4 metres from Spring Mountain Road at its closest point. This might seem like no big deal – move the garden, but that shows no consideration for the basic impact of lives. A vegetable garden is a love, a livelihood, and cherished and cared for pastime or necessity that takes years to develop and mature.
“Menari” is intersected by both Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road, the proposed public roads to be used for access to the proposed development.
Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road are currently 4-metre-wide unsealed roads. They are both no through roads. On average approximately 10 vehicles (primarily local residents) drive on these roads daily. Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road are our only access point to travel to and from Inverell and Glen Innes. Spring Mountain Road is also used to connect with school buses and the Black and White bus that make daily deliveries to enable us to carry out our daily business operations. Critically, it is the only access road for residents to reach medical services. These roads are importantly used for moving live stock, and by pedestrians.

Traffic and safety impacts

Noise and vibration impact

Hazard risks like fire, chemical and electrical.

Adverse business impacts and financial loss

Loss of Amenity

Ground water contamination and risks that poses to wildlife and native species

Considering profit before the lives of people, and the arrogant concept that the community always complain and that once this is through it will all settle down, and be tolerated, without considering the mental impactful cost to lives of that lack of grace to understand people.

Valuable arable land lost to solar panels! – The biggest impact of all.


The objections to this project could go on and on, because it is not about ‘renewable energy’ it is about finding the right place for projects of this sort. Australia is a very large place and there are large areas of land that are not farming land, that are not valuable residential land, that are areas not ‘next to’ peoples homes and communities.
Australia has plenty of spaces where this project could set up with the very best intentions and outcomes for all. This location is not that place. It is our duty as this generation who has smashed our planet through greed, to be the ones who push back and demand that the right considerations and forward planning are put in place early, to protect valuable lands, the people and animals, such that going forward, other projects are supported not rejected like this. Setting the highest standards now will prevent this type of opportunistic application to riddle our lands and cause distress and resentment.

I would like to draw your attention to an article in The Times – by Peter Dobson, Professor of Engineering Science at University of Oxford
Our green and pleasant land is no place for solar.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/72b7d556-3160-11ee-b862-55515d26d392?shareToken=bc5097ca69ed457b1ff045df9f3211b0

Ask yourselves these questions:
Does this really have to go ahead?
Is there somewhere better to place this enterprise?
How can we make it a success for ALL concerned?
What do we need to do to gain the respect, trust and confidence of the community we plan to join?
How are we going to make those community lives better?
What will we do to support this area for all the decades into the future?
Will this place be better for having this project here?
Who will benefit? How will they benefit?
What comes next if we agree to this project?
What are all the risks/impacts to the people and nature?

We would be really stupid shameful people to be keen about solar without considering all the major impactful aspects and setting boundaries to save our highly valuable lands and the people who have committed their lives to live on these lands..

I maintain my position of objecting. I will reattach my first letter, as well as my wife's letter, as her portal profile is not allowing her to upload. Make a submission is selected and then it goes to a page to say Thank you for your input, and yet no input has been given. See customer support ticket P645026, which we have had no response to. We believe that uploading my wife's letter (Objection Letter SSD-8911 to NSW Gov pdf file) along with my own is the best solution to ensure that the planners get both today: the cut off day. Are the comments published? I would put her name here, but she wants to remain unpublished. She also objects and declares she has made no political donations in the past 2 years. We are 88 and 83 years of age. Our daughter has helped us arrange the portal submissions as we don't own a computer. Thank you

An environmental justice-based framework is critical in today's society as we collectively strive towards a rapid energy transition to end our dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change effects and achieve Australia's current goal of net zero by 2050. At a minimum, environmental justice requires the opportunity for individuals to reasonably participate in an informed and free manner in environmental decision-making processes.

In this vein, I strongly object to the proposed Sundown Solar Farm development. In particular, I strongly object to the proposed use of Spring Mountain Road and Sturmans Road to access the proposed development. My background to this issue comes from my connection to my grandparents, the long-term owners of the property which includes the residence described as “R15” in the EIS on Spring Mountain Road, Spring Mountain. R15 will be particularly adversely affected by the proposed developments.

Whilst I strongly support the immediate uptake of renewable energy to create sustainable energy security, this must be balanced against the policy goal of preserving arable land to enable food security in Australia. This balancing act demands the rigorous consultation and inclusion of rural and regional communities whose agricultural land is being relied upon to decarbonise the nation’s energy supply.

NSW’s Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No 203 provides that in assessing a development application in specific regional areas, consent authorities must take into account the ‘likely impacts of that development, including environmental impacts on both the natural and built environments and social and economic impacts in the locality’; the ‘suitability of the site for the development’; and the ‘public interest’ (ss 4.15(1)(b)(c)(e)). Whilst it is most certainly in the public interest to develop solar farm projects close to transmission lines to cut down on costs, the Sundown Solar Farm has not adequately reflected on the social, economic and environmental impacts of the development as it currently stands.

The proposed daily use of the Spring Mountain Road by an estimated 478 vehicles, including heavy trucks, in the construction phase of the solar farm raises a myriad of health, safety, business and social impacts. The vast volume of heavy vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds will undoubtedly create health risks for properties such as R15 from the stress of living and working so close to these roads. Huge amounts of dust emanating from the heavy traffic will be dangerous to the respiratory health of residents, stock and farm animals. Predicted construction noise and vibration levels for R15 will create a significant disturbance to the typically quiet rural ecosystems along Spring Mountain Road and will again impact local residents, workers and stock. Further notable impacts include the disruption to farming business practices, the use of public access roads, access to services in towns, including schools, hospitals and sites for community connection, and loss of amenity.

In light of the major human and social costs outlined, it should be noted that changing the "Western Road" (as described in the E15) to be the alternative means of access for constructing the proposed Sundown Solar Farm development provides a mutually beneficial and constructive solution. Namely, there are no Swan Vale residents on this road, and this road would also provide a shorter access route from the Sundown Solar farm project to the Gwydir Highway.

Ultimately, if rural communities - who already contribute so much to Australia’s food security and supply - are burdened by the heavy lifting of decarbonising Australia’s energy system, they ought to be incorporated into the decision-making process, consulted, and compensated for the critical sacrifices they incur. This basic tenet of environmental justice is a pivotal reason to re-evaluate the proposed solar farm project.

I appreciate your critical consideration of how this proposal should go ahead, if at all, in light of the contents of this commentary.

I strongly object to the sundown solar farm project. There are a number of issues regarding this project that need to be addressed.
- Noise and vibration concerns
- Dust issues
- Impacts to surrounding farming area
- Access to site
- Traffic increase (approx. 960%)
- Contamination potential.
Although I beleive that renewable energy sources are the way to move forward, This project needs much more consultation and investigation before moving forward. We are limited to the amount of fertile farming land in this country so why put this strong farming land and community area at risk. Surely there is a better location for this project.