Independent Planning Commission - Springdale Solar Farm (SSD 8703)

09.00pm Friday 29 January 2021

Venue

This Public Meeting will be held remotely by electronic means. You can choose to present to the Panel by video-conference or telephone.

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Contact Information

Jane Anderson

PLEASE NOTE: This public meeting has been rescheduled to 10am on Friday 29 January 2021

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment has completed its evaluation of the proposed Springdale Solar Farm and provided it to the Independent Planning Commission NSW for determination.

In line with regulatory requirements introduced in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Commission is not holding face-to-face public meetings at this time. To ensure interested individuals and/or groups can still have their say on the Springdale Solar Farm, the Commission will conduct a public meeting remotely by video conference (with an option to participate by telephone).

Commissioners Zada Lipman (Panel Chair) and Andrew Hutton have been appointed to determine this state significant development application. The Commissioners will host an electronic Public Meeting to listen to the community’s views. The Public Meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday 22 December 2020 but has now been postponed to Friday 29 January 2021, commencing at 10am AEDT.

How to Have Your Say

If you wish to apply to speak at the electronic Public Meeting, you must complete an expression of interest form available on our website by no later than 12pm AEDT on Friday 22 January 2021. Once speakers who wish to participate in the Public Meeting are registered, the Commission will provide additional information about the technical details and process to assist them.

How to watch and/or listen to the Meeting

This electronic Public Meeting will be live-streamed on the Commission’s website: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/livestream. If you have no or limited internet access, you’ll be able to listen to a live audio stream of proceedings by dialing 1800 093 431 and entering the following PIN: 34119769#

In the interests of openness and transparency, a transcript of the public meeting will also be published on the Commission’s website.

Written submissions

If you want to have your say on this project but are unable to participate in the Public Meeting, you can submit your comments in writing to the Commission up to one week (seven days) after the Public Meeting via email, post or our online portal: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say. The deadline for written submissions is 5pm AEDT on Friday 5 February 2021.

Written comments are weighed the same as spoken presentations.

Meeting Documents

201218 Springdale

18.12.2020 | pdf | 136.5 KB
Public Meeting Notice Springdale Solar Farm Date change

18.12.2020 | pdf | 160.4 KB
210128 Springdale Solar Farm Speaker Schedule

28.01.2021 | pdf | 71.7 KB
200129 Public Meeting Transcript

02.02.2021 | pdf | 472.3 KB

Determination

210219 Springdale Solar Farm Conditions_printable
22.02.2021 | pdf | 1.7 MB
210219 Springdale Solar Farm Statement of Reasons_printable
22.02.2021 | pdf | 706.5 KB

Referral from the Department of Planning Industry and Environment

DPIE Letter of Referral
01.12.2020 | pdf | 162.8 KB
DPIE Assessment Report
25.11.2020 | pdf | 3.8 MB
DPIE Recommended Conditions
25.11.2020 | pdf | 2.2 MB

Correspondence

Public Meeting Presentations

DPIE Presentation
08.02.2021 | pdf | 3.4 MB
Sutton Solar Action Group
08.02.2021 | pdf | 3.1 MB
5km NSW ACT Border Zone Planning Group Inc
08.02.2021 | pdf | 836.6 KB

Public Submissions

General Public Submissions

201215 Darren and Jacqui Hassall

29.01.2021 | pdf | 3.1 MB
210129 Allan Golding

05.02.2021 | pdf | 150.9 KB
210129 William Ginn on behalf of 5km NSW ACT Border Zone Planning Group

29.01.2021 | pdf | 202.9 KB
210203 Megan and Joe Hardwicke

05.02.2021 | pdf | 302.8 KB
210205 Name Redacted

08.02.2021 | pdf | 813.8 KB
210205 Rod and Toni McIntyre_Redacted

08.02.2021 | pdf | 70.2 KB
210205 Ron Miller and Sue Burns_Redacted

08.02.2021 | pdf | 30.8 KB

Public Submissions

Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 03/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/12/2020

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Support
Alistair Henchman
NSW | SUBMITTED: 31/12/2020

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PDF (1.2 MB)

Comment
Alistair Henchman
NSW | SUBMITTED: 06/01/2021

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Comment
Allan Golding
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (31.6 KB)

Objection
Allan Golding
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (71.4 KB)

Objection
Allan Golding
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (64.0 KB)

Objection
Anna DeFranceschi
ACT | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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PDF (35.4 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Complete Civil Pty Ltd
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 13/01/2021

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Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 13/01/2021

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Comment
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 13/01/2021

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Objection
Dianne Burgess
I am speaking on behalf of the Sutton Solar Action Group
NSW | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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PDF (3.2 MB)

Objection
Dianne Burgess
I am speaking on behalf of the Sutton Solar Action Group
NSW | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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PDF (127.1 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Not Selected | SUBMITTED: 06/01/2021

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DOCX (10.3 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support
Erin Hardwicke
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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DOCX (13.9 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 12/01/2021

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Objection
Geanean Gillett
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (38.5 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
ACT | SUBMITTED: 13/01/2021

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Objection
George (Andy) Hardwicke
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (5.8 MB)

Objection
Harry Pritchard
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 15/12/2020

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Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support
Jacqueline & Darren Hassall
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (437.6 KB)
PDF (266.4 KB)
PDF (136.8 KB)

Objection
Jacqueline & Darren Hassall
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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JPG (2.9 MB)
JPG (3.9 MB)
JPG (2.0 MB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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Support
Jasmine Millard
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
John Brennan
ADF
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Objection
Justin Barwick
NSW | SUBMITTED: 02/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Liam Simpson
Not Selected | SUBMITTED: 12/01/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 03/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
ACT | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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DOCX (22.9 KB)

Objection
Mark Burgess
Sutton and District Community Association
NSW | SUBMITTED: 27/01/2021

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PDF (1.2 MB)

Objection
Mark Burgess
NSW | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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PDF (332.0 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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Objection
Name Redacted
NSW | SUBMITTED: 19/01/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 14/01/2021

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Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 03/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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Support
Peter Gillett
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (39.9 KB)

Objection
Ryan Gillett
ACT | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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PDF (34.9 KB)

Objection
Sam Hardwicke
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (2.5 MB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 19/01/2021

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Comment
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 02/02/2021

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Support
Selina Hardwicke
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Objection
Sue Hardwicke
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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PDF (426.3 KB)

Objection
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 02/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
ACT | SUBMITTED: 05/02/2021

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Objection
Name Redacted
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
NSW | SUBMITTED: 04/02/2021

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Support
Name Redacted
Redacted | SUBMITTED: 01/02/2021

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Support

I support the Springdale Solar Farm project as it will be very beneficial to the environment. The size of this project will allow 35,000 houses to be powered with clean energy. Clean energy has many environmental benefits such as reducing green house gas emissions, creating new employment opportunities, improve public health and many more. Whereas using coal for energy produces harmful byproducts and gas emissions such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide that causes pollution to the environment including acid rain. Coal energy is also non renewable whereas clean energy such as solar panels and wind turbines is renewable. This project would also prevent 123,000 tonnes of CO2 being released into the environment annually. CO2 is extremely harmful to the environment as it is increasing global warming and the harmful effects of climate change. This project is also providing benefits to the local community of the Yass Valley area. It's going to increase business for restaurants such as Eagle Hawk Pub and other food venues in the town of Gundaroo. There is also the opportunity for community members to invest in the solar farm and receive even more benefits from this project. Employment opportunities with the solar farm are also available for the community. The local community is saying that the location of the Springdale Solar Farm is prime grazing land. The solar farm is using 470 acres of land on this farm, however nearly 50% of this land will still be used for agricultural purposes. The solar panels will also be elevated which means livestock such as sheep will still be able to graze under the panels. NSW is currently experiencing a devastating drought and needs to ease the pressure of grazing so that overgrazing doesn't occur and impact the environment negatively. It makes sense to reduce the grazing of livestock on this land so that the vegetation can revive quicker as it won't have the pressure of livestock overgrazing. Whilst the community is saying that the proposed location is not the right location for the solar farm I have to disagree. The location of the Springdale Solar Farm is not accessed by large amounts of the public. The only people who would be needing to drive past the location of it is residents to the area, otherwise it's not located next to a highway where it is visible for thousands of people to see travelling everyday. Also the layout of the solar farm is being designed to reduce the visual impact on neighbouring landowners as much as possible. This will be done by planting screening where possible along the edge of the solar farm and at other locations within the site. Another issue community members are protesting about the Solar Farm is traffic related issues. There will be a number of measures used to manage the impact from construction traffic on the community some of them being designated routes of construction traffic to the site and scheduling of delivery of major components where practicable to minimise safety risks to other road users including avoiding major deliveries during school pick-up and drop-off times.

Further to our Objection Submissions submitted in August 2018 (and again uploaded below) - please find following the Transcript of Jacqui & Darren Hassall’s Zoom Presentation at the Public Meeting for the Springdale Solar Farm – 29th January 2021 - and including additional comments. We noted in the email from Jane Anderson - Senior Planning Officer sent us containing the link to the Transcript from the public meeting that there were some incorrect details and missing information from our zoom call. Our following transcript though does contain these missing details. My name is Jacqui Hassall and with my Husband Darren live with our children at our home “Tintinhull Cottage”, 247 Tintinhull Road (note: new address recently changed by Yass Valley Council from 156 Tallagandra Lane to 247 Tintinhull Road) and we thank you for the opportunity to present our objections and concerns today. We are called R2 by the Developer. As neighbours of this proposal, we wish to speak on the impact that this has had on us and our family for over 3 years, placing our lives and our future plans for our home and property on hold. Our historic home known as “Tintinhull Cottage” was built in the 1800s and it is where we have lived for the past 16 years and never would we have imagined it may be located next to a large Industrial Solar Plant. Our home is elevated by 7 metres over the proposed site and if this development is approved, we would be overlooking it like an Amphitheatre, along our Southern Boundary and our Eastern boundary and even with the proposed screening we would still be able to see it from our home and our property. We would be living right alongside it, our whole property of 80 acres which as land owners we actively use and we would be only a few hundred metres from it when we sleep at night. Since moving here in 2005, we have seen an 275% increase in the value of our property. The whole area of Sutton including where we live is prime rural real estate and we believe that a Solar Plant is simply not the best and appropriate use of this land. While waiting for the Springdale Solar development decision to be made our lives have been put on hold and we ask why this proposal has been allowed to go on for so long, since 2017. We have put on hold our family plans to extend our 3-bedroom home to accommodate Darren and I and our 3 children or as preferred, with dual occupancy provisions to build at our selected 2nd site a new home on our property. This site chosen by us is on the side of the hill behind our existing home and overlooks the entire valley. It at least 12 metres above the proposed development and the tree planting proposed by the developer in the development’s lifetime would never conceal it and the glint and glare from our view, as the Solar Plants view would also not be concealed from our current home. Our plans for our family home have all been delayed because of the Solar proposal and the problems it has caused us have been exasperated unnecessarily. All future plans we have for our property have all been put on hold while we have anxiously waited for the final and long-awaited decision to be made. If buying here we knew there was the possibility of a development like this we would never have chosen to live here. Next to an Industrial Solar Plant: 470 acres, nearly 2 million square metres……incredibly 8 times the size of Parliament House. Pictures originally taken from our home and our property by the first developer Renew were not used to show our entire view. We do not know why this happened. Then the new developer changed our classification of high visual to moderate? Why also did this happen. We provided pictures at the recent onsite meeting with the Commissioners to show our view from various sites from and within our home. Living on our elevated site, within our home and from our main bedroom we have an uninterrupted view of the proposed site and our trees on the east and south in our garden are deciduous, so in late Autumn, Winter and early Spring we would have no screening of the proposed development. We believe that this location for a large-scale Solar development is both unsuitable and unnecessary and is a sellout of the direction of 40 years of actively promoting this area as Rural Residential Lifestyle Living Blocks with approved subdivision and promoted by a tier of council and government/s. Large solar developments like these should be held in large wide-open areas with minimal impact to the surrounding area and neighbours. Electricity can be sent by a flick of the switch on the Eastern Seaboard and the NSW Government has delivered Renewable energy zones, putting the infrastructure in to allow the zones identified to be there for hundreds of years. The Sutton area is not one of these energy zones and it is short sighted. We feel concerned that we will lack security at our home and property with the proposed development and are very concerned about the potential and yet unknown detrimental health impacts of living so close to a solar plant. Both short term and long term. We fear for ourselves and for our children every day about what future health conditions could develop because of this. About living so close to the ‘heat island effect’ with a massive solar plant causing temperature increases. Who can tell us and guarantee that there will be no future health implications to Darren and I and to our children? We are very concerned about the possibility of Fire. If a Fire started on the proposed site, how could we escape with our driveway our only exit? The proposed site would contain electrical switches and these are all a potential source of fire and every day and every night we will be concerned that we could become trapped if a fire was to start. How will we sleep with our fear and how will our concerns be reassured? There is no permanent water supply to fight a fire on the site and all water would need to be trucked in, it is not an environmentally suitable site. We are very concerned about how our family will be able to securely drive through the middle of the Solar plant, with our driveway Tintinhull Road going right through the middle of this. As well the entrance off Tallagandra Lane onto Tintinhull Road is dangerous and the possibility of a serious accident occurring very high. We are concerned with all of the additional Solar development traffic, with the large numbers of trucks for this on our roads, which can barely cope with its local traffic including the daily school bus which has no dedicated bus stop zones or areas to pull off. And what measures are in place to ensure that the chemicals used to clean the panels will not be washed into our dams. We also live in a high wind corridor and the area and valley floods. How will the chemicals impact our bore water and our stock? What safeguards are in place to prevent our drinking water from being contaminated by the dust and the cleaning chemicals from this development covering our home, our clothes on the clothes line and from being washed into our drinking water. In closing, we want to raise the issue of compensation and feel that we, along with our neighbours and the community have not been engaged appropriately by the Developer. We are concerned about the failure to engage us and that the developers have failed to offer any reasonable compensation. The developer argued that this will not devalue our property but we believe it will and if they argue that we cannot say it will, how can they argue that it will not? Where is their proof. Where do they get their information from? As property owners we know ourselves that would not be interested in purchasing a property next to a huge Solar Plant. We ask that compensation should include the special value of the land to Darren, myself and our family; and the loss of current and future land value compensation. Compensation for loss as a result of this disturbance, for the mental stress and hardship suffered to our whole family, for the impact to our health and the anxiety caused for over 3 years. Compensation for all and any additional costs our family may experience as a result of this Solar development and for all costs and disadvantages suffered should my family decide that relocation is the only acceptable alternative to remaining next door to an unacceptable neighbour situation Thank you.

Written August 2018. Published in the Canberra Times and the Sydney Morning Herald The Human Cost The corrugations on the old old hall look tired. The community hall has stood on the outskirts of town since the late 1800’s and in that time very little has changed. The first time I visited the hall was as a child for a school dance. I had made the drive from our rural haven to the burgeoning city of Canberra and mum had reluctantly spent $50 on a pair of shorts for me to wear. As I entered the hall in my new knee length Billabong shorts the world was full of promise and the night would be the best of my life. Only it wasn’t. The night was uneventful. The new shorts made me no more enticing to the girls at the dance and the century old wooden floorboards creaked and willed me to sit. Just under a decade ago I visited the hall once more. This time it was to marry my wife and unlike my experiences as a child, she was willing to look past my horrible dancing and we spent a magical time dancing, laughing and celebrating with friends; It really was the best night of my life. The hall has been a special place. It’s been a symbol of the community, a place of coming together, a place of celebration. Recently that has changed. The hall is no longer a place of smiling and laughter and bad dancing. It has become a war room, a symbol of a divided community fighting against a much larger foe. And the shift that’s happened in this old community hall is not isolated. It’s happening in community halls all across our region. My family are sixth generation farmers, and all things going well, my children will be the seventh. I love reading the memoirs of my great grandmother who grew up on the land. She tells tales of riding to Gundaroo for school, the cranky teacher that made life difficult and how at night she would say a prayer that perhaps god could make him fall off his bike so that they could have a new teacher. She tells of going into Canberra in 1913 for the laying of the foundation stone and how in one horrible week her husband and husband’s parents all died of pneumonia, leaving her with a two year old daughter and a large farm to manage alone, which she did. Our farm is special. It sits amongst rolling hills and lush pasture. It’s minutes to Canberra and yet, feels like it’s miles from anywhere. In summer the sunsets over the hills to the west are glorious, and in winter we look down on a valley blanketed in fog from top our hilltop perch. It’s not an easy life, but it’s rewarding. The drought means that the cost of feed takes away any chance of profitability this year, but the rain will come eventually, and with it the long grasses that we so desperately rely on. I remember seeing my parents worried faces when I was younger as they would discuss such things. “We need to pray for rain” mum would say. We’d all nod in agreeance. I’ve seen there worried faces before, but never like this. This year the worry hasn’t left their face, and it’s not because of the drought. “They want to build a solar farm on the edge of our property” dad said to me over the phone last year. “Their lawyers came to talk to us. They’re going around to all the farmers.” Well that’s not so bad I thought to myself. I’ve always aired on the side of environmental and wholly believe that as a society we need to make a shift. As I learnt more my perception began to shift. Not about the need for renewable energy, but about me being ok with it sitting alongside our family farm, the same farm that my great grandmother had held together by herself. The proposed development is 850 acres. For reference that’s a little bit larger than Central Park in New York City. For those who’ve ever been, it’s enormous. Within 2 kms of the development 34 farmers will be directly affected. For some, like us, they’ve been in the area for generations. For others, their farm is the realisation of a lifelong dream to be on the land, their life savings poured into its purchase. Land in the area is not cheap either. Its proximity to Canberra is highly desired. The land is home to a number of endangered species and works alongside the Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves to help provide a haven for the critically endangered golden sun moth and the vulnerable superb parrot. Aside from the visual impact, the economic impact on land values and the potential threat to our local endangered species there are a number of other things that make me ask “Why here?” Our local creek runs through the middle of the proposed site. It’s flooded three times in the last decade, and the recurrence of such events happens more and more frequently. Last year a large fire came through the area, and like the floods, their occurrence appears to happen far more frequently. And then there’s the fog. Dad has been out each morning and taking photos of the valley. They’re beautiful! The fog hangs in the area to the late hours of the afternoon. Perfect for photos, not for solar. It’s winter and the old hall is a cold place to be on a Thursday evening. An older lady walks slowly through the door, reaches into her handbag and pulls out a couple of $100 notes. “I don’t really do the internet banking stuff, but wanted to help out for the brochures and such.” The recipient smiles in gratitude and the lady takes her seat in the hall. I look around at weary, defeated faces. Living on the land the droughts you anticipate, this you don’t. A representative from the local council explains after the meeting that fights like this have been happening all across the region. Town’s are divided. Some farmers are selling out, others staying put. Generational friendships are falling apart. Sometimes it’s wind farms. More recently, it’s solar. The NSW government has identified three suitable sites for renewable energy generation in the state. The identified sites are put against a huge range of criteria to meet. The three sites sit in remote areas of rural NSW. Areas that aren't prime grazing land, that don’t visually impact 34 neighbouring properties, that aren’t prone to flood or fire, that won’t jeopardize the conservation efforts of our local endangered species. These are areas that would benefit from any economic activity the site may bring and where the energy produced will be consumed within the state. And yet, here we sit, huddled in the cold community hall on a Thursday evening. The huge number of applications that have been submitted to build renewable energy sources in our local area are riding on a wave of government subsidies. The conglomerates vying for these government dollars show no regard for the recommendations that have been put in place by the governments from who they seek the subsidies. They show no regard for the local farmers whose lives are being thrown into turmoil as they try to duke it out with multi-million dollar corporations, and they show no regard for the communities that are left broken in their wake. In our changing climate the drought isn’t the only problem keeping our farmers awake.

I am a direct, adjoining neighbour, yet have not been approached by the landowner, developer, department or council. I note that the development will have negative environmental, financial and health effects on the neighbouring properties and families. OEH support the need for a 5km RU6 Transition Zone around the ACT, as part of the Yass Valley Settlement Strategy. Indeed previous developments have been rejected as not suitable for these reasons. The Valley is an important local ecosystem. The proposal will see the wholesale removal of remnant vegetation, treelines and impact the water run-off, drainage, and catchment. The developer has apparently commented verbally that a bore will be required, which will have a negative effect on local farm bores. Already our bores are running at a reduced rate, this industrial site will make it worse. Conversely, the valley is also prone to flash flooding, and again the changes to the local terrain will likely be felt downstream in a negative fashion. There is no enforceable remediation for this damage. The ACT Goorooyarroo Regional Context for Mulligans Flat notes the following critical environmental factors for the area: 1. The area is a large scale carbon store 2. The valley is an important native bird flyway, including access for the Superb parrot, a critically endangered species. 3. The valley is a connector for the woodland/biodiversity reserves system 4. The valley links already determined biodiversity corridors. 5. It is noted by scientists ( e.g. Dr Laura Rayner) as part of the ONLY Superb Parrot priority management site in NSW. In the recent past landowners have been engaged to help with habitat restoration. Indeed I, and other farmers nearby, have put aside some of our properties to planting of native trees for Black Cockatoo habitat, which has been successful in providing food and shelter for all birds. The loss of the connector trees in the valley can only be negative on this formal, scientifically supported landcare program. There has also been no proper consideration of Indigenous Aboriginal archaeological issues, and the Dept has not required the developer to conduct a survey as is required under the Departments own guidelines. Noise. There is limited provision for noise reduction and suppression. The planned noise suppression revetments are unlikely to be effective in a rural valley. Past experience with generators etc show that noise travels up the valley to a surprising extent, perhaps aided by the terrain and ground vibration. Even a single generator has in the past been loud enough, even when 300m away, to keep neighbours awake at night. This has potentially serious health and mental health impacts which are not addressed by the Dept other than to remark that they (neighbours) ‘will get used to it’. This is a heartless comment that is not in line with progressive thinking on rural mental health. Dep Premier Barilaro stated that ‘if the local community do not want it (these developments) , then it should not happen’. The overwhelming local feeling is negative, with over 100 objections, mostly from people directly affected. A similar number of supporting comments do not come from the local area, some as far away as South Australia. In other words, theoretical support for a development not local to them, and therefore not a realistic part of the local consultative process. Some claim they are local, but are not directly affected, living in the township of Gundaroo. Indeed, there may be a better location not far from the proposed site which apparently has broad community support if some of the comments here are to be believed – and that is Gundaroo Common. I note the development will greatly increase vehicular traffic, particularly in the village and Sutton school zone. And in terms of renewables, I also note this area was assessed by AECOM as the LEAST suitable for solar generation. The only advantage is that there is a power line nearby. Please do not allow this foreign company to destroy our Valley.

Further to our submission today, please include the 3 attached pictures that we were not able to be add due to the 3 document upload limit. We have planted approximately 1200 Native trees in our 16 years of living at our property "Tintinhull" Cottage and the pictures uploaded show some of the Native trees that we have planted with Greening Australia on our property in the most recent 5 and 10 years. In the two 5 year old tree lots, about 50% of the trees initially planted did not grow so had to be replanted again. The majority of these replacement plantings have now all started to grow but all are at various heights. As per the pictures you can see that some are approximately a couple of metres high, some no taller than the fences and a larger amount again still smaller. The first picture shows two 5 year old tree lots and the second picture shows one 5 year old tree lot at the forefront with 10 year old tree lots behind this. The third picture shows one 10 year old tree lot with a larger dead Native tree in it, this is common with a Native tree mix. As well, this picture shows just how sparse these tree lots can be. Some have grown well in the 10 years since being planted but others are barely about the fence line and some have not grown at all. We felt it was very important to submit these photos as the developer has said they would also plant Native trees but as shown in the pictures, this does not necessarily mean that they will grow to block our view of the Solar Plant as the developer has said they would. Most certainly it would take many years for there to be any screening at all from the proposed Solar development at our homes elevated site. Certainly though in the life of the proposed development from our preferred 2nd building site and as well nearly all of our entire property, it would not be possible for the Developer to block the view as they have advised and there would never be screening from the proposed Solar development.

Springdale Solar Farm (SSD-8703)

Planning Officer

Current status of project:

Venue

Contact Information

How to Have Your Say

How to watch and/or listen to the Meeting

Written submissions

Meeting Documents

Venue

Contact Information

Meeting Documents

Venue

Contact Information

Meeting Documents

Venue

Meeting Documents

Determination

Referral from the Department of Planning Industry and Environment

Correspondence

Applicant

Department

Site Inspection

Public Meeting Presentations

Public Submissions

General Public Submissions

Public Submissions