A $94-million solar farm near Gunnedah has been given the go ahead despite objections from locals.
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The state's Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has determined to approve, subject to conditions, the new 110-megawatt Orange Grove Solar Farm
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment referred the state significant development (SSD) application for the mega solar farm to the IPC in April this year amid community opposition.
There were 77 submissions lodged for and against the development during the exhibition period, but only four people addressed the IPC's meeting in Gunnedah in April, which saw about 20 others watch on.
The proponent, Overland Sun Farming, told the meeting the company had taken resident's concerns into account, increasing the distance between shared boundaries and the proposed site, and retaining vegetation.
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On Thursday, after considering all the evidence and community objections, the commission determined the solar farm on Orange Grove Road, north east of the town, would go ahead, subject to conditions.
The commission said the project is in the public interest because it "will assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; would not result in a significant reduction in the overall agricultural productivity of the land and can be appropriately rehabilitated following decommissioning; and achieves a reasonable balance between maximising the use of the solar resource and managing potential impacts on the environment and on surrounding landowners."
The panel said the conditions of consent imposed by the commission are designed to prevent, minimise and/or offset adverse environmental impacts and impacts on the community.
Chair of the Commission, Professor Mary O'Kane AC, appointed a three-member panel, consisting of panel chair Chris Wilson, Andrew Hutton and Annelise Tuor, to determine the application.
Along with a public meeting, the panel met with the applicant, department and Gunnedah Shire Council and conducted an inspection of the site and surrounding area.
The meeting heard concerns by locals on issues including land use compatibility, potential amenity impacts, flooding and biodiversity.
Residents said there had been "inaccurate" use of flooding data; the visual impact of the project; along with transparency were some of the objections raised.
In its statement of reasons for decision, the commission found the project:
- has been designed giving consideration to the modelled flood impacts... (and) would not result in any significant impact on adjacent properties and high value infrastructure in a flood event
- has been designed in order to mitigate visual impacts on surrounding residents through an increased setback and landscaping... (and) that any cumulative visual impacts from this Project and the recently-approved Gunnedah Solar Farm would be negligible due to the distance between projects and relatively low-lying nature of these developments
- site is on land with high quality soil and water resources capable of sustaining high levels of agricultural productivity (Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land or BSAL) ... (and) that the Site can be rehabilitated back to its pre-existing agricultural capabilities after the solar farm is decommissioned
- would not result in significant impacts on the capacity, efficiency or safety of the road network, and
- will assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
