Oxley Solar Farm: World heritage Oxley Rivers National Park 'would be threatened by solar project' community submissions claim

The Oxley Solar Farm, if approved, would be built about 14 kilometres south-west of Armidale, immediately adjacent to the Oxley Rivers National Park and would boast 225MW of solar and 50MW of battery generation capacity.

Every public submission on the project slammed the renewable energy scheme, with all 78 submissions to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment opposing the concept.

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In his own submission Armidale Mayor Ian Tiley said the project is close to the popular Blue Hole recreation area, which is visited by about 70,000 people a year.

It's the closest point in the Oxley Rivers National Park to Armidale, he said.

"The visual impact of an industrial-scale solar-PV array situated beside a site listed under both the NSW state, and Armidale Council's heritage registers is somewhat inconsistent" with preserving the 'pristine' New England High Country environment, his submission read.

The project is also immediately adjacent to the historic Gara River hydroelectric plant. Completed in 1895, it was the first hydroelectric project to light a township in Australia.

The Castle Doyle Road Action Group complained the proponent did not undertake community consultation with affected landholders.

"The proximity to the UNESCO World heritage listed asset is totally unacceptable from a visual amenity, fire risk, biodiversity perspective and recreational enjoyment perspective," their group submission said.

"The Wild Rivers National Park boasts Gondwana rainforest, dramatic gorges and magnificent waterfalls.

"The development conflicts with the heritage value of the Gara river hydroelectric station which, in its day, became the world's most important DC generator schemes... the development will be in full view from the recreational area at Blue Hole."

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Metz resident Bev Waters neighbours the property, and said her view would be spoiled by the renewable energy scheme.

"We are situated on a hill and there is no tree that will grow fast enough or high enough to screen the magical views we currently enjoy," she said.

Bruce Howard, General Manager of the Oxley Solar Farm development, said the company would respond to community submissions through the normal planning process once they had an opportunity to take them into consideration.

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