Bendemeer Solar Farm plans open for public comment

Detailed documents have officially been lodged with the state's planning authority for a multi-million dollar solar farm in Bendemeer.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been submitted by renewable company, Athena Energy Holdings, to build the proposed farm less than two kilometres from the town's centre.

The community can now have their say on the project, with the EIS open for public comment for 28 days.

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The plans reveal the farm, which is slated for a 600 hectare site on the Oxley Highway, will include 430,000 panels and a battery energy storage system.

It's anticipated the farm will supply low-cost energy to the national grid, and create more than 300 jobs during the construction period.

Results from a visual impact assessment indicate the farm could be visible from 91 dwellings, and nine spots along the Oxley and New England highways.

The visual impacts for dwellings were rated "low", and the impact from the road was determined to be "very low".

During the peak of the construction period, the project is expected to generate up to 110 vehicle movements per day.

The 296 page EIS states the developer has been committed to "genuine" and "effective" consultation with the community since 2018.

According to the plans, building the solar farm on agricultural land will only result in "minor minor and insignificant contraction of economic activity".

It's proposed the project will have an overall positive impact on the regional economy through employment opportunities, and diversification of income streams.

The project is expected to have a multi-million dollar output in both the construction, and operation period.

A community fund, totalling $50,000 per year, will also be set up.

The proposed farm forms one part of the Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub, which also includes a 58 turbine wind farm.

Hub project manager Llewellyn Owens said the public exhibition period marked a huge milestone for the farm.

"Projects like this create significant opportunity for the Tamworth region to diversify and bring high-skilled new jobs to the area," he said.

The application is open for public comment on the NSW Planning Portal until August 23.

Community pop-up sessions will be held at the Bendemeer Hotel on Sunday, July 30, between 10am and 12pm, and on Saturday August 5 and 12 between 1pm and 3pm.

Project team members will also be at the Bendemeer CWA Hall every Friday from 10am until 2pm.

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