Blind Creek Solar Farm

I am very concerned that this project consumes a significant parcel of productive agricultural land. While the proposal states that the solar ‘farm’ will allow sheep grazing simultaneously, there is no explanation as to how this will be practically achieved. In fact it is improbable that the two land uses, a super solar operation and productive sheep grazing could coexist simultaneously for the following reasons,
- the solar panels will throw substantial shadowing on the ground limiting the prospect of pasture growth which relies on a minimum number of daily direct sunlight hours.
- the solar panels will constitute permanent structures and will impede/prevent weed abatement and fertilization and other soil enrichment capability. This will significantly lower pasture growth and regrowth, negatively impact on soil permaculture and over time the sheep holding capacity of the land will significantly drop away making sheep grazing unproductive.

No where in the proposal have these farming practicalities been raised nor addressed. In fact, it would seem that the issues I raise cannot be practically addressed.

The NSW Government has legislated to protect productive agricultural land from non agricultural development. This proposal appears to be non compliant with these legislative requirements.

I have visited the Blind Creek Solar Farm site and liaised with the development team. I fully support the solar farms beneficial attributes to creating renewable energy as well as the holistic plan to include composting and soil development as well native tree planting On a local level an educational and cultural opportunity to involve the local First Nations school students and residents in the salvage and heritage aspects of the project would be of significance importance in the Bungendore area.

To Whom it may concern, please consider the following to be my submission in support of the Blind Creek Solar Farm (the Solar Farm).
Firstly, I commend the landholders for their commitment to such an important and large scale renewable energy project in our local area. As one of the closest residential neighbours to the proposed Solar Farm, I have been identified as VP07 in the Visual Impact Assessment. I have been extensively consulted with by the landowners on the project and have been shown photomontages taken from my house site that show very minimal visual impact. To minimise this visual impact even further, the landowners have offered to plant trees along my north-eastern property boundary, however based on the photomontages I don't think this will be necessary.
I have spoken at length to the landowners about the construction phases of the project as a whole, and am satisfied of the accuracy of the benefits to the local community as detailed in the project plan.
Again I would like voice my total support for the project, and am happy to discuss any aspects of my submission in person.
Kind regards
Bob Parsons

Hi, my name is Richard Harry and our family own both The Lake George Hotel and The Royal Hotel in Bungendore. Given our material commercial footprint in town, we are absolutely delighted that the Blind Creek Solar Farm is being contemplated. We see a number of positive benefits that will flow from the project during both its constriction phase and once the project is stabilised and operational. These include immediate positives such as job creation and the associated economic boost to town that comes with that; plus ongoing benefits including climate change mitigation and no compromise to agricultural production. We look forward to a positive resolution! Regards, Richard

I fully support the Blind Creek Solar Project. Projects such as this are essential if we as a State and a country are to make appropriate contributions to the global climate change challenge. The project has been well thought through and the EIS is comprehensive.

This development provides jobs for the region and many economic benefits to Bungendore.
In an area that has seen so much housing development it is great to see some environmental balance by the provision of renewable energy and reduced fossil fuel use.
There is no reduction in available agricultural land and the development actually provides for increased productivity from strip grazing and increased shelter for stock. There are proven agricultural benefits from this enterprise.
Any visual impact is limited and certainly no worse than the many new housing developments in and around Bungendore. Visually it will impact very few people in comparison to the community and environmental benefits.

Solar energy is an important factor in securing our energy future. As a local grazier I support this project as the location and terrain are perfect and consultation with the community has been excellent . The potential to combine the solar with sheep grazing make this a perfect model for sustainable farming in the region.

We are the neighbouring farm to this project. We don't foresee any negative impacts from the project on either the community or surrounding farmland and wholeheartedly support the efforts of projects like this that will increase the use of renewable power into the future.

I support this project because of the jobs it will provide for the community and the climate control action. I’ve lived in bungendore all my life and only live 5kms away from the project. I don’t see it impacting us in any ways at all.

Myself and my husband brought 5 Greenhill lane in January 2021 outright because of the views of lake George and surrounds as we have beautiful views of the area we strongly object to the solar farm as it will destroy our views and destroy the natural beauty of the area, it is a disgrace to think the landscape can be destroyed with ugly solar panels and land taken away from farming

My wife Jen & I have recently personally inspected the proposed site at Blind Creek. We spoke to members of the Osborne family and discussed their plans for the agri-solar project. The Osborne family are well known in this area for many successful projects. We were particularly impressed with their plans and respect for the land and the local indigenous historical sites. The project will include workers from the Bungendore and Queanbeyan/Canberra communities which will result in a huge boost to the local economy.
We live within 5 klms of the proposed site and look forward to the success for the Osborne family and the benefits to hundreds of local families.

Both my wife and i attended an open day on the property where the proposed development was to be built. As well as significant benefits for the local community from funds provided by the scheme, we found both the local environment works to remediate water courses and tree lines plus historic artefacts (post colonial and indigenous sites) to be a real feature. The farming diversification from solar panels will further help improve effective farming practices. We welcome this project and look forward to the significant benefits it should provide should it proceed.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment, I wish to add my support to this project.
I am the owner of a local hardware/rural supplies business that employs 24 people and I believe that a development in renewable energy of this scale is not only an important step towards sustainable and reliable power generation but a much needed boost to our small community. Similar projects such as the Capital Wind Farm have provided short and long term benefits to the local community including local jobs, infrastructure and support for community organisations. Our company has been invited to be part of a mechanism that returns part of the earnings from this project back into the local community to encourage sustainable agriculture, thus providing ongoing support to local businesses and farmers.
The designs I have seen demonstrate the proponents of this development have taken considerable trouble to minimise its impact on surrounding landowners, whilst ensuring no loss of productivity (in fact indications that productivity will increase) of the farm land occupied by the development.
As a long time Bungendore resident and business owner I am excited about the opportunities that this project offers and after the uncertainty created by the climate and health emergencies of recent years, investment of this type are sorely needed to provide stability and growth in our region.

Greg Simms
Bungendore Rural Services

Australia needs to rapidly increase renewable power to meet our national and global commitments to mitigate the impact of global warming. My understanding is that this particular solar farm will generate enough power to supply all the homes in neighbouring Australian Capital Territory.

Australian made solar panels, please

This project stands to vastly benefit our local community by way of employment opportunities as well as the 'Community Benefit Sharing Program', all while building a sustainable future with clean, renewable energy!
As a local resident to the area, I look forward to seeing this project get off the ground and finalised so the community reap the benefits of both the construction phase and the final product!

Cleanseeds Pty Ltd is a small business based in Bungendore NSW. Cleanseeds has been supplying farmers in our local Bungendore area since 1961. We have 11 employees who are all locally based.
Cleanseeds has known and supplied the Osborne family farms for over 50 years. The Blind Creek Solar Farm project proposed for the Osborne farms is an excellent idea and widely supported by our local community.
The farming community in Bungendore are very well aware of the dramatic changes being made to our climate. We have experienced first hand the horrendous carnage of bushfire & drought. The increasing need for renewable electricity supply is of paramount importance. The Blind Creek Solar Farm must be approved to help mitigate the effects of climate change by decreasing the need for carbon producing fossil fuels.
The project itself is cleverly designed to enhance agricultural production underneath the solar panels. I have personally witnessed the increased pasture grass production underneath solar panels on my own farm. The panels help protect the soil during hot summers while not impeding the vital rain.
The effect of the project on the surrounding area is minimized by its location. And the project also is idealy located to use the passing TransGrid transmission line.
I urge the NSW Government to approve this project.
Yours faithfully
James Davy
Managing Director
Cleanseeds Pty Ltd
45 Molonglo Street
Bungendore NSW 2621

This is an excellent project for our region. It is a great example of land being used for both farming and in the transition to a low carbon future. As a local resident, it will provide additional employment and a future focus in our local community. I am very supportive of this project.

I wish to support Blind Creek Solar Farm. Having had horses agisted on the property I am familiar with the country where the solar farm will be constructed. The site is sandy, treeless paddocks which have been heavily farmed for many generations and are suited to a solar farm. It’s great that the project is agrisolar which will allow sheep farming to continue. The project will produce enough energy to power over 120,000 houses with clean, renewable energy while producing lambs. This is a win win for the energy market and the agricultural industry. Given the predicted hike in energy prices and the instability on the grid there are compelling reasons to support this project and accelerate the transition away from coal.

This is an exciting project and if the last few weeks has proved anything, we need this solar farm ASAP! Great project!

Thanks

Please see attached Ecowise Services' letter in support of this Development.