Culcairn Solar Farm

I strongly support the project because it will provide the government with a new renewable way to continue to comply with Australia’s growing power demands.

I am certainly not against solar farming, far from it in fact. From my understanding of the proposal there are certainly some exceptional ideas. However, from my perspective my points below outweigh the positives that would come from the construction of the solar farm in this particular region of Australian.

My main concerns are on a larger scale. Australia is a large continent, however there are limited high productive agricultural farming areas. The Culcairn region in question is one of these areas. The recent droughts and fires in Australia have demonstrated how the land at Culcairn can be utilised to support other areas of our country in need of produce to maintain life. The contribution this community made to it’s fellow, struggling farmers is remarkable. It comes from an understanding and positive community.

There is evidence supporting our climate is warming. Although an average of one degree doesn’t feel like a significant change the impact of this will become more evident over the coming years. Increasing duration of droughts, and longer and more destructive fire seasons are only some examples of the consequences. Areas such as the one in question, are essential to maintain as productive agricultural farming land to assist in supporting our communities, our farmers and our country, for a sustainable future.

On a smaller scale, the visual impact imposed on the area by the solar farm effects the neighbouring farms. The impact may not be obvious or immediately evident but there will be a longer term impact. Choosing to live in the country is not something people do to then have an industrial sight as they backdrop. This will not have an immediate impact, but in the years to come these effects will become evident.

As with any job there comes a passion and satisfaction for the work you do. However, farming is different. Farming is more than a job. It is a lifestyle. It is with you 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week. Farmers in this region have been farming for generations. They have taught their children and grandchildren how to farm and care for the land. They have created supportive communities and friendships. The construction of a solar farm interrupts this community support. Mental health is a hot topic in the farming community, with large numbers of farmers considering / attempting / succeeding with suicide. We need to support our farmers and their communities. Not displace, destroy and promote conflict, which is what this proposal is doing.

There is a statement in the report indicating there will not be a significant impact on native wildlife, endangered species, etc. Every action has a reaction. This will effect ecosystems. It may be on a small scale and may appear insignificant, but over time the impact will become more evident. How much difference does the death of a few bees make? Said millions of people.

Another statement in the report indicates introduced flora (weeds) will be managed. Maintaining weeds is challenging. When you have a reason to maintain them for your own benefit, you try harder. Have the owners of the property, where the solar farm is going to be constructed, demonstrated good weed control management in the past? No. Will this effect them into the future? No. Will it effect anyone? Yes, the rest of the community who will effectively have to work harder to control the weeds. Again, the impact this has will not be immediate. It will take years for this to become evident and the consequences felt by neighbours around the district. Highly productive farming last will become less productive. Should the owners of this property be farming? Or selling to someone who is willing and passionate about agricultural production and caring for our land.

There needs to be a farming plan for Australia, including how to support farmers to enable this. Which areas are most productive for what resource (agriculture, solar, etc)? We need to increase our self sustainability so, as per the recent event of the coronavirus, we are able to maintain our current practices. Recently there has been significant delays, especially with farming equipment to rebuild farming infrastructure that was destroyed in the bushfires. What if this was on a bigger scale and significantly impacted out food sources?

I support renewable energy in a sustainable environment that does not consist of highly productive agricultural land. I do not support the Culcairn solar farm proposal.

As a resident of the Greater Hume Shire I am writing to object to the proposed Culcairn Solar Farm SSD-10288

As a farmer within the Greater Hume Shire I am concerned that our area has been targeted for large scale solar generation projects. My family and many others within the region can attest to the productivity and capability of land in this area. We have produced food, fibre and fodder at a time where much of the state has not been able to. Even during drought our area generates enough to supply other areas in need. Through this fire season many in our shire have donated/sold hay/straw to fire affected farmers both locally and further afield while still maintaining enough fodder on hand for our own livestock needs.

I am concerned for the neighbouring land holders who have received no meaningful assurance that this will not harm them, their families or their financial future. I believe that during construction the impacts of dust, noise, lighting and traffic and will physically and mentally affect all neighbours. Many are already feeling the effects on their mental health as a result of this process. With the nearest neighbour being only 120 metres from this proposed site with potentially sweeping views of nothing else I think anyone would be hard pressed not to admit that this is an unfair burden being placed on them by people they have welcomed into their home on more than 1 occasion. People who knew the time, effort and money they have invested into their dream home.

I feel that if Australia was serious about reducing its carbon footprint and supporting a worldwide reduction, they would first need to commit to stop mining coal for export to countries that have far greater carbon emissions that we do. As this does not seem to be something, they are considering I would ask why they are allowing such productive land to be consumed for such foreign owned projects? Also, if this is such a silver bullet why are many countries around the world with much bigger emissions building more coal powered energy plants instead of shutting them down and going solar? Why are their reports that recent influx of large scale solar into the Australian energy market have created thermal problems in the grid and instability in the grid? Why are some plants having to reduce their energy production? Why if roof top solar investment has reportedly continued to reduce grid demand are the NSW Government not legislating that all new homes are actually energy efficient (not just meeting a points system)? (I believe that new homes should have roof top solar, rainwater tanks, appropriate insulation and double glazing as a standard and a battery system would be amazing). I am willing to bet that none of these land holders who are "not doing this for the money" but doing it "for the environment" don't have energy efficient homes.

The Greater Hume Shire is supported by many businesses whose sole purpose is to supply and support agriculture within the region. These businesses will be financially impacted if any of these 4 solar projects are approved. The financial benefits touted by the Solar Company are nothing more than smoke and mirrors providing a short-term false economy that will disappear even before the power is switch on.

Greater Hume Shire roads are already a disgrace and impacts of the construction transport influx would further damage them. Causing further ongoing pain for residents in the area and again reducing values. My family and I use Benambra Road between Walla and Culcairn almost daily, I know this road will not stand up to 200-600 vehicle movements per day it barely survives local traffic and the quarry. At times it is actually quite unsafe with trucks, buses and cars all trying to find the best path to follow to avoid the bog holes, slippery patches and pot holes that can crack a rim.

A facility like this within the shire will detract from the rural aspect and segregate farmland. The Solar Company is stating that as they can run sheep under the panels it is still agricultural land. I disagree and feel that given the significant reduction in carrying capacity and the fact that there has been no long term study into grazing sheep under panels this is just a marketing pitch based on little fact designed to distract people from the fact that this is a power production facility.

In addition, I feel that NGH who appear to have put together many of these submissions across NSW are simply cutting and pasting from template documents. This submission specifically mentions other localities. The Walla Solar Farm submission did too. The flora and fauna surveys have been "minimal" at best and have been conducted during the height of drought in our shire and would not accurately reflect the normal migration, breeding, nesting and growth that would occur in a normal season. I think a review of their work or restriction of minimum distance between projects would maybe provide a more objective review in this type of situation where you have 4 proposals within 1 shire.

I thank you for taking the time to read my submission.

G'day, my name is Corrado, I'm in Australia on a working holiday visa subclass 417. I have a strong environment ethic and great passion for construction and mechanical fitting. At the moment I'm in Melbourne, but I'm planning to move in Culcairn for this project. In particular I'm looking for a job in the renewable energy industry such a solar farm or wind farm ( this week I will get my second WHV) to start and finish my 6 months of regional work to apply for a third year of visa in Australia. I have experience in construction, I've got the White card, manual driver licence, HRW ticket (forklift truck), full PPE, full WORK rights and police clearance certificate, ready to pass any Alcohol/drugs screening as well. Long days aren't a problem, I do what it needs to be done; I eager to learn and I'm ready to start as soon as possible.

Refer – Culcairn Solar Farm – SSD-10288
I object to this proposal in the strongest manner possible .
To lose highly productive land to a solar farm which could easily be located in a non productive area, at a time where primary production is so desperately required to keep our region viable & particularly needed to support a vast network of local businesses. To take away this highly valuable land resource is to give in to big industry bullying. We need our prime land to be productive , not wasted.
I do not wish to lose my job because of bad management.
I have not received any donations of any or funding from any source influencing this letter.

I would like to object to the Culcairn solar development Culcairn Solar Farm SSD-10288 and I have not made any political donations

To whom it may concern,
I do not believe this development should be happening in this area due to the agricultural ability of the land, this land while the rest of Australia has been in drought or damaged by fire has produced large amounts of food and fibre.
I particularly feel for the neighbours of this project and I hope the Department of Environment and Planning listen to their concerns and help stop this project.

I would like my name not to be published.

To Whom it may concern
I am writing to you today to object to the Culcairn Solar Farm SSD 10288. I have couple of concerns about this planned development.
Fire risk – What impact will a development of this size have on the local neighbours and surrounding communities, the increase in danger to local RFS members or town fire fighters.
Wildlife – What will happen to local wildlife with so many trees cut down, trust me they will not come back to the area again.
Food production – With 3500 acres of productive land being taking out of production for 30 plus years and this country being crippled by drought for years where are we going to get fresh produce from? China? More wheat from Canada?
More needs to be done to protect productive agricultural land in Australia.

I have not made any political donations and I would like my name not to be published.

I absolutely and explicitly object to this proposal for the Culcairn Solar Farm.
A detailed submission will be forwarded by email under separate cover.

I fully support the Culcairn solar project.
I believe solar is the future, renewable energies are the future. We, as Australians live in the "Lucky Country" which as an abundance of sunlight. Sunlight should be farmed.
The Culcairn solar farm is on an area that is suitably placed under main power line infrastructure and on land that is and always be dictated by any rainfall
The Culcairn solar farm is a real positive for our region, the land and the environment.
Jobs are always important but the land and the environment are not infinite. As a the Greater Hume Shire, the state of New South Wales and Australia we have an opportunity to step forward, step up and make a move to renewable energy and GIVE CULCAIRN SOLAR the approval to go ahead.

Comments made about the of habitat logs, wet spots and wetlands for being removed will be a lost is a bit of a stretch. Crop and livestock farmers are constantly moving fallen debris from the paddocks to have more streamlined running of large equipment and for fire wood. So any removal of log or type wetland areas for the solar farm will be offset by the plants planted by the Neon company.
Bush fire prevention will be possibly better in the Culcairn solar farm area and surrounds. The Neon company will not invest a vast amount of funds without having a stratagey to prevent and in worst case cease a fire.
Food production may be a loss for the area but just think about how many "good years" there have been of late and how much additives like fertilizer which is costly need to be applied to get any sort of harvest-able crop. Water is always an issue and I have not seen the dam on Cummings Road over a third full at least 10 years, try watering stock with that. Australians should not claim that it has always been done this way, for X amount of generations. Farmers and their children are selling up and leaving the rural areas as "traditional farming" is extremely expensive and with little reward.
We all know bout soil erosion, loss of topsoil being blown off by winds, loss of native vegetation. I believe that by having the Culcairn solar farm the soils wont be as disturbed as crop styled farming. The solar panels will not effect the soil profile and if and when the panels are removed and if it is viable the farm could revert to crop and stock styled farming.
I drive a school bus run past the proposed solar farm daily. I believe the solar panels and its infrastructure will melt into this area and become just another thing to look at as you travel down the road, just as the current TransGrid power lines have. I find driving past a badly maintained fence, poor heath of a crop or even poor condition of livestock to be visually offensive and cause for a concern when it involves living animals.
Who knows what may be farmed here in the future?

I object to the proposed Culcairn Solar Farm Project. Please see the attached document which contains my submission.

My objections to the planned SOLAR panels
1,1oo,oooSolar Panels
67_75Transformer Units
This is too much for the mind to take in ,and as was shown at a development at Bowemen near Wagga reflection from these panels is of great concern ,possible blinding of drivers as they pass these monsters as one drives passed making vision very difficult.

There will be large scale security fencing and associated buildings Up to 300 light vechiles/Minbus movements per day during construction,over a period of 16 to 18 months just imagine the dust as theses roads are not that wide

Destruction of the Trees which have stood for many year providing shade and shelter for wildlife and domestic animals.

We have a tourist attraction called Morgan's Lookout which attracts local and international visitors and is quiet spectular in Spring with th e green pasture and yellow Canola if this planned SOLAR panels goes ahead all one will see is ugly reflective glass for use of a better word

The Farming families that will be looking out their windows each morning and each and everyday is of great concern to me REGARDING their mental health,at the moment Australia has a major issue in regard to mental health and if these FARMERS are forced to look out on this development for the rest of their farming lives we have NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT WILL AFFECT THEIR MENTAL BEING that is an unknown entity.

I HAVE been told that in the Pilbra there are plans to export Energy to Asia so if they can do that surely there is no problem in putting these developments out in non productive land of which there are thousand of hecters in Australia and leave good producing land to do just that FEED OUR POPULATION AND EXPORT OUR COMODITIES

Spent from Samsung tablet.

Please hear the plea of a very concerned resident

Culcairn Solar Farm (SSD 10288)

Letter of Objection:

The proposed Culcairn Solar Development falls within the area of responsibility for the Culcairn South West Rural Fire Service Brigade. Meetings have been held to address concerns as to fighting fires within and around this site.
The sheer size of the proposed development is staggering. The Culcairn Solar Farm proposed by NEOEN is a 400 megawatt site, comprising in excess of 1.1 million solar panels, electrical conduits, transformers, a substation and a battery storage area of 200 MWh. This site will be on a 1317 hectare / 3254 acre site.
This development is less than 3 kilometres from the Walla Walla Solar Development site proposed by FRV. Both developments are within 4 kilometres of both the Walla Walla Township and the Culcairn Township.
Discussions have been held as to the method of combating a fire within these sites and the risk to fire fighters. A number of issues have been identified:

1. Entrapment – The site is to be surrounded by 6 – 8 foot high chain mesh security fencing with locked gates. The rows of solar panels are connected with steel drivelines, that are approximately 300 – 450mm off the ground. These drivelines prohibit vehicles from driving between the panels. The effect of the fencing and gates and the drive lines running perpendicular to the solar panel arrays creates a significant risk of entrapment and creates restricted manoeuvrability for fighting vehicles causing increased risk of injury to firefighters.

2. Electrocution – These developments are large scale electricity generating sites. Attempting to fight a fire within the sites exposes fire fighters to electrocution through residual current being held by the solar panels and by damaged electrical conduits and wiring; not to mention the many hundreds of inverters and transformers in use. The application of water to burning electrical infrastructure exposes firefighters to electrocution, serious injury or death.

3. Exposure – Burning solar panels, wiring, transformers, inverters battery energy storage systems and other associated electrical equipment will release toxic chemicals and smoke. Members of the local RFS brigades do not have breathing apparatus or training to combat these fires without firefighters being exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals. Fighting a fire within these sites will likely cause significant respiratory effects and potentially on-going health concerns. Fires within these sites are HAZMAT incidents, however, NSW Fire and Rescue have insufficient staff to combat large scale fires within these sites.

Members of the Culcairn South West RFS have decided that they will not enter either site to combat fire due to the unacceptable risk to the health and safety of members. In the event of a fire within these sites, a position will be held on the outside perimeter of the site and the fire will not be engaged until it leaves the site. The only other option would be to request air support to combat the fire within the site, this would not jeopardise the health and safety of volunteer firefighters.

The development has rural properties on all sides. Should a fire start within or enter either site, the lack of safe firefighting measures will mean that the fire will be immeasurably large by the time it traverses and leaves the site. The risk to neighbouring rural and residential properties and the risk to local towns cannot be understated.
Members of the Culcairn South West RFS Brigade urge the Department of State Planning to strenuously consider the impact of fire on this development and neighbouring properties. The placement of water tanks on the development does not adequately mitigate the danger to rural fire fighters.