Culcairn Solar Farm

Please see submission attached.

I support the project

My name is Casey Feuerherdt and I am 8 years old, I live with my mum and dad and brothers Joshua and Ryan.
My Nanny and Poppy live in front of where the solar panels are going to go and it will go around our whole farm.
My family has been living on this farm for 5 generations and in the future I want to live on this farm.
When my Nanny takes me to school she will see the solar panels every day.
All the animals might be scared because of the panels and they might get sick.
If there is a fire where the solar panels are no one can go in there and stop it
I think the solar farm will affect my future of farming
My family has done a lot of work on this farm and they are going to ruin it by putting a solar farm next door
Our environment around Culcairn and Walla Walla thrives from agriculture
On my farm we have made heaps of amazing hay and crops
Our farm here has really good hay, sheep and cattle but other places are burnt by fire
It makes my mum and dad really sad about the solar panels
Solar farms are really bad for animals health and they can get really sick.
Solar panels could destroy our crops with heat next to them
It is not be good cause we will see the solar panels from our window
If people go near the solar panels you might get a big shock
Farm animals might get stuck under the solar panels and people wont be able to get them out of there
All the kangaroos will come onto our place and we will have to deal with them
Other places have a big drought but here we are lucky cause we dont have a drought
I think you should put a solar farm in a different place not here cause we have so good land
I have seen solar panels in real life and they dont look good for other people
The solar panels are going to cover over 3000 acres of great agricultural land
I saw a huge solar farm at griffith
When I have to go and check on the sheep with my dad we will hear loud noises from construction
Working on the farm is fun but doing nothing for money is boring
When me and my dad have to go and move sheep and cattle they might be sick and we wont be able to move them
We are making such good hay animals and crops to sell for food but when there is solar panels next to them the food might not be good

A great initiative to actively provide green energy that will reduce emissions sooner, create jobs and proactively help battle climate change.

1. I agree with the aesthetics and the economic benefits which the project will bring to the Culcairn and Walla Walla. Having visited Austrian solar farms recently no negative comment was heard.
2. The proposed annual contribution to the two towns is of enormous value. The two communities need the boost of population growth which should be as a result of the proposed activities.
3. The project will create curiosity to tourist far greater than barren paddocks for most part of the year.

I think the solar project will be good for the townships of Culcairn and Walla creating employment and bringing business to the communities.

Me and My Partner who one day Plan to have kids and have Lived in Culcairn for the Last 15 Years have been Receiving All the 'Say No' Pamphlets in the Mail and are Showing our Support through this Submission for The Solar Farm,YES! Whether it be certain people stopping the Yes Pamphlet from Reaching Doors 1 day prior to 'on purpose' foil any Yes Votes (we don't know) but its the 26th today and submissions have to be in by the 27th tomorrow.We wonder why it was put in the mail today only (first yes form) all others (no votes) have been from the 2 or 3 business/farm owners who have already Complained to the Point of Receiving up to $300 000 and still want No Solar Farm.If it was based on Principal,we believe they should refuse Money.Anyhow the Older Generation has a lot to Blame concerning Global Warming and Do Not Care about Future Generations or the Earth which is Sad but us Young Folk Do and as such are Excited to See Renewable Energy instead of Dirty Coal be Installed in Culcairn. We have the Room,a Small Community;so why not? here is a snippet of info i have grabbed from Google which explains Our Yes.. "Solar energy systems/power plants do not produce air pollution, water pollution, or greenhouse gases. Using solar energy can have a positive, indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment." Count us as Two Yes Votes if you Like,Many Thanks!

I am greatly concerned as I live on the opposite side of the Billabong creek in very close proximity to where the development will be. I have lived here for 38 years in a peaceful rural environment. We enjoy where we live, have amazing birdlife and feed the birds from our hands. The environmental impacts are just way too great. I am afraid our peaceful life will be disturbed.
I am worried about the Billabong Creek and flood issues and how this development may change any of the aspects relating to floods as this will directly affect my home. We have had flood levels up to the top of our back doorstep. The worst flood was in 2010.
I believe that that solar should be located in an areas with less agricultural productivity. I like to see farming of good land.
I dislike many aspects of this solar farm. I may be affected by increased fire risk and hold great concern that it is near the heavily treed areas of the creek.
There will be a few places along the creek where I will be able to see the development, it will only be about 500 yards away.
This development should be located elsewhere.

My husband and I live very close to the Billabong creek on the opposite side to the Solar Farm. Our house will be very close to the area and we think we will have some broken views across the creek to the site. We are concerned about how this development will affect our community and the change of a beautiful outlook to an industrial metallic view. We love our home and have lived in this location for some 38 years enjoying the peaceful rural environment. We are afraid that the construction will disturb the peace with noise and dust and ruin our beautiful area . The Billabong Creek is a haven for wildlife and we enjoy the beautiful birds that surround our home which we are worried will be lost through such destruction. We have birds that visit daily and feed from our hands. The impact on this environment and the removal of trees and logs will remove habitat which is not acceptable especially when there are some threatened and vulnerable species.
I am worried about the Billabong Creek and flood issues and how this development may change any of the aspects relating to floods as this will directly affect my home. We have had flood levels up to the top of our back doorstep. The worst flood was in 2010.
I believe the solar farm should be placed in an area with less agricultural productivity especially as the drought and fires in other areas has been so devastating. This area has such good farmland that produces well. It should not be placed near the Billabong Creek and it is just too big. There are many aspects of the solar farm that I dislike . I am worried that we will have increased fire risk and hold great concern that it is near the heavily treed areas of the creek.

Highly productive agricultural land should not be used for large scale solar development

The Culcairn Solar Farm has been well researched and I support this development.

I support this project, sustainable energy is the future. We need this solar farm

I support the project.

I am very concerned with the location of this large scale solar plant on good capable agricultural land which has proven to be high with food and fibre productivity. The effects of such a large development of solar panels 1.1 million panels a real concern with adverse views, loss of wildlife habitat, fire risks, heat island effect. The hardship of neighbours living in close proximity to this Solar Farm should be considered good farmers being impacted. There are community concerns with many adverse comments bringing unnecessary angst amongst residents within the communities of Culcairn and the other three nearby areas in Greater Hume Shire with many farmers and residents effected with the Walla Walla, Jindera and Glenellen Solar Farm proposals.

I support the project

I strongly object to this project being placed on productive agricultural land. Please refer to Attached document for details.

I strongly object to this project for the following reasons
Site Selection
• We are not opposed to renewable energy - but the placement of it
• Government planning to further assess already identified renewable energy zones is required
• Not all land is equal in terms of reliable agricultural production
• Transmission lines on flat land should not be the driving factor for renewable energy projects
• Increased reliance on imported food brings its own significant issues such as market volatility and biosecurity concerns
Agriculture
• Loss of productive crop land in reliable farming area
• Crops in our area provide hay, grain and grazing
• Potential to produce up to 12,400 tonnes of hay per year
• Could feed excess of 22,000 cattle in a normal feeding regime
• Fodder can help support fire and drought affected areas including nearby Upper Murray
• Farmers undertaking current agricultural practices provide effective management for the health of the land
• Neighbouring farmers worried about impacts to their business, livestock and cropping production as per research
• Flow on long term loss to agricultural related businesses
• Short term jobs during construction at long term expense to agriculture.
• Sheep grazing claims cannot compare to local productivity with cropping capabilities
Fire
• Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade members seriously concerned about increased fire threat to neighbours and nearby towns
• WHS issues such as electrocution, entrapment and toxic exposure will prevent RFS members from combating fires inside the facility
• Development land mapped as bushfire prone near Culcairn and Walla Walla towns
• In close proximity to heavily treed Billabong Creek, stock reserve, Walla Gum Swamp, Culcairn Gas Pumping Station, pipeline and Culcairn Tip
• Hairy Panic accumulation around the panel s and high security fencing may also be a major fire management issue.
Environment
• The area is a haven for wildlife particularly in the riparian areas of waterways
• Habitat and displacement of wildlife on the site from h ollow logs
• Waterways nearby the site have significant frog populations, migratory birds and many species of flora and fauna including some threatened and vulnerable species
• 99 Paddock trees to be removed.
Visual Impact
• Solar infrastructure is visually confronting
• The notion that solar panels have a low visual profile is rejected
• Amazing rural outlook turned to an industrial site.
• Small tube stock tree lines will take years to grow
• Vegetation screening inadequate
• Proposed landscape changes causing neighbours mental anguish
• Greater Hume is supposed to be the shire to “Live a Greater Life”.
Picture: Colleambally Solar Vs the currently pleasing agricultural outlook at Culcairn
Roads/Traffic
• Noise, dust and road pressures from 300 passenger vehicle movements and 100 heavy vehicle movements during peak construction
• Compound road pressures if Walla Walla and Culcairn projects go ahead
• 16 to 18 months disruption for construction at proposed Culcairn site
• Financial and safety risks to roads

I support the opportunity to have renewable energy in the Greater Hume Shire through the Culcairn Solar Project. Whilst growing up on a farm, I have seen first hand the struggles that every year can bring. I fully support farmers making a positive stance to create a better future through renewable energy and agricultural opportunities.

I object to the Proposed Solar Development Culcairn.
The loss of such productive agricultural land has flow on effect to other business in our community. The fire risk and proximity of the plant to Culcairn is of serious concern. I support renewal energy but not in the proposed location.

I support the Culcairn Solar farm.

I believe this is a great opportunity for my husband’s family and our children’s farming future who has been farming the land for over 100 years. The family believe in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy and this development is a perfect fit for this land.

My husband was approached by many developers and ultimately chose Neoen because it fits our own ethos for an ethical business model, environmentally sound values, community minded and supports
local businesses. We have worked alongside Neoen to help them know the community and it’s needs.

We believe that this development will enhance the communities of Culcairn & Walla Walla, the Greater Hume Shire, NSW & Australia. I believe it addresses local, state & federal economic growth, NSW Government’s energy targets, the Federal Government’s Paris Agreement commitments and World wide climate change concerns.

The Anti Solar campaign haven’t been balanced or ethnical in their campaign against this development. They have singled out our family which has caused the whole family much distress.

Their systematic targeted campaign was firstly to bully and intimidate us physically, mentally and emotionally to firstly not sign with Neoen then secondly they tried to bully and intimidate anyone who did business with us and thirdly they tried to bully and intimidate anyone who was in support of this project. This has led to a community who is fearful to “speak up” and to actually voice their support. ThIs small but vocal minority have tried to put fear out in the community for this project based on misdirection and mistruths to try and gather community support to name and shame us, What is there to be ashamed of? This is a legitimate ethical business decision that has the potential to help the community we live in and the rest of the world.

I would like to expand further on the Anti Solar campaign of bullying, threats, intimidation, lies and illegal actions but because this is a public document I won’t, but I am happy to provide the Independent Panel all relevant information I have.

I believe that the land chosen for the Culcairn Solar Farm is the perfect site for utility scale solar as it has TransGrid power line running through the middle of the site and it’s within a 5km radius of a working quary which operates from 8am to 10pm as per the extension of operating hours approved by the Greater Hume Shire about 10 years ago.

Lastly the Greater Hume Shire Director of Planning report was incorrect & misleading. In his report posted on the council website he mentioned that he accessed the proposed site. When I emailed and asked for clarification on how, where, when & why he accessed the site without notice to the landowner , his reply email to me stated that he didn’t access he just viewed the site from the road! I asked him to change his report to reflect the truth about the access, I didn’t receive a reply and no change was made his report the he presented to council to reflect that he didn’t actually access the site! The Director of Planning also mentioned during the deliberations of the Councillors that he wrote a negative report and he didn’t give the Councillors any other options. The Greater Hume Shire Council YouTube channel clearly shows the Director of Planning not knowing the answers to questions he should know and Councillors who were making a decision based on misinformation. You can watch it all unfold here. https://youtu.be/xX4RTJK2aP4.