Griffith Solar Farm

The EIS has omitted to provide a detailed assessment of the 'Lake Effect' of the solar farm and the subsequent direct and indirect impacts this may have.

The 'Lake Effect' is a phenomena whereby migratory terrestrial and water bird species are often killed as they make contact with the hard surface of solar panel. It appears, based on bird mortality counts overseas, that solar panels mounted close to the ground can pose a significant risk in that birds perceive a large solar farm as a body of water on which they attempt to land.

The probability of a 'Lake Effect' being an important issue for this project is reasonable given that the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area has numerous water bodies including irrigation channels along with food crops which represent a potential food source for birds.

The direct impact is bird mortality while the indirect impact is that the birds may also be attracted, because of the 'Lake Effect', to adjacent food crops.

In United States, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended that research be undertaken to modify or re-design solar panels so that birds don't perceive them as water bodies. This includes the installation of visual markers or other potential deterrents and changes to the spacing of solar panels.

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