Gundary Solar Farm

The Gundary Solar 'Farm' is another 'renewable' monster development that city voters won't accept anywhere in sight of their own homes. It will wreck regional natural and rural landscapes, destroy native habitat and undermine community cohesion.
At 20% capacity it will only provide power for 1.4 full days per week. This will contribute to the severe ongoing degradation of the east coast power grid, due to the replacement of baseload power with unreliable region wrecking 'renewables'.

Gundary Solar Factory
Submission
Wendy Tuckerman MP – Member for Goulburn


The following submission is on behalf of the residents of the Goulburn electorate who have contacted me, as their state representative and Member of NSW Parliament, expressing their grave concerns about the proposed project: Gundary Solar, the largest solar factory proposal in NSW is planned on the Gundary Plains in the electorate of Goulburn. It is a project that characterises poor planning, disregard to community needs and local voices, and threatens to devastate the prime agricultural land and environment of the Gundary Plains.

The greenwashing of this project is abhorrent. I refer to the wording of the proponent’s proposal as a "solar farm" and argue that this is grossly misleading. Farms are traditionally defined as land devoted to producing food and crops with minimal interference in the landscape, not industrial facilities that are majorly comprised of built infrastructure.

This project is not a farm. It is heavy industrial infrastructure which has been greenwashed by LightSourcebp to obscure the true nature of their intentions – profitability. This project is a solar factory designed to maximise corporate profits and it will come at the expense of the environment and the community.

The developer, Lightsourcebp, a British company, boasts of being "the world's largest solar developer", so it is of no surprise they have disregarded the significance, value, and harmony that the prime agricultural land of Gundary Plains holds for food security and our rural economy.

 
This project also exemplifies corporate greenwashing—portraying profit-driven business as environmentally and economically beneficial. The location has only been selected due to its proximity to the grid, population and price – helped by significant government subsidies to ensure its profitability.

The economic benefits touted by the proponents are short-term and heavily reliant on present government incentives to subsidise the investment. While I acknowledge that there will be an initial inflow of jobs and investment during construction, these are temporary “sugar hits” that offer little in terms of sustained economic growth for the community. Once construction is complete, the ongoing economic benefit to the local community will be minimal. And with little in the way of training and educational opportunities locally, there is less substance to the proponents economic benefits.

Moreover, the generated electricity will be exported to the national grid, with no guarantee of lower energy costs for local residents. The long-term economic impact will be borne by the community in the form of decreased property values, loss of prime agricultural land, and diminished local amenity.

The 400 megawatt project for construction comprises of 660,000 photovoltaic solar panels, placed in rows five metres apart, and with a proposed height of between 3 to 4 meters. The Gundary Solar factory will cover approximately 1735 acres of prime agricultural land. For purposes of scale, the entire footprint of the Sydney Airport is just over 2000 acres and is currently the largest airport in Australia.



 
Further to this, a draftsman has supplied the below map showing the overlaying footprint over the CBD of Goulburn, which provides further context to the size and scale of the factory.
 
The proponent advises that up to 89 battery stations will be housed in a series of outdoor containers, along with converters, and a substation, with scaffold and lighting arresters up to 22m high. The unprecedented scale of this proposal will completely transform the landscape from productive farmland to exclusively industrialised energy infrastructure.

The Gundary Plains lie within Sydney’s water catchment area, making the environmental risks of this project particularly serious. The construction phase poses significant threats of soil erosion, increased runoff, and potential contamination of water supplies. This could have devastating consequences for local waterways, impacting both human health and biodiversity.

Additionally, the project threatens the habitat of numerous native species, including vulnerable birds, reptiles, and marsupials. The installation of vast solar panels, along with heavy construction and increased traffic, will disrupt breeding patterns and reduce biodiversity, causing long-term harm to the region’s ecosystems.

The Gundary Plains are rich in historical significance. Records from 1832 document Aboriginal groups gathering here to celebrate Christmas with early settlers, whose descendants remain in the region, reflecting the deep, enduring connection to this land.

The Goulburn Mulwaree Council engaged the Australian Museum Business Services (AMBS) to conduct an Aboriginal Heritage Study, aimed at identifying culturally significant sites and safeguarding them from developments like this. Approving this project without thorough and genuine consultation with Aboriginal communities disrespects our heritage and violates modern planning standards. Indigenous voices must be central in this process to ensure their cultural legacy is preserved rather than sacrificed for corporate interests.

 
On the matter of community interests, the bushfire risk outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is severely inadequate. The project’s primary access point on Windellama Road is insufficient for emergency response in the event of a fire. The nearby Kooringaroo Road offers only one access point, raising serious concerns about evacuation and emergency service access. If this road is blocked, both residents and emergency responders will be trapped, endangering lives and property.

Of access, the project’s transport route options exacerbate concerns over both safety and heritage preservation. Option 1, via Grafton Street, presents significant risks for the 298 children attending St Joseph’s Primary School, whose entrance is located on Reynolds Street. Increased heavy vehicle traffic poses severe dangers to pedestrian safety and threatens the structural integrity of the heritage-listed St Clair Homestead. Constructed in the 1840s, this historic site could suffer irreparable damage from vibrations caused by the significant increase in heavy truck movements.

The route also impacts high-traffic community hubs such as the Railway Bowling Club, Belmore Park, Goulburn Visitor Information Centre, Goulburn Railway Station and the Goulburn Marketplace. Increased truck movements will disrupt these spaces, posing risks to pedestrian safety and diminishing the area's liveability.

The site’s proximity—just 9.6 kilometres from Goulburn’s town centre—contradicts the Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy. The council has opposed the project, citing concerns over its obstruction of planned housing developments and future expansion of Goulburn Airport, located only five kilometres from the site.

 
Furthermore, the NSW Government’s Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) policy identifies five designated zones for renewable projects, designed to minimise conflict with existing land uses and maximise infrastructure efficiency. The Gundary Solar factory is located outside any REZ, disregarding strategic planning efforts and placing unnecessary burdens on the local community and environment.

This project is a prime example of poor planning and misplaced priorities. It sacrifices long-term, proven, agricultural sustainability, environmental health, and cultural heritage for short-term corporate gain and a politically driven agenda.

Renewable energy development is essential, but it must be pursued responsibly, balancing development with the preservation of environment, water, and communities.

I urge the Department of Planning to reject the Gundary Solar Factory proposal due to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy first and foremost, its environmental, economic, community and cultural impacts. I also note that planning policies must be strengthened to protect agricultural land and cultural heritage from industrial encroachment. We must ensure renewable energy projects are sited within designated REZs to minimise community disruption.

As a representative of the state of NSW I believe that we cannot allow short-term profits to multinational foreign-owned companies to overshadow the long-term welfare of our communities and environment.

 
Sustainable, well-planned renewable energy projects must be developed in a way that respects and protects the very communities they are meant to serve.



Wendy Tuckerman MP
Member for Goulburn

i object to this project. solar power is unreliable and not a suitable source of energy to power NSW. why are rural communities being destroyed in order to power NSW? rural communities did not ask for this, so we should not have to accommodate such projects. this will also have ugly consequences on the landscape. We need food security for Australia and destroying agricultural land is opening our nation up for trouble.

Stop destroying rural landscapes and our environment with this dangerous infrastructure.
This project will destroy a small and beautiful rural community. given this, i do not believe that the project should go ahead. Small communities need to be supported, not divided by projects like this. These projects carry significant fire risk.

Keep this out of Gundary and rural NSW. We don't want them. They will destroy our small communities, businesses, homes and ways of life. They are an absolute monstrosity on the landscapes and a major concern when they catch fire. They are intermittent, unreliable and totally useless.

The Planning Application should be denied and the EIS rejected as the EIS fails to meet expectations for a project of this scale, including but not limited to:

1. Our property is identified as being impacted in the EIS as an existing residential property. We have a significantly raised Mountain Ash Road view facing towards the Project area with potential visual impacts from the Project. We have not been directly approached by the Project to further investigate the view point. Our property is identified in section 6.8.3 as not needing assessment, but due to its elevation, our property should have been assessed (but wasn't). Our property is not reflected in Figure 6.12 and it should be. This demonstrates a failure of the Project to fully engage.
Also I note that Photo 6.4 in the EIS couldn't be further away from parts of the Mountain Ash Precinct that are closest to the Site and does little to show the visual from the closest parts of the Mountain Ash area to the Site.

2. With close proximity to bushland, there is an EXTREME fire risk to nearby residents, particularly noting the severity of winds experienced over the majority of days during the year. Any claim that the proposed Site is anything less than an EXTREME Fire risk is incorrect. There is also an Extreme fire risk to protected flora and fauna, including risks to the Bungonia township and also the Bungonia National Park in the case of a large-scale catastrophic summer event caused by the site. The EIS, states "A Final Hazard Analysis, Fire Safety Study and Emergency Plan will be developed as the Project design progresses toward completion." This is negligent and forms ground alone to reject the EIS.

3. based on the EIS, there is inadequate compensation to nearby households that have already experienced significant loss in value/interest of residential property in the area. This is in part due to an 'under-classification' of visual impact to surrounding residences.

4. there is a failure to align to State and Local Government planning instruments; specifically,
a. The Project Area is wholly located within land zoned as RU1 Primary Production and the Project, which is only permissible with consent. To my understanding, this consent has not been provided and local residents continue to lobby Council (and the NSW Government) to reject this Project.
b. A large portion of the Project Area is identified as being within the ‘subject land’ on the Goulburn Regional Cities Map.
The EIS states "The consent authority is required to consider whether the Project is located to avoid significant conflict with existing or approved residential or commercial uses of land surrounding the Project and is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on Goulburn’s capacity for growth, or scenic quality and landscape character." The consent authority cannot ignore that this project will negatively impact all of these criteria noting the Gundary Plains is an area of agricultural and environmental significance.

5. There are inadequate levels of local community employment forecast - both during and following construction. There are no mandated numbers of local employment, which means the measly 5% target will simply not be enforced or reached,

6. Zero benefit to reducing power bill costs to the people of the Southern Tablelands, particularly Goulburn residents,

7. No community benefits program, instead a single one-off payment is proposed to only a small number of residents, which are also grossly inadequate in terms of amounts,

8. No compensation to 'low impact' residents in respect to the long-term visual impacts of the site,

9. Despite claims made in the EIS, the proposed traffic routes will create significant disturbance (and damage) to Local and State Roads. Traffic congestion at the intersections of Sloane Street and Braidwood Roads in particular will cause major congestion during the construction phase of the project. The intersection will require stregthening and/or remediation works with 140 heavy movements per day at the construction peak. Instead, the construction of new on/off ramps from the Hume highway directly onto Windellima Road should be considered.

10. Risks to the Sydney drinking water catchment are identified, however are not adequately addressed in the EIS. Additional modelling during the detailed design stages does not appropriate mitigate the risk identified in the EIS. Sydney Water should strongly object to this component of the EIS. In addition, long-term testing should also occur during the life of the project, not just during the construction phase. Leakage contamination is a risk to manage over the life of the project.

11. The Economic Impact Study predicts 'regional' impacts and targets, instead of direct impacts to the Goulburn community. Goulburn will simply not benefit from this Project if it is constructed.

We support the project in principle but with the conditions outlined in the attachment.

The Gundary Rural Fire Brigade has concerns about the scale and potential increased risk of a fire starting within or near the solar farm. Below are some of the concerns:
1. Limited access to the site - Only 2 access points into the whole solar farm.
2. Due to the potential safety risks with electricity and other hazards associated with solar photovoltaic systems such as toxic and flammable gasses, it is highly unlikely we would send crews into the solar farm if there was a fire. This has the potential for the fire to escalate in size and make it harder to control when it comes out the other side.
3. If a fire was to start in or near the solar farm, the fire has the potential to cut off Kooringaroo Rd which is a dead end road. This may limit the ability of residents to evacuate the area in catastrophic fire conditions.
4. The Gundary Rural Fire Brigade has had one meeting on site with Lighsource BP. The information given around electrical, bush and grass fire management was vague and there has been no correspondence since that meeting.
5. A large lithium-ion BESS has the potential to be extremely hazardous if it were impacted by fire or damaged by some other means.
6. Without an emergency response plan being prepared prior to potential approval, it is difficult for the Gundary Rural Fire brigade to get a full understanding of the on ground practicalities around fighting a fire within or near the solar farm site.

Projects like this are no good for rural communities in NSW and in this case, Gunnery. Keep Renewable Energy projects and infrastructure out of rural Australia and put them closer to the cities. We need to protect our landscapes, wildlife and lifestyles!
I object to the overall destruction this solar farm project will cause.

Why are renewable energy projects being dumped on rural landscapes? Why are rural communities left to fend for themselves as a result of bad governance and poor decision making? I object to this project because I do not believe that Gundary should house a solar farm. Not only is this a ghastly and permanent sight on the landscapes, but this would be a disaster when it catches alight due to fire. The toxic implications as a result of this would be of such a significant level and not only the community, but the wildlife will suffer as a result.

This toxic solar panel factory is of a major fire risk and will put significant strain on local and rural firefighting services. These local firefighting services are not equipped with the resources or man-power to manage emergency fires for when they do break out at this site. Why should the community risk their lives and step up to fight fires for infrastructure that they never wanted there in the first place?

I object to this project.
This solar farm project will destroy a small rural community. The toxic run-off from such infrastructure associated with solar factory farms will be damaging to nearby properties and wildlife.
These projects bring with them too many detrimental and dangerous issues pertaining to the environment, visual amenities, health to livestock and wildlife, and health and safety to neighbouring properties.

I am objecting to this project because I do not believe that rural agricultural land should be the home for industrial renewable energy zones. Solar infrastructure has too many negative side effects on both the health of people, environment, animals and landscapes. These should be built closer to the cities and not in rural/regional communities.
Stop destroying our rural landscapes, communities and our environment with these unreliable and intermittent projects.

This proposed Solar Factory should NOT be approved.
* It is proposed in a location with a rich history of Grazing and Agriculture in a Prime Rural location. Current Farmers and Rural Lifestyle Residents neighbouring the proposed development continue to undertake Grazing and Agricultural activities. This proposal has already significantly impacted their property values. This uncertainty has jeopardised future property improvements and reduced equity for any wishing to sell. If the Project is approved this impact would be worse.
*The proposed Gundary Solar Factory creates potential for increased Fire hazard from the site, especially if large lithium storage batteries explode or fire engulfs the enormous site. This increases risk of many nearby residents being trapped if the fire was during a bad fire risk day.
*Such a large scale project, together with other nearby proposals close to the major Regional City of Goulburn seems out of place in a vibrant Rural Community and is creating a lot of anxiety and stress.
*I understand this proposal, if approved, would conflict significantly with the adjoining area earmarked for future growth adjacent to the city
* The area relies heavily on Tourism and the visual impact of hundreds of thousands of solar panels, inverters and battery storage facilities would adversely impact the scenic qualities which tourists, and locals currently enjoy.
*There is concern that the proposed development will adversely imactl ocal vegetation and wildlife and their habitat on this site and flow on effect on adjoining properties, including massive expected dust and noise during construction.
* Locals are also concerned about further damage to local roads and dangers with inreased vehicle activity during construction phase
*There appears to be no Guarantees for financial commitment from developers for end of site use decommissioning and site rehabilitation.
I strongly object to this proposal

This infrastructure is too dangerous to the neighbouring properties and communities. BESS and solar panel factories are a significant fire risk. I object to this project.

See attached support with provisos.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the farmers of the land within our great nation of Australia today. I pay my respects to Australia’s past, present and future farmers who have and will continue to battle setbacks such as renewable energy destruction, drought, floods, vermin plagues, diseases, and government policy, all so they can provide Australia with food and fibre. I acknowledge that these setbacks come at a high price of mental health, and many have taken their lives as a result due to such pressures. I extend this respect and am thankful for the sacrifices those within the agricultural industry make in order to provide Australia with the essentials; I acknowledge the agricultural industry as the backbone of our nation
We need to unite and fight these developers and the Australian government for forcing this upon us.

Noting the Livestock Producer Assurance accreditation application, they recognise and acknowledge that agricultural land WILL BE POISONED by batteries and solar panels. Given this significant fact, these projects should NOT go ahead as they compromise our food security and environmental safety.

I object to the Gundary Solar Farm. See attached submission below

To whom it may concern,
I am writing this correspondence to advise of my OBJECTION to the proposed Gundary Solar factory.
For the past 38 years, I have had the privilege of calling the Gundary Homestead my home. My family moved to the Gundary Plains seeking its unmatched lifestyle, with breathtaking views and a profound connection to nature. My parents chose this area because they believed it was the perfect place to raise a family—and they were right. Growing up here was nothing short of magical.

This isn’t just where I live; it’s the only place I truly call home, even though I own property elsewhere. It holds deep meaning not just for me but for my eight nieces and nephews as well. Gundary is woven into the fabric of our lives, our hearts, and our memories. It’s our sanctuary—a constant in a world of change, a refuge where we come to find peace and solace.

Today, that sanctuary is under threat. A foreign-owned business and a wealthy investment banker, driven by greed, are endangering the Gundary community and the land we hold dear. This man, motivated solely by the pursuit of greater wealth, has shown no regard for the community he is affecting so profoundly.

Gundary is more than a piece of land—it’s our home, our history, and our heart. We cannot stand by and watch it be taken away.
1. SEPP (Special Environmental Protection Provisions)
The Gundary Plains is located just 10 kilometres from the Goulburn city centre, placing over two-thirds of the proposed solar farm project within the SEPP boundary. The SEPP was established specifically to protect communities from developments like the one British Petroleum is proposing. By moving forward with this project, British Petroleum is blatantly disregarding the protections the SEPP is designed to uphold.

Their actions suggest they believe they are above the laws meant to safeguard communities like the Gundary Plains. This is a gross injustice and demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the government’s efforts to protect this area by including it within the SEPP boundary.

At a minimum, the SEPP boundary must be strictly upheld, with no industrial installations permitted within the designated SEPP zone.

2. Asset Devaluation
Residents of the Gundary area have been informed that their property values could decrease by up to 20% as a result of the proposed solar farm. This is an unacceptable consequence. Why should the Gundary community bear the financial burden of a project that prioritizes profits over people?

This devaluation is not just a number—it represents years of investment, hard work, and emotional attachment to our homes, now threatened by a project that disregards the long-term well-being of the Gundary community.

3. Fire Risk
The proposed solar farm poses an alarming fire risk to the area. Within my lifetime, I can recall two instances of grass fires on the Gundary Plains, both fuelled by strong winds and abundant combustible materials. Although these were successfully contained, the situation would be far more dangerous with the solar farm in place.

The fenced-off site, housing solar panel arrays, BESS battery storage units, and substations, would severely hinder firefighting efforts. The local RFS has already stated they will not enter the site due to inadequate access and the inability to retreat safely if conditions escalate. This raises serious concerns about the ability to control a fire effectively.

A fire in this area could have catastrophic consequences, endangering firefighters and nearby residents—particularly those on Kooringaroo Road, a dead-end street with no safe escape route. The risks are clear!

4. Health Impacts
Since the announcement of the solar farm proposal, Gundary locals have been living in a state of constant anxiety about what might happen to their cherished homes. I’ve seen the impact firsthand when discussions about the project with my family have led to sleepless nights and immense stress, not just for us but for many in the community.

Moreover, the materials used in constructing photovoltaic cells are known to contain carcinogenic materials and pose a risk of causing silicosis. What will happen when these hazardous substances are released into the environment, contaminating our water sources and potentially poisoning the residents of the Gundary Plains?

To date, British Petroleum has completely failed to address these critical health and environmental concerns. This lack of accountability is unacceptable, and these risks cannot be ignored. The community deserves clear answers and decisive action to protect their well-being.

5. Access
The primary access point for the proposed Gundary Solar Factory is on Windellama Road, which is ill-equipped to handle the influx of industrial traffic. Fifes Bridge is too narrow for large vehicles alongside regular commuter traffic, and the road sees heavy use during holiday periods as it is a major route to the coast. Significant upgrades would be essential if the solar farm proceeds.

6. Heat Bank Impacts
Scientists have documented the heat bank effect, where large installations like solar farms can increase local temperatures, particularly during the summer months. Living in close proximity to the proposed installation and substation, we are deeply concerned about how this phenomenon will impact our daily lives, our environment, and the broader local ecosystem.

BP Lightsource has no right to disrupt our surroundings by introducing a project that could modify local climate conditions without thoroughly addressing these risks. The potential for increased heat, coupled with the environmental and health implications, cannot be dismissed or ignored.

7. Compensation
British Petroleum’s proposed solar farm offers little to no compensation to the landowners who will be directly affected by its installation. While the project may promise broader benefits, it comes at a significant cost to the local community. Landowners near the site will face reduced property values, disruptions to their way of life, and potential health and environmental risks, yet they are being largely ignored in discussions about fair compensation.

This disregard for the impacted residents demonstrates a lack of accountability and respect for those who will bear the brunt of the project’s consequences. If British Petroleum is committed to community engagement and ethical practices, it must provide meaningful compensation and address the legitimate concerns of the people living near the proposed site. Anything less is unacceptable.

8. Solar Farm Decommissioning
The mining industry is held to clear, enforceable standards for remediation and decommissioning—yet the solar industry faces no such accountability. Depositing funds upfront for remediation is non-negotiable, especially given that ownership could change multiple times over the project’s 30-year lifespan. Without these safeguards, the end owner could easily declare bankruptcy and abandon the site, leaving local governments and taxpayers to shoulder an enormous financial burden.

BP has shown blatant disregard for this responsibility by refusing to make any concrete commitments to rehabilitating the Gundary Plains. This is unacceptable and further proof of their failure to prioritize the community or the environment.

9. History of Gundary
The name Gundary holds deep significance, meaning “Rocks and Water.” The land has been home to the Gundungurra People who are part of a culture that has existed in Australia for over 65,000 years, there people are part of a rich and ancient culture that has long been connected to this land. Their deep connection to the land is something we should all respect as we consider its future.

Over the years, the Gundary area has seen many changes. Stories of bushrangers robbing stagecoaches that passed through the plains from Braidwood remind us of the area’s rugged past. In 1902, A.R. Maple Brown purchased the land and established a merino stud, eventually building the Gundary Homestead in 1914, where I now live. Mr. Maple Brown’s dedication to the land included planting trees and making significant improvements that helped turn the Gundary Plains into a prosperous agricultural venture.

Today, Gundary has evolved into a tight knit community, with small rural land holdings, hobby farms, and lifestyle blocks that have become home to many families seeking a peaceful, desirable way of life. This transformation marks a significant departure from its past use, and the area is now inhabited by people who cherish its natural beauty and sense of community. Contrary to British Petroleum’s claims, the Gundary Plains is far from “vast and largely unoccupied.” It is a place where people live, work, and thrive.

To see this land transformed into a solar farm would be devastating, not just for me and my family, but for the generations to come. This area has been a part of our lives for so long, and the thought of it being altered for the next 30 plus years is heartbreaking. The impact of such a development would be felt for the rest of my lifetime and my parents’ lifetime, and it would forever change the landscape that so many have come to call home. This is a place with history, memories, and people who care deeply about preserving its character and future.

Summary
The reality is that British Petroleum’s attraction to the Gundary area is its ease linking it into the power grid. British Petroleum’s plans to install a solar factory in an area that see below the national average of sunny days is simply ludicrous. The reality is that the Gundary Plains is a community of 60 plus families that live on or adjacent to the proposed solar factory. The government has a clear responsibility to enforce the provisions of the SEPP and shield this community from unsuitable, industrial-scale developments. The Goulburn Mulwaree Council has also expressed opposition to this project, as it directly contradicts the council’s vision for future growth.

It is too close to a large town, homes and prime grazing land.

I live in WA.
I think that it is disgraceful that Light source BP may be allowed to destroy the pristine grazing and agricultural country like the Gundary Plains and that Australia will eventually be reliant on other countries for food. Projects such as this will also destroy our export markets for grain and frozen meat. It is in the completely wrong place.
Pam Wasley