Jindera Solar Farm

Dear Sir/Madam
Please accept the attached submission re the Jindera Solar Farm.
Stephanie Klein

I object for the following reasons:-
Good farming land being used, put solar farms on land not suited to farming. No farms, no food, greater cost to everyone, we should be able to grow our own food not have to import it.
Devaluation of the land, no proof the land will recover from this in 30 years.
Devaluation of properties in this area. The other home and land owners out here shouldn't have to worry about not being able to sell their properties for a good price later just because one or two people want to put in a solar farm.
What about the effect on the environment, the solar farm will make things hotter, that is no good to anyone, what effect will that have on those living closest.
What if the company goes broke, that stuff will be there forever.
I cannot see how this solar farm is going to be of any benefit to me, the neighborhood or the environment.
If you keep putting good farming land under solar panels there will be no farm land left.
The solar company is from overseas, we are selling off more of our country, we need our land for Australians.
Bush fire risk, this seems to get brushed under the carpet, anything I raised at The Hub when we spoke to the developers their answer was it will be fine that won't happen, that is not good enough clearly they don't know.
What about flooding due to filling in most of the dams.
This will restrict the future growth of Jindera as no-one wants to live next to a solar farm.
This is dividing the district and making things very uncomfortable for everyone.
The mental health of the residents here is at risk. The strain on people so far has been huge. One day people may want to sell their property and retire, as these days it is preferable according to the government that we are self funded, the property prices will plummet with a solar farm next door, think of the mental anguish the older people in this area will go through as they face the worry that they will not have enough money to live out their life.
I don't like their oh that won't happen it will be fine, that seemed to be the answer to most of our questions, not good enough.
There will be more dust, noise and glare in this lovely quiet area.
The roads out here are not great and all the traffic will simply make the roads even worse.
So much more traffic through Jindera township, I bet they don't know they are getting trucks through there every 14 minutes 6 days a week.
No benefit to any of the people living out here except those whose property it is going on and the foreign developer.
Loss of flora and fauna habitat.
Loss of cultural heritage sites.

I object to Jindera solar farm as it is close to my home and farm .

I purchased the farm to be in rural community not next door to a solar farm

The solar farm is on prime rural land

The farm will reduce the value of my property

The solar farm will look different and be on our way to town and be unsightly

Please see attached.

Please see the PDF attachment for my submission.

I object to the proposed Jindera Solar Farm on the following grounds:

*The site is on reliable and productive agricultural land that is scarce and should be used for primary production. Having been well-acquainted with this area for over 70 years, I have never known a year when drought was so severe in the area that the land would not produce crops or fodder. It is far more reliable than many other areas of the state and I believe that solar farms should be built in areas where they are not competing with the production of food. There are plenty of other areas where these farms may be sited where there would be little competition. While is noted that grazing may occur during operation of the proposed solar farm, the carrying capacity would be significantly less than now.
* As the site is in a low lying area that is frequently affected by fog during winter it would be product less solar energy than if sited in a more suitable locality.
* The proposed solar farm would result in devastating effects to the natural environment. The soil will be disturbed during earthworks, creating dust across neighbouring areas which will reduce air quality and changing drainage patterns over the large site in the long-term. Sediments are likely to flow into the two creeks which lie within the site and which feed into Lake Hume. While it is stated that there are plans to manage erosion and contaminated soil run off into these creeks there is limited detail about the oversight of and monitoring of these plans and the mitigating measures. The construction of the solar farm will result in a significant loss of negative vegetation including the removal of more than 30 Yellow Box and Blakey's Gum trees, many of which are mature shade trees that attract local birds and animals. I do not believe that any credits or mitigation measures can replace mature shade trees in a short period of time. The loss of mature trees on this site will create a negative visual effect and result in the loss of the natural habitat of many native species.
* The effects of solar farms on the climate in the locality of the farm are largely unknown in the Australian context. My investigation found very limited information and I consider that more research into this aspect is required before claims can be made that there would be no adverse effects on properties bordering the proposed solar farm.
* There is likely to be a negative economic effect on some members of the local community. Many people wish to live in the area because it is visually attractive and is close to Albury. They seek lifestyle properties and have paid relatively high prices for their land. They did not expect an industrial development to be built in close proximity and are concerned about the impact of the solar farm on the value of their properties. Some are likely to lose money if this development goes ahead. Prospective buyers of properties are unlikely to want to live close to a solar farm so the value of local land will decrease. It would be more appropriate to build solar farms in areas where there is light industry or where people who have established their lives in a locality are not disadvantaged economically.
* The increased traffic during construction would make travel on local roads during this time far more difficult and hazardous.

While I fully support the move to renewable energy sources I feel strongly that this should be properly planned for so that scarce reliable agricultural land is not taken away from production of food, that the environment is not damaged and that existing communities are not disadvantaged. Because of likely negative effects listed above, I do not support the proposal for the Jindera Solar Farm.