Middlebrook Solar Farm

On behalf of Yass Landscape Guardians Inc. I object to the Middlebrook Solar Farm

Please see attachment regarding my objection to the project regarding the soil and agriculture components.

Too whom it may concern I don't believe there should be a solar farm project in the Middlebrook are as it is in prime agriculture land with a massive impact too our native flora and fauna. I have spoken with some of our Aboriginal elders and there is also some ancient Aboriginal artifacts along in the area . There is also families living in the area on beautiful lifestyle blocks and the impact it will have on them and there value of there properties would be devastating . I also strongly believe it will have a big impact on our tourism with the magnificent glass house restaurant and function centre located on gonoo gonoo station I couldn't think of anything worse than sitting down for a lovely meal there and have too overlook five thousand acres of solar panels. With all of this in mind please be a bit more considerate and rethink the decision of Middlebrook solar. Any questions please do not hesitate too contact myself on 0407753633 thanks again Mick Purcell.

I object to the Middlebrook Solar Farm application. Please see attached reasons.

It is with deep regret that I write this submission, to think that stupidity has gone this far and it blows my mind that this project is even considered for this locality. It is obvious that those profiting from this project would not even be from this country let alone this region. It has about the equivalent stupidity to it as if I were to put a submission forward to set up a cattle farm in Pitt St Sydney. It would upset every neighbor that had invested there and destroy their future. I am in awe that this has even got this far with council approval, if I were to want to run a small to medium enterprise from a residential property I would have lifelong fight on my hands with red tape. The fact that zoning has been blatantly ignored or overruled smells like corruption to me. It is obvious to any one who would drive along the roads accessing this site that the local council are unable to maintain the roads now, imagine what's going to happen when you run the traffic required to complete this project. Even the go to of dropping the speed limit to ridiculous levels won't even cut it on this one.

We'll bring jobs to the town they say, incorrect. They will come to town without enough resources and poach the qualified people working in local small to medium enterprise, give them big money for a season and no future. Meanwhile the already impossible challenge of attracting and maintaining qualified people for rural based businesses gets even harder.

A town without water. 2016 to 2019, 3 years of drought and this town was on the brink of disaster. What's the plan for the additional water usage? may I suggest that you invest in a water pipeline from other sources or further invest in greater water storage. We don't have power shortages in this region like we do water.

An overloaded medical system before you arrive, are you bring your own hospital and doctors? or are you able to advise which local residents will be further disadvantaged with your decision for a foreigner to profit off our community?

Please put yourselves in the shoes of this community that are negatively affected as these points raised are only a few drops in this bucket.

Mark Wilks

I strongly object to the project. Reasons for this are in the following attachment.

I am writing to object to the Middlebrook Solar Farm project.

The project will threaten the operation of nearby farms due to dust, potential water issues (run off from panels) and the impact on local water courses of project works. The development is on prime productive agricultural land – trading long term food security for a short term energy project and the development may also result in the closure of other nearby farms because of its impact on the local environment.

There appears to be some inconsistencies with the Landscape & Visual Assessment that has been included with the EIS

The technical diagram on page 11 clearly shows that the maximum height of the panels is 4.2m – figure 4 Solar Panel Parameters as provided by the applicant. This is in direct contradiction to the text which quotes a maximum height of 3m. At 4.2m the panels will have a much greater impact as they will be 40% higher and as stated in the technical supplement vertical changes to the field of view are perceived to be much greater or more impactful. The whole assessment has been conducted at 3m and if the panels are 4.2m high than it would need to be completely redone to properly assess the projects impact.

Elements of the project, including solar panels, battery energy systems, or other associated infrastructure should also be included in the photomontages to establish the visual impact, but the included images do not appear to include other infrastructure apart from the panels.
The following significant items are listed but don’t appear to be included in the assessment as required:
BESS with a capacity of up to 300 MW / 600 MWh DC coupled; • Up to 100 inverter stations - 2.6m high • 6 ha freehold substation, up to 9m high • Fencing • Up to two high voltage transformers • Site office 3.8m x 19.8m x 4.4m (high) • Switch room 4.1m x 17.9m x 4m (high) • Lighting
These items could have a significant further visual impact on the subject properties when included in the photomontages and assessment.

The visual impact images also do not appear to comply with the Technical Supplement - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Large-Scale Solar Energy Guideline – Department of Planning and Environment. The supplement states the requirements for the camera (full frame), lens (50mm), orientation (portrait) and how the camera is to be mounted when taking and composing the panoramic images. It also specifies that the visual magnitude tool should be used and this spilts the image into 720 cells for assessment. The included images contain less than the 720 cells required. This means that either the subject images have not been taken as per the requirements and therefore do not represent the true view or that the fewer number of cells in the images understates the visual impact as more cells will mean the infrastructure will take up more cells and thus score a higher impact. The cells missing are in the vertical orientation and will therefore be more impactful.

Figure 18 & 19 also show that subject dwelling 24 has high level of visibility to the project but this dwelling has not been omitted from the visual impact assessment.

The scenic quality scores appear to be understated when looking at the benchmark scenic quality values in the landscape character zones. These appear to be very subjective and undersell the beauty of the rural landscape in the area. The area is very picturesque and the development will greatly impact on the visual amenity in the area.

Middlebrook Solar Farm (the Project) is located in the Tamworth Regional Local Government Area (LGA), and is not within the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). Therefore, why is there even consideration to propose a project in this area. The purpose for the REZ is to help identify the areas suitable for large scale renewable energy proposals and to ensure that such projects are not placed in the wrong location.

There is no social licence for this project as the majority of the local community objects to this proposal. It is a highly valued area for Agricultural purposes with numerous Lifestyle farming blocks. Current residents enjoy living within pristine, non-industrialised landscapes. It is a picturesque valley with mixed grazing land and undulating hills. The Visual Assessment in the EIS shows that the panels are of high visual impact for residences around the valley. The proposal for a large scale renewable project here is totally unacceptable. What will an industrial landscape do to the values of these beautiful lifestyle blocks?

As a resident living in a nearby town who travels to work daily in Tamworth , the increase traffic movement will have a high negative impact to my travels. Furthermore, the increased traffic movement can also deter my travels should I require attention from medical facilities located only in Tamworth in cases of emergency.

Large Scale renewable projects should not be approved outside the REZ.
Large Scale renewable projects should not be approved without social licence from residents living within the proposed area.
It is the rights of residents to live in a location for its beautiful view of pristine landscapes and natural environment.

Our Government needs to start listening and looking after the people in small rural towns rather than trying to force renewable projects into these area in an attempt to justify their unrealistic approach to our energy crisis.

I am a long time resident in the Loomberah area and I am concerned that the solar farm will impact the agricultural outlook and lifestyle. I am concerned about the impact it will have on the site and surrounding areas environment and biodiversity. I also object to the project importing solar panels manufactured in China and have concerns regarding the toxic chemicals used such as Cadmium telluride, which although we are informed are safe while enclosed in the solar panels, I feel there is not enough research into the potential long term affects these chemicals could cause as they break down and potentially contaminate the soil, air and waterways. This could be detrimental to animals and to human health.

Please refer to the letter attached detailing the reasons for our objection to this project.

Increased Fire Risk
I strongly object to the development of the Middlebrook Solar Farm, Middlebrook Rd Loomberah due to the entirely foreseeable increase in significant fire risks. While solar farms are considered clean and renewable energy sources, they also present unique challenges when it comes to fire prevention and management. Loomberah, like many other regions, is prone to lightning strikes during thunderstorms. A lightning strike on a solar panel or any electrical equipment within the solar farm can trigger a fire.

Loss of Agricultural Land and accumulative impacts of projects in the New England.
Middlebrook Solar Farm is another development that has been put together in isolation, without any backing strategy and single vision of all the renewable projects that are being developed in the New England. Solar Farms are being implemented without a clear vision of responsibility and accountability for who is responsible for the clean and restoration of solar farm at their end of life. Middlebrook will be another one of these projects where the local community is eft with the clean up.

I strongly oppose this development being approved.

While the electricity lines are conveniently located near the proposed site, however, that doesn't mean the location is correct for a solar farm and in this case it is far from it. There is more suitable locations for solar farms then near major regional centres such as Tamworth. The impact this solar farm will have on the area will be detrimental to agriculture, the beautiful visual outlook and community harmony.
I object to this project for the below reasons:
• Loss of prime productive agricultural land. The sites are currently highly productive agricultural farming land. The loss of farming will substantially impact agricultural production in our region, which is one of our key industries.
• Community mental health/stress caused by proposed development. News of theses proposed solar farm developments has had an impact on my mental health. I have become anxious and concerned the impact these developments will have on my family’s future. Our life savings are invested in our property and to have that potentially wiped out purely by other people’s greed is infuriating. The Federal & State Governments should be looking out for Australians, the little Aussie battler not these huge foreign investors who take the money offshore. I pay my taxes, I contribute to this countries economy, we even have solar panels installed on our property.
• Tighter guidelines to get approval outside of allocated Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), to stop future proposals like this from occurring to other prime agricultural land areas. Changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy means solar and wind projects will be rejected if they are deemed to impact views, scenic quality, or future land use, Tamworth is one of the areas on this “protected” list. Locating these types of projects on the edge of centres such as Tamworth could be very restrictive for these centres in the future.
• Additional waste/landfill costs to Tamworth Community, particularly during construction from panel packaging, construction and freight. Solar panels are made out of plastic, silicon, aluminium, glass and copper, with small amounts of toxic materials. The challenge, when it comes to recycling, is separating the valuable materials from the hazardous. The process requires acids, which can also be toxic, and heavy machinery, which is energy-intensive. At the moment, those who are attempting to recycle these panels admit it is “cheaper to put them in landfill” than recover what value remains.”
• Roads impacted surrounding the site with the additional traffic including a designated school bus route. The current surrounding roads are not equipped to handle a large volume of traffic and in some instances are one lane. The proposed access road is also prone to being inaccessible during flood events.
• Increased water runoff from panels, causing directional change of the natural flows into the creek and causing erosion
• Tamworth’s anticipated growth (moving towards Loomberah) and future development in the area, particularly with AELEC so close
• Tamworth weather is too hot for a Solar Farm, solar panels are more efficient in cooler areas.
• Increased temperature to the area surrounding from the projected heat off the solar panels.
• Electrical line capacity to cope with the additional load once the New England REZ is operational.
• Neighbours impacted by build disruptions of additional traffic, noise, litter, dust etc. Given all the surrounding roads and internal roads are dirt this creates a dust hazard. It is known that dust can affect colouration of wool which reduces its quality and prices for wool farmers located nearby. Dust also reduces plant growth and the efficiency of weed control such as spraying. If dust is going to be controlled by water this, then presents the argument of putting added pressure on Tamworth's water supply especially given the growth of the Tamworth area and that the current Government has ruled out the upgrade of Dungowan Dam.
• Loomberah residents loss of country lifestyle and agricultural panoramic views. Given the solar farm location, neighbouring properties will be unable to be shielded from the site by screening or vegetation barriers as there is no ability to negate the detrimental impact of the solar farm on the visual amenity of the community. Loomberah is an aesthetically beautiful region comprising of a strong community of just over 500 people.
• Devaluation of property values in Loomberah. Studies have shown properties within 1.6km of a large scale solar farm reduced in value by 1.7% to 7% on Rhode Island USA (Providence Journal September 2020).
• No benefit to Tamworth despite the interruption and impact it will have to our area, power is sent to other areas and very little work opportunity either at time of construction or after completion as employment will be outsourced, but this influx of “out-of-towners” will place added impact on our already struggling resources in Tamworth including accessing health care.
• Not supporting Australian companies (international developer)

As a local resident in the Loomberah area, I object to this project proposal due to the impact it will have on the agricultural production in the community. The area is sought after for its spectacular rural views and I feel that a solar farm will impact on the visual appeal. Families are drawn to the area for the lifestyle and rural aspect, this structure within the community will industrialise the view and compromise the value of properties in the community. The emotional impact to community members neighbouring these projects is significant to their mental health, financial health and puts a strain on families.

I believe that the Middlebrook Solar Farm will provide important jobs to the Loomberah community, as well as supporting the greater Tamworth region. It is incredibly important that our electricity grid becomes more sustainable, and the Middlebrook Solar Farm will be a good way to help make this happen. The solar farm will be secluded enough from surrounding farms, while providing close access to high-voltage power lines.

I object to this proposal. The farming landscape to heavy industrial use is a completely different change of land use, which consolidates our concerns that this destructive proposal must not go ahead.
This project involves large scale development that the developer identifies as a solar plant, but in fact it is a proposal that will have lasting environmental effects, that is unfair to leave to the next generation.
THERE IS NO BOND
There is no upfront bond for the removal of their industrial waste, and my research shows there is no benefit to Australia, on any level. These are not just solar farms, or solar parks, that this industry would have the public believe. It is in fact a potential toxic future hazard. This is not to mention the potential fire hazards from increased temperatures. Rainfall could be seriously affected by large scale industrial developments that covers the photosynthesis and biodiversity that makes our planet so different to other planets. There also may be increased temperatures of around 5% - 10%
There are illustrations of the source of other’s misery and slavery for this global corporate driven industry. Decisions that may cause serious environmental harm needs to be considered very carefully before inflicting this on the community, and our country. Yours sincerely Carolyn Emms

I strongly object to the proposal for the Middlebrook solar farm. I support solar power but only in the right location.
This proposed location will have a significant impact on surrounding properties, many of which I would describe as lifestyle properties where the nature beauty and ambiance of the surrounding environment is a significant reason why people purchase in the area. This will have a detrimental impact on land values having a significant impact on not only peoples financial situation, but also their wellbeing.

I object to the proposed solar farm as there has not been a thorough assessment of its impact on the local community- local traffic increases on roads that are already often dangerous due to potholes and corrugations, disruption to prime agricultural land minimise viability to produce food and fibre, local visual devastation to a highly populated area. And the wider Tamworth community- this project is within 15 mins drive from a growing regional city- it is far too close to a highly populated area. More pressure on a health and education service that is already overwhelmed,
The project requires much more in depth study of its impact on the local community and surrounding area

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I oppose the farm in that it will decrease the value of the nearby properties and ruin the view which owners have worked hard for and saved and paid for. The health risks to people and the land are also of concern.