Middlebrook Solar Farm

I am concerned about the biodeversity implications this project will have on our existing farming land and the surrounding areas. The loss of agricultural production would impact our local region, employment and supporting services. The increased traffic on the dirt roads surrounding the proposed location will cause excessive dust and disruption to residents in our quiet community. These changes will deter people from wanting to purchase land in the area and in turn reduce property value. I strongly object to this project.

I object to the proposal due to the loss of agricultural land. Loomberah is known for its productive agricultural land and is a sought after area due to the quality soil, scenic views and lifestyle. The land value will also be impacted by this project. It is a close community that will be socially and emotionally impacted by this project. I am concerned for the increased strain that will be placed on our local services during the 18-30 month construction period with an approximate 400 workers attending the site. The local road infrastructure will have more traffic and an additional strain may be placed on medical and hospital services and there is currently a housing shortage in the area. I object to this proposal.

I strongly object to the Middlebrook Solar Farm project.

I have attached my objections.

I object and strongly oppose the use of quality agricultural land for these projects as it reduces local farming sustainability and the loss of agriculture in the community, this impacts widely on local agricultural stores, employment and services. Tamworth Regional Council have identified the need to investigate the formulation of development controls to address large scale renewable energy proposals in their strategic planning to stop these projects being placed in wrong locations. Australia is losing its natural ability to produce and sustain agriculture by replacing it with an industrial farm, purely driven by financial gain.
I am concerned about the environmental risks with broken panels, corroding panels, waste disposal and traffic/transport. In my opinion these are all factors that will contribute towards pollution and excessive landfill in our local area.
I object because I am concerned for our towns future development. This project is not inline with our council’s Tamworth Regional Blueprint 100 Part Two Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020 adopted by Tamworth Regional Council on the 26th May 2020. It clearly states the following:
The vision includes Primary Industries continues to be the backbone of the region
Rural centres provide lifestyle opportunities and have inclusive communities
There is a large selection of lifestyle blocks available
Tamworth’s agriculture industry generates over $172 million in exports (2017/2018).
The Tamworth Region is known for its natural resources including good quality agricultural land, groundwater aquifers and healthy surface water bodies. Ongoing access to these resources is fundamental to the sustainability of the economic and physical development of the Region.
Projects proposed like the Middlebrook Solar Farm are considered and reviewed on a case by case basis but in my opinion, once one is approved it will become harder to dispute others in the area. I would encourage the representatives making the State Significant decision on this project to visit the area impacted and meet those affected, to see how detrimental these projects are to communities. This project is outside of the REZ zones and is in a highly productive agriculture location. The lack of transparency for projects like these creates ill feeling in communities and tears them apart. The community objects to the proponents secrecy, tactics and lack of social licence used to get the proposal to this stage.

Firstly, it is the complete destruction of the most productive agricultural area of the entire Tamworth district. The 5000 acres of country will be cleared of which there are several koala habitats. This particular country forms part of the original Australian Agricultural Company which was the original grant from King George IIIrd to start agriculture in Australia. It would contain several aboriginal artefacts. This project will destroy people’s livelihoods, cause distress and angst between neighbours. It will cause enormous mental health issues for those farmers whose land will be totally devalued for their neighbours gains. This is absolutely the wrong place to be building a solar farm in the Tamworth region. I would suggest if solar farms are to be built, build them in unusable agricultural land.

Australia has limited arable land available for food production. This solar factory proposal will destroy good productive agricultural land (a scarce resource) and cover it with toxic glass panels. As a primary producer who has spent 35 years improving the environment on our property I am appalled a foreign company can come in and take over productive land and destroy not only the surrounding environment but also its food production potential. I view the proposal as nothing more than environmental vandalism. You don't destroy the local environment to save the planet!

I strongly appose this project. The fire risk from the many hundreds of thousands of new ignition points that will be added to the environment pose an unacceptable risk. The toxic mess that will be deposited on the environment after a fire will permanently containment this good quality food producing land. These proponents can not safely do any thing to stop the damage that will occur. It is a joke if they think they can.These industrial factories in put in the middle of agricultural land should be reason enough to cancel the project.

I object to this proposal as I believe it is important to maintain the preservation of high quality Agricultural land. Agricultural land needs to be protected to remain sustainable. The EIS has identified that the soils have been surveyed and have good capability for agricultural use. This land is currently used for Agricultural purposes and the soil will be shielded from sunlight and exposed to possible erosion from water runoff. Tamworth’s last flood was in late 2022. It was reported in Jan 2023 that Tamworth had 389.9mm of rain across three months. By having a large scale solar farm close to waterways and streams this will impact the natural flow of the water into the catchment areas and cause potential soil erosion issues. In previous years to this, Tamworth had experienced drought, creating high levels of dust and restrictions on water use and availability. These extreme weather conditions will impact the deterioration and maintenance of the panels but also how they affect the soil beneath.
I object to projects being proposed outside of Renewable Energy Zoning. This project is outside of two REZ zones, one 27km away and the other 76km away. This questions as to why Renewable Energy Zones were ever created. Tamworth Regional Council have identified the need to investigate the formulation of development controls to address large scale renewable energy proposals in their strategic planning to stop these projects being placed in wrong locations.
I object to the location. The EIS clearly states that the location has been selected for its convenience to pre-existing lines and low cost to the proponent, stating the suitable connection capacity and proximity to demand centres and suitable terrain and access to keep costs low. I feel that we are disadvantaged and that our area is targeted due to the pre-existing power lines and proposed upgrade to the power lines close by. Unfortunately there are many residents in the Loomberah Community who have purchased hobby farms or lifestyle blocks for their rural outlook and aspect. The industrial visual impact of a project such as this degrades the value of the property and their reason for buying in the area in the first place.
I object due to the social impact it will have on Local Community. Loomberah has a strong and active community base and has been proven to support and come together to assist each other in tough times, such as the drought and during COVID. These projects are causing extreme distress to the community members and using an exorbitant amount of time and energy that is adding to people’s stress levels, financial concerns and family situations. The social impact on communities of these projects is of high concern. The emotional distress and frustration caused by these projects impacts on people's health, lifestyle and families.
This project is in the wrong place, it is not supported by our community, our Local Council or Members of Parliament.

The proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm has flown under the radar with little to no knowledge by both local residents and those from surrounding areas. This is due to the lack of community consultation and a need to simply push the development through. Prior to a flyer being placed in the mailbox about the EIS going on display I had not only not heard anything from the proposed developer (despite residing within a 5-kilometre radius of the project) or read or heard anything in the local media. The proposed development is wrong on many levels not the least is the lack of community knowledge.
My opposition to the Middlebrook Solar Farm development is due to the following:
1. Lack of Community Knowledge and Consultation
It appears that the majority of the community consultation with the Middlebrook Solar Farm developer has been with the property owners where they intend to build the development. There has been little to no knowledge shared from anyone else within a 5 kilometre radius.
2. Land was Gifted from the King of England
The land that is proposed to have the solar farm built on was originally not only part of the historic Goonoo Goonoo Station but was gifted by the King of England. The recent development of Goonoo Goonoo Station with a world-class restaurant and accommodation attracts many visitors to not only the Goonoo Goonoo area but also Tamworth and surrounding areas. The proposed solar farm in its construction will not be conducive to the idyllic surroundings sought by visitors and will be an eyesore once built.
3. Biosecurity Risks
Not only being a tourism area the area surrounding the proposed development is a thriving agricultural area with cattle studs, sheep grazing, and cereal crop production. The construction would bring hundreds of outside contractors into the area significantly adding to the biosecurity risks of the surrounding farmland.
4. Lack of Road Infrastructure
Currently, Middlebrook Road is a dirt road primarily used by local residents to access their properties. Middlebrook Road is also used for recreational pursuits by local community residents including cycling, horse riding, etc. involving both adults and children. The proposed use of Middlebrook Road for the use of construction of a solar farm will halt these activities as well as increase dust and noise pollution for residents.
The proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm development should not be granted and I am strongly opposed to the development.

I am writing in strong opposition to the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm proposal. The reasons for my opposition are many and include:
1. Destruction of Prime Agricultural Land
The proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm is proposed to be developed on land that was initially part of the historic Goonoo Goonoo Station. This land was the initial gift from the King of England and formed the Australian Agricultural Company's headquarters. This land is highly sought after today due to its proximity to Tamworth and the lifestyle provided and should not be used to build a solar farm on.
2. Biosecurity Risks
If the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm went ahead it will create a biosecurity risk to all surrounding properties. There are not only lifestyle properties in this area but many cattle studs together with sheep graziers and cropping properties. The real risk of Food and Mouth Disease is very easily transferable by someone entering your property that has been elsewhere prior. With so many contractors needed to complete the project coming from outside the area the biosecurity risks increase substantially.
3. Access
The proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm is located on a dirt road that only local residents have the need to travel along. The dust created by the proposed development will increase substantially and make the possibility for current recreational pursuits of walking, cycling, and horse riding dangerous for locals.
4. Lack of Community Knowledge
Currently, I reside within 5 kilometres of the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm development but have had no contact with the developers, despite them saying that they have contacted all locals within this distance of sight, apart from one phone call canvassing my reaction to the proposition to a proposed solar farm development several years ago with me saying that I would strongly oppose any such development. There has been no contact since or any awareness by neighbours of one community meeting held.
5. Noise Pollution
In addition to the dust created the noise pollution to local residents is going to be substantial not only from the installation of the panels but also the traffic travelling back and forth along Middlebrook Road.
Apart from these concerns what are the answers to the following questions: What are the associated health risks of this development to humans? What does the solar farm do to the soil? How is the land going to be restored after the solar panels have reached their use-by date? Is all of the infrastructure going to be removed?
The position of the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm is simply wrong and the lack of local community knowledge of the proposed development is unprecedented.

I objects to this proposal. Loomberah is a beautiful quiet town and we do not need any of the following

Negative impact on Agricultural land, and Agricultural businesses in the area.
The roads are not built for excessive traffic or heavy machinery to establish the Solar Farm.
There will be a creation of excessive dust due to extra people needed to run the solar farm.
Valuation of land for surrounding properties will decrease.
Chemical reactions and excessive heat will be generated. Excessive use of ground water, reducing water available for agriculture and private household use. Water will erode land and neighboring land when cleaning solar panels.
This project destroys our lifestyle and will be an eyesore for us living in the area.

Please withdraw project and others in the area

In my opinion this is a perfect location for a solar farm as
it is definitely not prime farming land. I strongly support renewable energy and I also believe this project would provide many jobs in the district.

Again, this is a renewable energy project on prime agricultural and how can we keep continually building these projects on prime land when there are so many mouths to feed in this country renewable energies have not prove themselves yet how many more solar farms and battery factories are we going to see before we realise there’s no farmland left I totally object to this proposal

I wish to lodge a strong objection to the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm. please note that I am an avid supporter of renewable energy projects and the need to urgently reduce our reliance on coal and gas to generate electricity.
this project is a poor use of productive land. too much quality land has already been lost to urban sprawl, industrial uses, mining/gas and other extractive industries. I was born to a farming family and have lived and worked in farming families all my life.
Projects like this should be built on land with low agricultural value or degraded land destroyed by mining in the Hunter and elsewhere. Many of these sites are close to high voltage transmission lines, are already 'industrialized' and close to the city markets of Newcastle and Sydney. For the existing workforce in these areas there would be an opportunity to transition into the renewables sector and work locally as coal is being phased out. Win Win!
Middlebrook Solar Farm is a huge industrial development to be sited in a vibrant rural farming area. the 600 hectares of lost farming land filled with 750 000 solar panels, 100 batteries, a substation and 48 km of roads will be a blight on the picturesque landscape.
For neighbours and other local residents there are justifiable concerns about the building phase of 30 months including damage to gravel roads, dust etc. Close neighbours will obviously bear the biggest impact. The unknown knock- on effects such as possible lower land values, difficulty selling nearby properties will create uncertainty and put stress on families/landowners. They are concerned about their wellbeing, financial futures, succession and retirement plans.
The loss of visual amenity in a rural community is always very concerning. This industrial scale development is totally out of character with the surrounding rural community.
For the above reasons I call on you to reject the proposed Middlebrook Solar Farm.

Beautiful productive grazing country.
Too close to neighbours.
Devaluation of land & properties within the Loomberah area.
Wrong location for a solar farm.

Please see the attached PDF regarding the objection of this project

Dust from the gravel public road and increased traffic. This is a School Bus route. No plans to control the growth of weeds among
the panels and other infrastructure. As a neighbour I am concerned about the noise from a possibly two year construction period.
Ongoing noise from the solar panels when operating.I believe there is a loud "hum" sound. Intense water run off in heavy rain.It
will impact my property. Loss of value to my Farm and visual degradation. Loss of app. 70 mature Eucalypt trees. They are important
habitat for wildlife.Possibly heat built up in Summer especially, and some reflection issues. Productive Farm land isbeing used.