Sandy Creek Solar Farm

I am not against renewable energy as I have two properties (Farms 5000 hectares ) powered totally by solar with battery storage . What I am against is agricultural land that has produced food and fibre for Australia been RAPED by the Government to generate unreliable power for people along the coast when they will not join in and do like wise.
This area was RADED not many years ago by the Government for Cobbora Coal , now here we go again!!
For many years I drove judges around this area judging crops for Dunedoo show competition with prize winning .
In heavy rain a lot water floods down Sandy Creek then to Dubbo and on to the marshes, it will be worse with extra water shed off the panels, what about pollution?
Other problems ,fire fighting lack of RFS members, extra traffic on the roads especially the Golden Highway along the Main Street in Dunedoo and to Newcastle which is our export route from western NSW.
Power should be generated where it is used not miles away to save building miles of massive power lines.
It's a pity our leaders don't realise what damage the roll out to renewable energy is going to do to the environment with trees been removed and all the extra fossil fuel used in the development.
To conclude the damage it is doing to families, friends and the mental health to all in the district. THIS WILL KILL DUNEDOO, it relies on the rural industry.
WHY IS IT CALLED RENEWABLE ENERGY BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE BE RENEWED BY 2050111

The project will remove valuable agricultural land from production (according to the EIS, up to $2M pa).
The project will adversely impact the community by reducing the farming population in the area.
The project will adversely affect the amenity of neighbouring properties through its visual impact.

Firstly, this project will see generational farming families lose their land and lifestyle. These families have worked for years to provide for the country meat, grain and fibre. Who will do this now? How will this need be met in the future?
You will also be taking away from the small rural town of Dunedoo as these families move and leave town, impacting the local economy and schools. The workers coming to build the solar project will not stay, they will be here momentarily and once they leave, the town will be a ghost village.
There must be a better way to produce clean energy for our country. Raping prime agricultural land, destroying small country towns, this is not the answer. Please, what happens after these panels wear out? Where do the go? Do they get replaced? What happens to the structure that fixes them into the ground? You are literally slapping a bandaid on with no real solution to climate change. This is a temporary fix with absolutely no long term solution, the only long term impact is the destruction of land and community.

The Dunedoo/ Gulgong rural areas produce food and fibre for the nation. It is an agricultural area not an industrial area. This area consistently provides food and fibre whereas solar is intermittent. The clearing of trees and native flora to build all the solar project's infrastructure is not 'green' nor in the Australia's best interests. Economically, it is a lot of money going overseas to the owners and the manufacturers of all the building materials. It is also cheaper to build infrastructure- the solar to generate power- closer to where the demand and users reside- along the eastern coastline of Australia. This would save a lot on the cost of extra transmission lines. Solar projects are incompatible with grazing of livestock as the stock eat and rub against all objects. Good stock management requires regular supervision, good fences and a good supply of clean drinking water... are the farmers able to move easily around all the solar panels? The cumulative effect of all the proposed renewable projects in the CWO-REZ is destroying our beautiful landscape as well as the very essence of our small rural communities. Many are now fearful of the security risks to their families and property with the proposed influx of hundreds of non-locals to the area for the construction of these projects. Many families are thinking of leaving as they realise the full impact of these developments. This will lead to the demise of lots of small towns and communities as schools, hospitals and business owners have reduced numbers. Suggest, if you have to, build these solar projects on closed coal mine sites and other large vacant land closer to the big coastal urban areas or further out west where it will not impact prime agricultural land. The rural people are getting very tired of decision being made by the politicians and Government personnel that live in urban areas and not impacted by these decisions. If the politicians want more solar development, then place solar panels on the Opera House....the same reasons you say 'no' is the same reasons we don't want solar on our agricultural land.

This Project should not proceed due to the following reasons -
1. Loss of alluvial agricultural land.
2. Impact on the environment - the balance of nature
3. Lack of Transparency in the consultation process. Very secretive and deceitful.
4. Perception of Corporate greed over Landholders liveability.
5. Renewable energy Projects will not deliver energy security.
6. Disharmony has been created between neighbours.
7. Govt behaviour is considered deceptive and lack of trust has resulted as they are not listening to rural communities.
8. Renewable projects are being rushed through.
9. Health issues are unknown and not being addressed particularly Mental Health is of a critical concern.
10. Positioning of the Project ( out of the public eye) eg hidden away from the Highway and considered a low populated area. No
appreciation of the neighbouring properties not involved in the Project having full view of the dreadful blue landscape,
Transmision lines, battery storage etc.

Australia has 4 percent arable land ( for you that do not know what arable means, it is land that can be planted for food)
To power Australasia with solar, requires .5 percent of the available 4 per cent - keeping in mind that much of this land will be poisoned with heavy metals and imbedded dangerous objects in the soil at the end of life

I object to prime farming land being used for a solar ‘farm’. Unfortunately this smacks of political manoeuvring and box ticking. Long term there will be zero benefit in removing someone’s ability to farm quality farmland for the benefit of the majority. People cannot eat solar panels but unfortunately this appears to not be common knowledge amongst our bureaucrats. Shame on our government's short sightedness and willingness to sell out the hand that literally feeds them.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to oppose the proposed solar due to its potential impact on property values. Numerous studies have shown that the presence of large-scale solar can lead to a significant decrease in nearby property values due to visual and other environmental concerns.

As a homeowner, this is deeply troubling. The financial implications for residents could be severe, reducing the value of our investments and negatively impacting the local real estate market. I urge you to take this into account and reject the development plan.

sincerely

Adam Nicholson