Springdale Solar Farm

Solar power has many benefits for the community and society as a whole
when compared to fossil-fuel power generation. They include:

- substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- substantially reduced air pollution
- substantially reduced water pollution
- substantially reduced noise pollution

Solar power is more sustainable and less damaging to the environment
than most other generation types.

The proposed 100MW solar farm would reduce CO2 emissions by over
100,000 tonnes per year.

I hope the substantial benefits of solar power are given due
consideration when weighing up the pros and cons of this proposal.

I object to the proposed Springdale Solar Development for many reasons
the main reasons being:

1. The proposed location is on good farming land which should be
retained for agricultural uses. The are much more suitable locations
where the land is not suitable for agriculture.
2. The solar farm would have wide ranging and significant negative
impact on the lifestyle and amenities of neighboring properties and of
everyone else who owns properties within this region. A major reason
why people choose to live in rural locations is the views of trees,
open paddocks, native flora and fauna and stock grazing. Replacing
these views with hundreds of hectares of solar panels and supporting
infrastructure will ruin peoples' lifestyles, dreams and take away the
reason we have chosen rural lifestyles.
3. The increased traffic on our roads will greatly increase the ware
and damage to our roads, increase cost of maintenance which I assume
will be added to our rates. Increased vehicle numbers especially
during construction when there will be increase numbers of large
vehicles, will impact on safety for road users, wildlife and stock.
4. Based on what I have read, there is no benefit to me or my family
and neighbors from the proposed solar farm in terms of reducing power
costs and supply reliability. It appears to be just another big
company looking to make huge profits. We have invested in solar power
on our property and when we can afford the battery systems we aim to
become completely independent of the grid. This is where Australia and
the rest of the world should be heading. The increasing cost of
maintaining infrastructure that has to be passed onto consumers would
be alleviated if government policy worked towards allowing every
household and business have their own independent renewable energy
supply.

In summary, if large solar energy developments are the way forward for
Australia please ensure they are located on appropriate sites where
the amount of sunlight is far better than in our region( the proposed
location for Springdale experiences fog), where there is no impact on
people who own property and chosen lifestyles that are going to be
ruined by the uninvited arrival of a massive solar farm in their/our
backyards, and where the activities associated with such a large solar
farm will have many wide ranging and ongoing negative implications for
our region. .

Whilst I completely support the need of renewable energy and associated
developments, I do not support the proposed location of the Springdale
Solar Farm near Sutton, NSW. I therefore provide the following as my
personal submission to object to this proposed development.

Site Selection
Despite having the ability to directly connect into an existing
electricity network, the location of such a large-scale solar farm, as
proposed in the Springdale Solar Farm project, in my opinion, is
unjustified. It seems that the NSW DPE Guidelines for large-scale
solar energy site selection and constraints (Nov 2017) have not been
appropriately considered or applied in the selection of the Springdale
site. For example:

* YVC is, in no way, is located near the government identified
priority renewable energy resource areas such as the New England,
Central West and South West Energy Zones.

* This beautiful picturesque location looks nothing like other
large-scale solar farms such as Gannawarra, Broken Hill, Wemen or
Darling Downs. These areas are remote flat locations, and in most
cases are brownfields, have natural screening and minimal intrusion on
local residence. The Springdale project will absolutely have an impact
for the all of the 34 residences within 2 km of the proposed
development plus impact the thousands of visitors to the area. The
proposed screening for the site will take many years to provide any
benefit.

* The Springdale site is obviously located in a valley with less than
optimal solar resources considering the amount of fog that this area
experiences each winter.

Apart from this, the proposed Springdale development sits within the
proposed RU6 5 km Transition (Buffer) Zone as detailed in the Yass
Valley Settlement Strategy. I believe this has not been fully
considered within the EIS. This Transition Zone has been supported by
NSW OEH which should absolutely translate into all levels of
government not supporting the Springdale development in its proposed
location. As discussed in the Strategy, this buffer is important to
maintain wildlife corridors for animals/plants (due to proximity to
Mulligan's Flat Reserve and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve) as well as
maintain a rural landscape on the approach to Canberra.

Biodiversity
The native vegetation assessment in the development area was
considered to be in poor condition as detailed in the Biodiversity
Development Assessment Report (Niche) however this report makes no
mention of the severity of the current drought in the area. This
absolutely has a direct affect on the impact of threatened flora (as
detailed the endangered or critically endangered Yellow Box Blakely's
Red Gum Woodland, Derived Native Grassland and Natural Temperate
Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands) and fauna (as detailed the
Golden Sun Moth, Superb Parrot, Dusky Woodswallow, Scarlet Robin,
Sittella and Striped Legless Lizard) and must be appropriately
considered by authorities. The likelihood of these threatened species
being present may have dramatically increased if this area was not in
drought and had been experiencing normal annual rainfall predictions
when assessment was completed.

Traffic and Transport
I completely disagree with the EIS assessment that the impacts of the
project on traffic and transport during construction are considered
manageable without the need for any significant upgrade or sealing of
any roads.

As a very frequent user of Tallagandra Lane (minimum 2 trips/day, 7
days/week), the state of Tallagandra Lane with the current traffic
levels is often unacceptable and outright dangerous. I have lodged
many complaints with YVC regarding the state of this road and the need
for upgrade. I sincerely believe the dramatic increase in traffic due
to this project coupled with the multiple blind spots, hair-pin turns,
degraded road conditions and dust will dramatically increase the risk
of a fatal accident occurring. I personally have experienced far too
many "close-calls" and will be extremely concerned for my family's
safety, and the safety of my neighbours, when driving Tallagandra Lane
if this development goes forward.

Despite Renew Estate entering into a Voluntary Planning Agreement with
YVC to provide an additional public benefit of contributing funds to
the upgrade of some currently unsealed sections of Tallagandra Lane,
there has been no guarantee that anything will come of this and
therefore should be seen as "empty hope" for the residence of
Tallagandra Lane. Renew Estate (and local residence) should not
consider this as a "value-add" given the vague nature of this
statement.

The above is only covers a few of my concerns regarding the Springdale
Solar Farm. There is an absolute need for the NSW Dept of Planning and
Environment to re-consider this application and the location of this
development.

Regards,
Alicia Sadleir

I object to the proposed Solar Farm on Tallagandra lane.
My biggest concern is that Tallagandra lane cannot cope with the
traffic it has now, let alone the proposed 75 trucks and trailers and
400 light vehicles a day that Springdale solar have said will be using
the road in the construction process. It is already a dangerous road.
With a lot of blind corners and one way cause ways. Then there is the
dust and the potholes created by the traffic. Who will be policing
that all the light and heavy vehicles will be driving the designated
route that springdale solar have told us al they will be taking?
I am also concerned that the glare from the solar panels will make it
even more hard to see.
There is also a real concern that all the properties near and around
the solar farm will dramatically drop. Who will be compensated and who
will do the compensating? We moved to Tallagandra lane to enjoy a
rural life style NOT to live near and drive through every day a very
large commercial development, To give our children a taste of farm
life and values, As i'm sure most of our nieghbours have.

I object to the Spingdale Solar farm.
This unsealed rural road is NOT designed to handle the proposed 400
light vehicles and 75 heavy vehicles per day plus the normal
(residential) traffic it already has. Yass Valley Council can not keep
up with the normal road maintenance as it is.
Tallagandra Lane NEEDS to be sealed and the cause ways widened to
allow two-way traffic flow before a solar farm is even considered. Who
will be responsible for this and its up keep of the road before,
during and after the construction of this Solar Farm? This road is to
dangerous as it is now.

I object to the Springdale Solar farm.
due to the fact that it is on a dangerous road not to mention the fact
that it will be bringing in more traffic causing the road to be
obstructed and not useable. there are many young people who live out
here with little driving experience, and will soon not be able to
learn to drive due to the road conditions being so dangerous. this is
not an ethical risk to take as it is put young people and all people
who use the road at a major risk, causing more accidents then there
already are, not to mention the damage it is doing to all the cars.

I object to the Springdale Solar farm.
Tallagandra lane is to dangerous, Most of my friends do not want to
drive on this road now due to the damage done to the cars and the
dangerous conditions. The solar farm will make the road way more
dangerous as they have said there will be an extra 400 light vehicles
and 75 heavy vehicles a day. This road needs to be sealed and the
bridge over the creek widened before a solar farm is approved.

i object to the springdale solar farm
i travel this road at a minimum of of 4-5 time a week and over time my
car has become worse and worse, even though it is damaging my car it
is also a dangerous road to drive on. there will be no way the road
will be able to keep up with more traffic and heavier vehicles as it
does not even keep up with what it has got at the moment if this does
go through they will need to tar the road and make it wider for it to
be as safe as possible for whom ever may travel on this road

I fully support this submission as it will bring a lot of work and
investment into the local community along with being great for the
environment

Our business supports the Springdale Solar proposal as it will create
work for local contractors and opportunities for suppliers. Our
experience with other renewable energy projects in the region has been
that they support local businesses where possible, and generate a net
positive outcome for local communities.

Strongly support this type of development

Great opportunity for employment and excellent environmental move for our
country.

I'm writing in support of the proposed Springdale Solar Farm. Renewable
energy is a vital and long-term investment for the future of our
nation. It's imperative that efforts are made to ensure this project,
and similar renewables projects are supported and encouraged.

Ryno Fencing supports the Springdale Solar Farm development application.

I wish to support the development of the solar farm.
This solar farm will be beneficial for local businesses. It will
create employment for locals, contractors etc.
It will deliver clean green energy for many decades, saving in over
100.000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Over 30,000 houses would be powered from the solar farm.

It is clean energy and will power 35000 houses annually. It will bee good
for the area and will create lots of jobs for local people.

I support the solar farm because it will generate employment for locals
both in the construction & future management/maintenance of the
facility.
35,000 homes will be powered with clean green power, saving 123,000
tonnes of C02 annually.
Local business will benefit and there is a $100,000 Community fund.

I wish to support the solar farm for the following reasons.
Over 30,000 homes will be powered by this solar farm reducing C02
emissions by well over 100,000 tonnes per year. This is a massive step
in the right direction for our country.
Local business, contractors & employment would all be created by the
fantastic solar farm.

What a great idea; Majura has a solar farm and I support it immensely.

Prior to operation, the farm will create employment opportunities for
contractors and will also give locals to invest in the farm. With a
$100,000 community fund the solar farm would be a great business and
help boost the sutton/gundaroo economy as well as saving 123,00 tonnes
of CO2 annually and power 132,000 houses with green energy.

Tallagandra lane is the perfect position for the solar-farm and I am
eager to see it go ahead and help make Australia a more
environmentally-friendly country.

I believe this project strongly supports farmers and families with
allowance for growth. It would be able to power 35,000 houses with
clean energy with an immense amount of environmental benefits such as
saving 123,000 tones of CO2 annually. Not only does it support the
environment but also provides for the community as it is a great
opportunity for local businesses and there is a possibility of
community investment within the solar farm thus making it for the
people and about the people. Overall, in the current state of the
Australian drought, it gives farmers an opportunity for growth within
this hard time. This factor is most important of all.