Springdale Solar Farm

Dear Planning department,

I would like to put in my support for the Springdale Solar farm.

I live in Queanbeyan and have my business registered here. I am also a
part owner of the solar farm.

The solar farm will provide jobs and economic growth for the
Queanbeyan, Yass and Goulburn regions as well as across the border in
the ACT.

We need to provide generation close to load to bring energy prices
down and reduce the requirements for grid upgrades. This farm supplies
Queanbeyan and Canberra and will reduce energy prices for NSW.

It will also continue to run as a sheep farm and on completion in 30
years will be available for other land uses.

This is being delivered by a local firm Beast Solutions to provide
local work for 12 full time staff and over 30 staff in the wider team,
as well as hundreds of construction jobs and ongoing o&m jobs.

This solar farm will also support additional battery, electric vehicle
and other work in the region providing a base for Snowy 2.0 work and
the Jerrabomberra Technology park.

It is also provides community investment options such as being done
for the Sapphire Wind farm.

I therefore strongly support this development.

I strongly support the construction of the Springdale solar farm. I think
this is a great idea as it further enables the adoption of renewable
technology which I support. This solar farm will impact the lives of
Australians in the future as it will reduce the amount of greenhouse
gas in the environment and every bit counts.

As a renewable energy major, I support this adoption of renewable
technology, especially in such close proximity to my university at
ANU. It would provide great opportunities for me in terms of job
prospects as well as furthering the need for the change to renewable
energy sources for our collective future.

I wholly support the development and construction of the Springdale Solar
Farm. Australia is economically and environmentally driven to increase
renewable energy in the energy sector as quickly as possible. Solar is
increasingly cost-effective energy source, a reliable clean investment
and has nominal visual impact in comparison with heavy industry and
infrastructure.

The range of benefits that Springdale Solar farm would deliver to the
community, include:
* the 120MW DC solar farm is estimated to save 123,00 tonnes of CO2
annually
* It would power 35,000 houses annually with clean green energy
* The project creates opportunities for contractors and local
employment, as well as training and scholarships
* The benefits of Australia transitioning to clean energy generation
for both combatting climate change and security of supply;
* Opportunities for the community to co-invest in the solar farm; and
* The $100,000 community fund.

Renew Estate is a reputable and high quality developer with a focus on
community outcomes and involvement, keeping benefits local and
building low-cost, clean energy projects.

I am available for comment or to provide further information about
Springdale Solar Farm and my support for this excellent and important
project.

I am in total support of the Springdale Solar Farm. It will provide an
opportunity to the residents of the Yass Shire to play an active and
significant role in reducing CO2 emissions and make a positive
contribution to combating climate change. Many of those living in the
Yass Shire rely on agriculture as a main source of income. Farmers are
directly impacted by climate change in a significant way. The urban
population is impacted by our farmers' ability to produce clean, green
food and fibre. The Springdale solar farm is also allowing the
community to co- invest and benefit financially, not just
environmentally. This project will create new jobs, new skills and new
careers for those living in the Yass Shire.
Why dig up so much earth to mine coal then transport the coal
(regionally & internationally) only to pollute the atmosphere and our
oceans when we have "free" energy from the sun? The land used to
produce electricity can be grazed simultaneously.Solar farms are
deemed to be ugly or unsightly by some. I do not know of a better
looking option to produce out energy ,energy that we all use and rely
on everyday. I see it as an obligation for the residents of the Yass
Shire ( or any shire for that matter) to produce its fair share of
renewable energy that we and other Australians can use. IF you don't
want a solar farm in your backyard , spare a thought for the residents
of the Hunter Valley, surrounded by coal mines. We use their energy
and destroy their back yard.

Good afternoon. If you think it is permissible/advisable to install a
massive solar power plant on this prime agricultural land then it
makes sense to rezone the surrounding areas as industrial so others in
the area can benefit from the rezoning like the owner of the land gets
from the royalties per year by having the solar project on his
property.

I support the adoption of renewable technology.

I support the adoption of renewable technology.

I am fully supportive of the development of the solar farm near Sutton.
The development of price competitive renewable energy projects is of
significance to the State, to assist in bringing down energy prices
for consumers across NSW and to help provide jobs, particularly during
the construction phase, to regional NSW. The Renew Estate team have
developed the solar farm with real innovation through the community
fund, demonstrating that they have sought to address many of the
community's concerns.

I support the adoption of renewable technology, and am in favour of
investing in renewable technology through the planned Springdale solar
farm. This is future thinking that the sooner enacted, the better.

This is exactly the sort of project Australia needs - regional
development, supporting and providing renewable energy. It will be an
asset for the town and the region.

I support Springdale Farm. As I regard Global Warming as a very
signifiant threat to this planet, I feel we need as many large-scale
Solar farms, and other renewable projects as possible. I do not agree
that NSW should only have 3 areas in this very large state for
renewable projects -that is far too restrictive.
I appreciate that Renew Estate has consulted with Sutton Landcare
Group to draw up an extensive tree planting plan as well as plans to
rehabilitate the creek. This farm is actually in quite a debilitated
state so this can only enhance the farm environment . I would urge
Renew Estate to retain as many mature trees as possible to maintain
the bird population. I would also urge Renew Estate to improve the
quality of Tallagandra Lane to accommodate the inevitable increased
road traffic and not disadvantage local residents.

I like the swich into renewable energy and it is in a good region with
lots of sun which can help power surrounding regions. The move away
from fossil fuels is important for the future. I grew up in canberra
and always thought the solar farm in south of city was a great thing
and not an eye sore.

Submission re Springdale Solar Farm

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on this project.

As indicated by the overwhelming majority of climate scientists, human
induced climate change is a threat to our societies and natural world.

We are already experiencing more extreme events and they will in the
future become more dangerous to life and livelihood of virtually all
Australians. From more severe drought conditions. more catastrophic
fires and sea level rise, to the death of the Great Barrier Reef
corals and associated fauna, the effects are being seen today and will
have ongoing and more severe adverse effects in the future.

It is urgent that we, as individuals, companies and governments, do
what we can to reduce emissions in the electricity sector, as one of
the easiest sectors to achieve reduced emissions. Emissions reductions
will also need to be achieved in other sectors, but the technology and
financial advantage exists in the renewable energy sector now.

There are clear health benefits, for example, improving air quality in
local areas, as well as in Sydney, from reducing the use of coal as a
power source.

I understand that the project will enable the continued use of the
land for sheep grazing, will plant useful native species and conserve
habitat and riparian areas, and already has transmission lines passing
through the property. It has all the hallmarks of an excellent
project.

Australia is in a positive position to move forward in the renewable
energy sector and can gain positive and major economic benefits if we
support research and development to facilitate an export industry to
develop in renewables.

This solar farm will make a significant contribution to healthy
employment in the area as well as to state and national emissions
reductions.

While Australia's contribution to emissions is relatively small in the
global sense, Australia, to be a good global citizen setting a good
example, must be a contributor to building a more secure future for
both ourselves as well as people everywhere.

I strongly urge you to approve this project.

Kathryn Kelly

This project will create employment opportunities for local contractors
as well as training.
Clean energy powering over 35,000 homes.

In a world with finite resources we need to be investing in renewable
energy options for both current and future generations. This part of
the country receives so much sunshine we need to be utilising this
energy.

It seem obvious, that in 2018 clean green energy should be prioritized in
every possible way and in every possible location. I believe this
project is expected to power approximately 35,000 houses and save
123,00 tonnes of CO2 annually!

I support the adoption of renewable technology and think this is a great
step in the right direction.

The location of the proposed solar farm is simply inappropriate. It is in
an area that, because of the rapid growth of the ACT and Yass Valley
populations, may in the near future be needed for residential
expansion. Both the ACT and Yass Valley are thriving economically and
expanding. They are not like other rural and regional economies where
local communities have welcomed solar farming because this provides an
alternative to a declining agricultural base. Many towns in rural and
remote Australia are dying and are in need of the economic boost that
a solar farm might provide. The opposite is true for the ACT and the
Yass Valley and it is very short sighted to not consider where these
populations might expand to.
I am also concerned about the heat island effect of a solar farm of
this scale. As discussed in the EIS, PV panels can be 20 degrees
warmer than the ambient temperature during the day causing the
surrounding air mass to heat and rise. The EIS says that this would
not affect aircraft but there is no assessment of the impact on
neighbouring residents eg their increased energy costs (ironically) to
keep cool in the summer. I am also concerned that this heat island
effect will amplify the bush fire danger to local residents,
especially when combined with very low humidity levels and no pasture
for evapotranspiration. The recent outbreak of bushfires across NSW,
even though it is still winter and average daytime maximum
temperatures anywhere in the state do not exceed 18 degrees, is
portentous very difficult summer fire seasons to come. A 350 hectare
solar farm in close proximity to residents is an avoidable and
unnecessary additional fire risk.

On a final point, the EIS suggests that no more than 10 additional
light vehicles per day could be expected along Tallagandra Lane during
normal operation. I would dispute this. This does not take account of
increased traffic from motorists/tourists who simply want to divert to
view a solar farm, the size of a suburb, on their way to Canberra from
for example Melbourne. Solar farms out in western NSW have built
viewing platforms for travellers/visitors, such is the level of
interest. The irony is that those driving by the Sutton solar farm
would have no intention of stopping in Sutton or anywhere in the Yass
Valley - they would use the road, but not spend any money in the local
area.

I strongly object to the proposed site for the Springdale Solar Farm
development.

Growing up on a farm with endless space and unobstructed views of this
great land was not just any kids dream, it was my perfect childhood.
Now, being a father myself, I want my kids to share the same priceless
experiences and to develop the same understanding and appreciation of
the land that I hold. This dream is ever so close to fruition, but has
come to a grinding halt with this proposed development. The location
of our build on my parents farm is in a beautiful elevated position so
as to capture the beautiful surrounds. However, under the current
proposal, my family would look down upon and neighbour a glaring sea
of steel. A scar on our beautiful landscape. An unknown risk for my
kids. A detractor from the character, setting and ultimately the
cultural heritage of the area. This development would not be keeping
with the local surroundings and the Primary Production zoning for the
area.

My primary concerns, queries and objections are as follows:

-Being a strong advocate for sustainable living we would naturally
seek to maximise the north facing aspects of our proposed build - this
would mean we face directly at the proposed solar farm and
subsequently have a high rated visual impact. The proposal is visually
unacceptable. At eye level, the proposed screening for the solar farm
will be inadequate. From our elevated position any screening will be
non-existent.
-How much space will there be between the panels and the boundary
fencing? And will this be sufficient to allow the screening to
effectively mature?
-Will a watering system be setup for the screening plantations?
-If you intend to only use sensor lighting, how will this co-exist
with movements from grazing stock?
-What happens if a panel breaks? What plan do you have in place in
this event?
-Will the panels contain any lead?
-Will there be any exposed wiring?
-How will you maintain adequate grass cover beneath the solar arrays?
-How will the risk of glare to drivers be mitigated? These are narrow
unsealed roads with abundant wildlife. Any additional risk factor will
increase the likelihood of accident occurrence.
-How will the additional dust that will cover and reduce visibility on
the road be minimised during the construction phase? Excessive dust is
also detrimental to animal health as it can irritate eyes and increase
susceptibility to diseases such as blight and respiratory disorders.
-If sheep are used for grazing, how will you resolve the issue of
sheep getting caught in the wiring which has occurred on other solar
developments?
-Will there be permanent employees based at the site? If not, what is
the call out time?
-Will the solar panels be cleaned? If so, what is used in this
process?
-How will the natural water course be maintained during the
construction phase?
-What measures are in place to restore the land in the event of the
cessation of Renew Estate?
-The proposed site is on a bird flight path. There are reports that
birds wings have been burned by the heat from the mirrors. What
temperatures will the solar panels reach and will temperatures be
monitored?
-Will battery storage be used? If not, how will you avoid output being
spilled?
-Have you factored in the potential development of residences on
adjoining properties when conducting distance assessments for
inverters and substations and other associated risks such as EMF with
proximity sensitivities?
-How do you calculate the compensation for the adjoining properties as
a result of devaluation from visual impact, devaluation from noise and
devaluation from health concerns?

An alternate location for this proposed development is the only
solution.