Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar

To whom it may concern @ Stratford Renewable Energy Hub
I would like to strongly advise you of our opposition to the solar panel farm project you are trying to pass at the Stratford mine.
The visual impact of the solar panels in the proposed positions are 100% in Direct Line of sight from our property and would not only be aesthetically offensive to the environment and ourselves, but the impact of losing our views of mountains and paddocks and replacing it with solar panels, metal and glare would not only be psychologically distressing but would also drop the price of our property if we were to sell in the future by hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it economically Damaging to those properties impacted by this proposed project.
Could you please also tell us how long you proposed these solar panels would be in use for and of visual disturbance for the people that live and travel through this area?
What and where do these panels go at the end of Your license or lifespan of the solar panel. We speak of clean, green energy and recycling with no pollution but with current estimates, it costs between $20 to $30 to recycle one panel, while sending it to landfill costs a mere $1 - $2.00, In some circumstances it can be classified as hazardous waste due to small amount of cadmium and lead in these panels with solar panels being the next big green thing, the sheer volume of discarded panels will soon pose a risk of existentially damaging proportions.
Can you assure us that these so-called green clean energy panels do not get buried as landfill, as the majority of the panels are silicon and glass, which is a non-biodegradable and an environmental nightmare.
Silicon is abundant but converting sand to silicon comes at a high price and is an energy intensive project which seemed to defeat the purpose of making the solar panel as the refining process involves hot carbon, which then becomes CO2, and is this not what we are trying to reduce??
Another thing that will be blamed on the cows farting and a tax being passed onto farmers instead of big corporations that are poisoning our lands in the name of clean, green energy, What a joke... It is all about money and carbon tax credits.
The environmental concerns are just lip service from the authorities.
It is also expected that 50% of the world's stores of silver are being used in the production of solar panels driving up prices of this precious metal and leaving limited stocks for other industries such as medical supplies.
I thought The town of Stratford being an entry into the Australian World Heritage Area of the Barrington Tops, a top tourist destination known for its unspoiled wilderness and wildlife, its national parks and heritage rainforests, being listed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization would be negatively impacted by the sight of thousands of man-made panels lining the road in that were formally once pristine green Paddocks.
Thousands of tourists come to hike, camp, and take in the unspoilt beauty of the surrounding areas NOT to drive past thousands upon thousands of solar panels lining the buckets way and spoiling the surrounding country landscapes of hills, trees, dairy farms, and wilderness that they had come and expected to see.
I also have major concerns regarding the impact of our local Koala population that call the Stratford mine home, on many occasions myself and neighbors have sighted koalas in the bushland in and around the mine.
How do these man-made solar panels integrate with the native Flora and Fauna and what consequences will we see on the local animal populations?
So, in conclusion, my main problems with this huge solar panel area are.
- The visual impacts affecting landowners' general well-being seeing the destruction of their aesthetically pleasing views of green countryside and paddocks being converted to manufactured metal, glare and solar panels, rows of manufactured environmental destruction of what had once been productive green paddocks and majestic natural views over farmland and hillsides.
- Major economic disadvantages and property price losses because of the ascetic outlook onto a solar farm from those properties that are impacted by this project.
- this “so-called green energy” ... What are the impacts of creating these panels?
Is it not environmentally damaging?
The chemicals used are not biodegradable and leach chemicals into our soil thus poisoning the planet and causing disease for humans.
The solar E-waste glut is coming, with the big, bulky sheets of electronic waste expected to form up to 78,000,000 metric tons of solar panels by the year 2050. (As per the International Renewable Energy Agency's) figures, 6 million metric tons of new solar waste annually being produced.
- The negative environmental aesthetic impact entering a World Heritage area of the Barrington Tops being disrupted, it is known for its unspoiled beauty and wilderness... Not man-made solar panels scarring our countryside and degrading our landscape, and visual beauty which lends itself to outdoor activities and tourism that provides service this township.

Great for the area and this will assist with employment and growth of the region.

Future jobs
Greener future

I need a job.

It would be great for local businesses

Hopefully create jobs

I support the project

I’ve worked at the Stratford site for 16years
I think the use of the land would be a positive thing
Not only for green energy but for the future of employment of small local community

as a member of the community for the past 38 years I'm in support of the proposed hydro hub in our area, this initiative has the potential to bring much needed economic growth and job opportunities to our community, without this the area will face challenges for young people for future employment with the local coal mine that is closing and has supported the local community for many years, this transition i believe will have a positive effect on the local area.

For some reason your portal isn't uploading my files please refer to Jarrod Galvin community liaison officer for Stratford mine for feedback letter from us.

I believe the whole Gloucester community will truly benefit from the awesome opportunity to have this project go ahead. The Jobs it will create will close the void from the mining closure and help the community out greatly.

The plan requires destruction of natural bushland for the upper dam and taking over usable agricultural land for the solar array.
The solar array requires constant cleaning. How will the run-off be managed?
The mine will not rehabilitate the area as it is obliged to do but instead receive government funding.

I would like to make a submission SSI-73368213

To Whom it may concern.

We are absolutely devastated by this proposal of a renewable energy hub at Stratford. Our stunning, beautiful pristine valley would be destroyed by this proposal. Our property sits on the hillside at 501 woods road Craven and would be overlooking this atrocity!!!.
The existing view is uninterrupted from Craven right up to the buckets and the mountains beyond Gloucester, taking in all the valley. We had planned to retire on this property if this atrocity goes ahead that will not be happening. The value of our property would be drastically affected, would we be compensated for this huge loss? both financially and emotionally. Who wants to overlook the appalling reflection from hundreds of solar panels, especially when glimmering in the sun it would be horrendous! The visual simulation carried out is not a true reflection on us overlooking the hill at the site, which is in our direct line of sight.

We can't oppose this proposal strongly enough, the impact would be intolerable !!!!!!!

The SREH is an exciting project for the local community as it will provide jobs during construction and ongoing operational jobs. The SREH could create up to 350 full time jobs over the four-year construction period. During normal operations, it could employ approximately 10 full-time workers, which will increase to around 30 workers during periodic maintenance activities. The site’s natural topography, land holdings and proximity to existing electricity transmission infrastructure and demand centres makes it an ideal location for pumped hydro energy storage. As water is already available at the Stratford Mine Complex to charge the pumped hydro, there would be no impacts to water resources in the Gloucester Valley.

Dear Kurtis,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Stratford Renewable Energy Hub - SSI and CSSI proposal. Council’s comments relate to 4 specific areas:
1. Payment of Section 7.12 Development Contributions
2. Mitigation of Landscape and Visual Impact
3. Social and Economic Impact
4. Biodiversity Impact
These areas are outlined in detail in the attachments to this submission.
Kind Regards,
Paul De Szell