The installation of approximately 700–760 hectares of solar panels and associated infrastructure will dominate the landscape, replacing open rural vistas with industrial-scale development.

Hi,
While I am in support of renewable energy projects and have experience in this field I would like to make comment after discussions with some local residents that will be directly effected by the project. While the visual impact assessment was comprehensive there does not seem to be any commitment to the nearest neighbours particularly in the high potential visual impact locations that working with these residents to improve fencing and screening around their actual properties and what form of compensation they will receive while the project is being constructed and ongoing. Is this addressed anywhere throughout the consultation process and will residents and potential new residents (as properties are selling up in this area) be able to discuss this topic with the proponent now and in the future.

Please find attached my Ojection submission to Merino Solar Farm - SSD 5915545
Subject: Formal Objection to SSD 5915545 – Merino Solar Farm
From: Bradley Webster
124 Gretta Rd, Brisbane Grove NSW 2580 - - Resident 5 in EIS

The attached document is indicative of our many objections and I reserve the right to raise other objections at a later time.

I formally object to the proposed Merino Solar Farm for the reasons outlined below. These concerns are safety, property values, infrastructure capacity, community wellbeing, and the long-term future of the area.



1. Proximity, Heat Impact and Bushfire Risk

The close proximity of the proposed solar panels and battery infrastructure to neighbouring properties raises serious concerns regarding heat generation, particularly during the summer months. There is a heightened risk of bushfire in an area already prone to extreme weather conditions. Additionally, the heat generated by the panels may render adjoining paddocks unsuitable for livestock, directly impacting agricultural operations and animal welfare. The current Goulburn and surrounding Rural Fire Service brigades are not equipped to manage the increased scale and complexity of bushfire risk associated with a large-scale solitlar farm and battery energy storage facility. Battery fires and solar infrastructure fires require specialised equipment, resources, and training that are not currently available to local brigades. In a rural setting with limited water supply, volunteer-based staffing, and extended response times, this represents an unacceptable escalation of risk to residents, livestock, and property. The proposal fails to demonstrate how local emergency services will be adequately resourced or upgraded to respond to incidents arising directly from this development.



2. Loss of Property and Land Value

There is documented evidence of a significant reduction in land value associated with the proposed development. Local real estate valuations have shown a decrease of approximately $300,000 to $400,000 in affected properties when assessed under the assumption that the solar farm proceeds. There is no assurance that this loss will not increase over time, placing an unfair financial burden on neighbouring landowners through no fault of their own.



3. Loss of Rural Lifestyle and Community Impact

Many families moved to this area over 20 years ago with the intention of retiring and enjoying a peaceful rural lifestyle after contributing to the community through decades of hard work. The proposed solar farm fundamentally compromises this expectation. The loss of amenity, noise, and visual impact of a rural landscape will irreversibly change the character of the area and unsettle long-standing residents.



4. Impact on Local Roads and Infrastructure

Local and rural roads in Goulburn Mulwaree are not designed to withstand the scale and volume of heavy vehicle movements required to construct and maintain this development. The resulting damage will impose a significant financial cost on Goulburn Mulwaree Council, which is ultimately carried by ratepayers. Council budgets have not accounted for this additional burden, particularly following the recent Special Rate Variation that has already placed pressure on the community.



5. Missed Opportunity for Appropriate Local Development

This area would provide greater benefit to the community if considered for an urban housing release or rezoning for smaller country-living blocks. Such development would support population growth, local services, and the long-term sustainability of Goulburn. The proposed solar farm offers minimal local benefit while primarily serving the financial interests of external developers.



6. Battery Storage Safety and Emergency Evacuation Concerns

The proposed battery storage component is deeply concerning due to its proximity to homes and rural properties. Battery fires or explosions pose a serious risk, particularly given the limited emergency access in the area. The installation of the solar farm would reduce evacuation routes by approximately 50%, leaving residents on Greta Road and Elmgrove Road with only one direction of travel in an emergency. With an increasing local population, there must be greater consideration given to emergency management and evacuation planning, which this proposal fails to adequately address.

Conclusion

For the reasons outlined above, I strongly object to the Merino Solar Farm in its current proposed location. I urge the relevant authorities to reject this proposal and require that alternative locations be considered. It is vital that we preserve the rural character, protect wildlife, ensure community safety, and safeguard the wellbeing of current and future generations.


Yours sincerely,

RE: SSD 5915545 – Merino Solar Farm : Objection Submission Lodged by: Thomas Henry Fahey 62 Laggan Road Crookwell NSW 2583

Dear NSW Planning,
I formally object to the proposed Merino Solar Farm SSD 5915545 application.

I am 90 years old. I was born in Crookwell NSW and still live here today, I still hold land classified as a lifestyle block at Hawthorne Tree Road, Grabben Gullen NSW 2583.

My income was derived from 500 acres of generational livestock and cropping, including potato farming. I later gained second employment with the Southern Tablelands County Council, assisting in the establishment of electricity lines across the Crookwell region from 1988 to 1992. I then operated a successful business in Crookwell until retiring at 75 years of age.

I consider myself well placed to object to this solar development, based on what I have witnessed throughout my lifetime.

I object to the “Net Zero by 2050” policy in its current state of failing. At what cost will Australians truly benefit if overseas companies are subsidised to destroy our land?

How can the loss of productive land be justified — land that Australians went to war to protect? The generation of my grandfather, father, and their brothers fought in war to defend this country and our freedoms. These values are enshrined in our National Anthem.

I respectfully request that the Government pause all large-scale energy infrastructure projects until fair, just, and realistic policies are in place. Priority should be given to rooftop solar — I was proudly one of the first in Crookwell to install solar panels on my home. That is where solar belongs: on rooftops, close to where the power is used.

Community Engagement Failures Witnessed :
Over my lifetime, energy infrastructure developments — particularly wind farms across Crookwell, Taralga, and Gunning — have come at great cost to regional communities. Friendships were torn apart, decades-long relationships were lost, and communities were divided. That division still exists today.

Now Crookwell’s landscapes are dominated by wind factories (they are not farms). Developers continue to treat our land as if it is disposable. I ask you to use your authority to stop this process and get it right before more damage is done.

Personal Impact on My Family:
For the past four years, I have supported my daughter as an impacted resident. Since February 2025, I have helped her stay informed through media coverage of solar farm developments and talked on the challenges State Significant Developments put ordinary Australians under . The pace and complexity of these fast-tracked processes are extremely difficult for ordinary residents to follow.

My daughter’s home will be severely impacted by the Merino Solar Farm, with panels starting approximately 700 metres from her residence and 200 metres from her boundary fence. The visual impact of 870,000 solar panels, 100 acres of battery storage, and associated transmission infrastructure will be overwhelming. It is negligent to assess this without decision-makers physically visiting the site — yet the current guidelines do not require this.

I was present at her home when the EDPR representative arrived with a neighbour agreement. I witnessed first-hand the distressing conversation she endured while fighting for her right, as an Australian citizen, to say no to this development.
I am proud of my daughter for standing up to what can only be described as corporate bullying. Her property was given a “low risk” rating through a flawed visual assessment process. In reality, the impact is clearly medium to high, and she — along with other residents — deserves fair treatment and equal consideration.

Request:
I respectfully request that the Department reject SSD 5915545. My sincere hope is that this matter is resolved before I pass, so that I may know my daughter’s rights — and the rights of all impacted residents — were upheld.

Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Thomas Henry Fahey
Crookwell NSW