I am a family friend of family's both benefiting and disadvantaged by the
proposed solar farm; and so I do not naturally fall to one side of the
debate. However, it astounds me that an area so thickly coated in fog
most mornings would be chosen as a proposed solar farm. Sutton is also
my home- I have been a part of this beautiful community my entire
life. COMMUNITY is what defines us. This solar farm will destroy our
community and will destroy the livelihoods of many family's that
reside in it. When there are at least three other areas that have been
identified within NSW that will have significantly lesser negative
impact, I ask that you please consider the affect on the majority of
farming family's in our tight knit community- with the threat of
drought already pushing many family's to the edge, the successful
proposal of this solar farm will undoubtedly have catastrophic
effects. We are already dealing with a national crisis when it comes
to our farmers mental health- please do not allow Sutton to become a
part of another devastating statistic. We need to support our farmers,
not be putting more worry on their already heavily weighted shoulders.
I conclude with this; why should one family, quite obviously motivated
by money, be given this advantage when so many family's around them
will experience significant loss?

If the solar farm goes ahead, I am concerned about the amount of traffic
on a dirt road. Consideration should be given to laying bitumen on
Tallagandra Lane along the thoroughfare.

I am also concerned about the resale value of properties in the
vicinity of the solar farm. Can we be assured there will not be any
impact on the value of our properties?

I support the Sutton Solar Action Group in their objection to the solar
farm and agree with the environmental concerns raised

If the statements listed below are true
I wonder on the mentality of planners when there is such blatant
statements high lighting that there is no "benefit" to the Sutton
region
*The developer has stated that the power generated is for the ACT, not
NSW

* NSW Department of Environment, the Yass Valley Council and the ACT
Government all SUPPORT a 5km exclusion zone from the ACT border, to
exclude intensive development of the area and retain the rural
character of the region
- An 850-acre solar facility is INTENSIVE development

Who is benefiting?

It is with great concern that I make this submission, requesting at a
minimum the matter receiving further deliberation by the Planning
Commission.

It is important to note that I strongly support renewable energy, but
that careful consideration needs to be given to the location of solar
farms based on their impact on flora and fauna and health and amenity
considerations to neighbouring properties.

I have spent much of my childhood in this district, and my family
continue to farm in the area, having recently invested substantially
in tree plantings to improve the land.

The area is prime agricultural land. While the rest of NSW is in
drought, this area has faired somewhat better. It is less likely to
suffer the imminent effects of desertification and should be retained
as a prime food bowl for all Australians.

The area is also home to flora and fauna, which is increasingly
endangered, particularly given the expansion of Gungalin into the
Mulligan's Flat area.

The health impact of living next to a solar farm of this size is
largely undocumented. It requires further research and consideration
before it should be allowed.

Most importantly, the NSW Government itself has nominated areas that
have been deemed suitable for such developments. These are far from
the location of this proposed development, raising serious questions
about the usefulness of the NSW Government having made the
recommendations. It is also important to note that the locations
proposed by the NSW Government do not have any of the characteristics
of this location. It can only be assumed that this would mean that
this location does not meet the NSW Government's suitability
requirements.

Under these circumstances, if the development is permitted in the
area, and causes damage to the environment and neighbouring
properties, a legal action may be mounted against the owners and Yass
Council as the approving authority.

Under these circumstances, Yass Council should not approve the
development and should refer it to the Planning Commission for further
investigation.

I am a local land holder and have lived in the sutton area my entire
life. This development will drastically devalue my property as people
flock to this area for a rural lifestyle change, a solor farm is not
what people expect or pay for in this particular area being so close
to Canberra.
What is going to be done with the roads to and from this proposed
development? The current roads are certainly not up to scratch to
handle all the additional traffic let alone the amount of heavy
vechicles required?
What benefit is there for the Yass Valley Region?

I object to the sutton solor farm as i feel the location is not suitable
for such a project. I am all for renewable energy but location is a
key factor.
Sutton is in an area where in winter a thick fog can stay around to at
least midday and even when the fog does lift Sutton does experience
very cloudy/overcast days for the majority of autum/winter.
The area where the solor farm is proposed to go is prime agricultural
land, there are many places in this country that are not viable for
livestock or cropping, why not install a solor farm there?

To Whom It May Concern,
Please accept my objection to the proposed Springdale Solar
Development to be located in Sutton.
There are several reasons for my objection which are as follows:
. The location of the proposed development and the impact on the
neighbours (the closest neighbour will be approximately 300m away, how
will the development affect access to their property?) and surrounding
area;
. The impact it will have visually to the surrounding area;
. The impact it will have on the nearby Reserve at Mulligans Flat;
. How will this affect the native wildlife of the region, turtles,
shinglebacks, kangaroos, echidnas, and the native birds And how this
massive complex will impact on their flight paths;
. Failure to disclose that this key area of land provides connectivity
between on of the largest remaining and most intact contiguous area of
yellow box, red gum and grassy woodland within NSW;
. The proposed thought of planting a corridor of trees to screen the
solar farm, well that is absurd considering the rate of growth of some
species and the longevity of those species;
. The enormity of the proposed scale of the project is just to hard to
comprehend, and why there, why not some land that is unusually and has
little or no impact on the neighbours and surrounding area;
. What will the impact of traffic to the Sutton area be? Village
residence have already raised concerns with the current flow through
traffic.

I am all for renewable energy, but I say NO to this proposal. Right
idea but it is truly the wrong location.

My objections to the proposed Springdale Solar Farm are:
1. Location. The NSW State Govt. has identified 3 main regions in NSW
that are considered renewable energy zones. Sutton is not in one of
those zones. The impact of this solar farm infrastructure and the
subsequent fencing will destroy the existing undulating, sustainable,
biodiversity areas that provide natural habitats for wildlife. The
loss of this habitat will have a huge impact on the local flora and
fauna.There is also a large nature reserve close by.
2. Traffic through the Sutton Village during and after construction.
The village is residential. There is a Primary School with nearly 300
children attending daily, Day Care Centre, Bakery, General Store and
Post Office and Real Estate Agency all on the route. The quantity of,
and noise of the trucks and traffic as they try to negotiate 3 sharp
right angled bends in the village with one of these an ancient narrow
creek crossing, to access Tallagandra Lane is unacceptable. The roads
are rural and narrow and not suitable for heavy traffic.
3. Fire risk. Sutton recently was exposed to a fast moving bush fire
that started near this farm. The prevailing westerly wind brought the
fire dangerously close to the village in a very short time. This
proposed solar farm will be heavily fenced so the need to access it to
fight a fire will be difficult or impossible. Also no town water
supply is available on this site.
4. Flight path of birds. Recent research is finding that birds are
impacted from hitting the panels in large solar farms. This impact is
unacceptable in this rural, natural, agricultural land.
5. If the construction of this solar farm is for the ACT and the ACT
Government's green power targets, it should be built in the ACT and
not on prime grazing land in NSW.
Suzanne Davidson

The expansion of solar generation along with other renewable energy
capacity is necessary to replace greenhouse gas emitting alternatives.
The Sutton site has the benefit of proximity to a large electricity
consumer, the city of Canberra, minimising transmission losses. As
long as affected landholders are compensated for earnings loss
commensurate with the land use designation, and for loss of aesthetic
amenity, I support this project.

I support the building of a solar farm. I would be happy to have one in
my view as I think reflections would be similar to those off water.