Programmed is Australia’s largest recruitment and labour supply company and an avid supporter of the Renewable Energy industry. We specialise in recruitment and labour hire for many industries including Civil, Building & Construction and the Renewable Energy Industry. Programmed has a branch network across Australia and have over 15 branches in NSW alone in both Metro and Regional areas.
Large infrastructure projects such as the Walla Walla Solar Farm are not only important as a source of renewable energy but the benefits to local communities are tenfold. These large projects can employ hundreds of people from local and surrounding areas, not only assisting with local jobs but even bringing key employees skillsets and roles from all over the state. These projects can provide excellent training and on the job learning for many employees leading to the upskilling of the workforce and assisting many employees in gaining similar future works and increasing their overall experience and employability across a variety of industries.

Programmed fully support the Walla Walla Solar Farm project as we know that it will be responsible for the employment of hundreds of jobs, will attract new people to local towns as well as providing a huge injection of revenue into the local surrounding areas (e.g. accommodation dwellings, supermarkets, eateries, petrol service stations and many more). This project will also provide a key source of revenue and supply for our Albury and Wagga branches who would be responsible for servicing and supplying this project (so the flow on effects reach much further than the local areas). With companies like FRV building and developing these solar projects this can also create longevity employment options as there could be opportunity for employees to continue and travel from one project to another also. Programmed have witnessed all the above through working on other large solar projects and seeing firsthand the benefits these projects provide.
By companies such as Programmed supporting and partnering with companies on these projects, this also opens the door to bridge the gap on Indigenous Employment as Programmed have a National Indigenous Employment Program as well as helping diversity thrive in the workplace through Programmed's Diversity policy and strategy for Diversity in employment.
Overall the Walla Walla Solar Farm Project will have positive outcomes all round for the environment, the local towns and communities, for regional employment and for economic stimulation to many towns, companies and parties involved.
Programmed has enjoyed attending the Community Information Sessions and learning about this project.

We support the transition to renewable energy, and this project in particular because from what I understand, Walla Walla Solar Farm will;
- Reduce carbon emissions by more than 520,000 tonnes per year.
- Create` 250 jobs during construction and possibly up to 21 full time jobs during operations.
- Proposal can co-exist with current farming activities including sheep grazing as there is a part of the land only that will be used for the solar farm and therefore the impacts to current farming activities are minimal.
- We are in contact with many developers and FRV is a well-established and experienced company who have demonstrated that they are committed to the Australian market as a developer, constructor, owner and operator of renewable energy assets, as opposed to selling off developments in chase of a quick buck.
- We understand that FRV are providing a Community Investment Program which will give sustainable benefits for the community for the long-term.
- Solar farms have a far less visual impact say as opposed to Wind Turbines or Nuclear plants or even any type of fossil fuel generation plant.
- At decommissioning, it is demonstrated that the land can be restored and returned to its original use, again making the overall impact far less than any other energy generation plant.

We hope that this application is approved and that this project can get off the ground and that the job creation, community benefits, and clean energy production can commence.

please see attached petition signatures and comments on Objection of Walla Walla Solar Farm run through change.org, was unsure how else to submit.

Please see attached response