The Kyoto Energy Park, under application by Pamada Pty Ltd of Sydney, includes wind, solar and smart load technologies, as well as mini-hydro energy storage.

It would be built at Mountain Station and Middlebrook Station, which are both located along Bunnan Rd north-west of Scone.

However, a number of residents from rural landholdings in view of the proposed park have formed a group, the Upper Hunter Landscape Guardians, to oppose the development.

Residents are concerned about the impact of noise on the health of those living within 3km of the site.

Many residents are also concerned about the visual impact of the 42 150-metre tall turbines.

However, the number of turbines has been reduced by five, lessening their visual impact on Castle Rock.

The Environmental Assessment Report has been put on public exhibition for 30 days at www.kyotoenergypark.com.au , the Upper Hunter Shire Council and library.

Submissions close on July 20.

The council had put an application into the Department of Planning to have the exhibition time extended to 60 days, but was refused.

It has asked the department to reconsider.

In a statement issued this week, Pamada said Scone would host one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays on the Mount Moobi plateau as part of the Kyoto Energy Park.

“Stage one would be 10-mega watt capacity but could grow over time,” Pamada said.

“Being modular means that solar PV plants can be quite easily installed where the energy is used, reducing losses from transporting energy over large distances.”

The Kyoto Energy Park would produce equivalent electricity for 62,000 homes.

Gordon Halliday from the Upper Hunter Landscape Guardians said it was unfair the community only had a short time to read the report.

“You’ve got this month to read 1500 pages that have taken literally years to put together,” he said.

Concerned residents can attend an open forum hosted by the Upper Hunter Landscape Guardians on Tuesday between 4pm and 8pm at St Luke’s Hall, Liverpool St, Scone.

“We’re hoping that the information from the forum will help people respond to the application,” Mr Halliday said.