The group behind The Walcha Energy Project was out and about at the recent Walcha Show and say their team of five spoke to hundreds of people about the proposed renewable energy farms they have planned for the region, and the community response was both inquisitive and positive.
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They also met with a community group who have reservations about the ultimate benefit of the proposals to the local region.
The Uralla, Walcha Community Action Group for Responsible Solar and Wind Development recently raised concerns the proposed solar farm in Uralla by UPC Renewables would turn the region into a renewable "battlefield" and they have now turned to the Walcha development proposals - the first of which would be Salisbury Solar situated not far from UPC's New England Solar Farm development.
Rosie King the director of engagement and culture for Energy Estate - one of the companies behind The Walcha Energy Project - said they met with the action group on the Sunday after the show.
However, Mark Fogarty, the Sydney based consultant hired by the action group, said the Energy Estate subsequently rescheduled the meeting planned with him the following Thursday.
"Read into that what you will," Mr Fogarty said.
"A meeting took place in Walcha, and it appears to have been convivial. We note the developer's commitment to being responsible and we look forward to testing that commitment out."
Mr Fogarty said he believed the Salisbury Plains area should be the major concern for the region at this time.
We believe the Salisbury Plains is demonstrable of overdevelopment
- Mark Fogarty - consultant
"We believe the Salisbury Plains is demonstrable of overdevelopment," he said.
"When you put 900 megawatts of solar capacity (a total of 4,000 acres of solar farm) in one location. - certainly, the cumulative impact of both New England Solar and Salisbury Solar is not good - that would appear to take up the majority of Salisbury Plains."
The next step for The Walcha Energy Project is to submit a preliminary Environmental Assessment to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and Ms King said she anticipates more discussion.
we welcome these types of frank conversations
- Rosie King - Energy Estate
"The action group were very candid with us about the concerns they have, but we welcome these types of frank conversations," she said.
"We are committed to having many more of these open discussions with them regularly as well as with the rest of the community as we go through the planning pathway."
Ms King said the concerns that were raised by the group at the meeting included: any economic impact on the value of their land; any impact on the visual amenity from their individual land; any visual impact of the proposed Uralla Hub; any visual impact on Thunderbolts Way generally; any impact on the ambience of the district; the location of the site generally including avoiding flood areas and presence of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) areas; and what arrangements will be in place to cover the costs of decommissioning or removal of the solar farm at the end of the project life or earlier.
"Following the meeting a letter was sent to the group and in it we acknowledged that it is incumbent on us to demonstrate that we are a responsible and responsive developer through our actions," Ms King said.
"We have a clear vision that this solar farm will be a sensible, staged, considerate and responsible project that will deliver a wide range of tangible benefits to the community."
we reserve the right to sleep with one eye open
- Mark Fogarty
Mr Fogarty said the Uralla, Walcha Community Action Group for Responsible Solar and Wind Development is all for renewable energy transition but it has to be integrated.
"We should be putting these developments on land that is not high -quality agricultural land," he said
"We welcome The Walcha Energy Project's commitment to being responsible but, in terms of benefit to the community and overdevelopment we reserve the right to sleep with one eye open."