A quarter-of-a-billion dollar solar farm has been approved for construction in the New England.
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The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) signed off on the enormous Bonshaw Solar Farm Project on Thursday.
The $238 million scheme will generate about 200 megawatts of solar, enough capacity to juice over 45,0000 homes. It will create about 180 construction jobs, with 10 ongoing jobs.
The power plant will be built on 149 hectares of agricultural land about 16 kilometers south on Bonshaw, north of Inverell.
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The Commission received just one submission against the project.
Neville Heywood asked the IPC to refuse approval of the project because it is "aesthetically ugly".
"This is absolute visual vandalism, a disregard of the harmony and beauty and ecosystems in Bonshaw's bush environment," he said.
Commissioner John Hann approved the project subject to conditions designed to protect the environment, and other land users.
Applicant GAIA Australia will be required to rehabilitate the site when operations cease.
"The applicant selected the site and refined the development footprint with an aim to minimise adverse environmental impacts of the project," Commissioner Hann said.
"No objections were raised in submissions regarding potential impacts upon the agricultural potential of the land."
The Department of Planning Industry and Environment also recommended the project be approved, despite receiving one submission against the scheme.
Inverell Council did not object to the project.
There are 35 known Indigenous heritage sites recorded within the project area. The IPC assessment report says 26 could potentially be affected by the project.
The proponent will be required to salvage some heritage items and keep away from others.