But neighbouring farmers question why the land, which clearly has the ability to nurture crops, should be the chosen location considering it’s among the safest agricultural areas in NSW.

Feuerherdt Pastoral Co. farm wheat, canola, oats and more across 2000 hectares in the Greater Hume Shire, with their base on Cummings Road about 10 minutes from Culcairn.

There, they have their own property but have also been leasing part of their neighbour’s land since 2016.

That lease has been terminated early by the owners, who are in talks with French company Neoen about a large-scale solar photovoltaic facility up to 1100 hectares.

Neoen also approached the Feuerherdts for their land, but the fifth-generation farming family declined the offer.

“With so many areas of NSW currently in significant periods of drought, we feel that large-scale solar projects should remain as an opportunity for infertile areas of land that have little agricultural potential,” Mrs Feuerherdt said.

“We have been told developments target large electricity lines due to transmission loss.

“In a recent conversation with us, a representative from Neoen acknowledged the fact that this land was prime agricultural land and that additional infrastructure connecting less arable locations would assist their venture.

“Many countries undertake long-distance transmission projects … why is Australia not investing in similar infrastructure?

“We’ve dealt with frost and drought and you build your resilience, but then something like this comes along.”

There are numerous proposed developments across the Riverina including in Morundah, Narrandera, Wyalong, and West Wyalong, with plans in the early stages for two solar farms within 20 kilometres of each other near Jindera.

A $170 million, 170 megawatt project close to Finley that ESCO Pacific received approval for in January is also progressing.

Project Manager Martina Gassner said Signal Energy had been appointed to deliver construction and had given a presentation on the employment opportunities that would be available last Thursday.

“That includes electrical, fencing, security and landscaping,” she said.

“We were really impressed by the turn-out and everyone who came through the door filled in an expression of interest.

“Construction and commissioning will take around 12 months and in that time there’s also the flow-on effect to local businesses.

“The more renewables we have on the system, the more it will contribute to lower electricity prices, and this project will deliver electricity to Finley.

“Finely has been a very positive community; we’ve seen no objections to the solar farm.”

Finley was ESCO Pacific’s first project approved in NSW, though the Melbourne-based company has plans for a 80 MW solar farm on land at the corner of Tocumwal and Savernake roads in Mulwala.

A resident’s submission to the project objects to its proximity to residential areas and notes “this is prime agricultural land and this project would not be allowed in many countries including the USA”.

The Mulwala plans are five steps into a seven-part approval process, with the project yet to go to the government for consideration.

Plans for the Jindera properties are far less progressed.

CWP Renewables’ Glenellen solar farm would comprise of 200 MW on land bordering Drumwood Road, while the 130 MW Jindera solar farm, a partnership involving Hanwha Energy Corporation and Green Switch Australia, would be bound by Urana Road, Nation Road, and Ortlipp Road.

The Jindera solar farm would be developed on land currently used for agriculture, which is classed “high capability” under the Land and Soil Capability Assessment Scheme.

But it’s not considered capable of sustaining high levels of productivity, so the proposed solar development “would not impact on land critical for agriculture”, according to the preliminary environmental assessment put forward.

Under draft NSW Large Scale Solar Guidelines for State-Significant Developments, areas of constraint for proposed developments should include important agricultural lands, but sites with multiple environmental and planning constraints “can still be developed”.

All state-signification development (projects which have a capital investment of more than $30 million) are ultimately approved by the NSW government, and the Culcairn project would likely fit that criteria.

There’s been 28 state-significant solar energy projects in NSW to date, including seven approved in 2018, and those seven alone have the capacity to generate 2700 MW of clean energy, which would power more than one million homes.

The Feuerherdts aren’t against solar and can empathise with the benefits, but they don’t believe those benefits outweigh the consequences of “locking up agricultural land”.

They think there’s also not enough research into the effects of solar developments in Australia, including what heat from the panels might do to neighbouring cropping land and other environmental impacts.

“From what we’ve read they can create their own micro-climate with the heat coming off the panels and you can get hot winds,” Mr Feuerherdt said.

“We don’t know what affect it will have on drainage – as the rain falls off differently from the panels – and what affect it will have on the waterway.

“There’s big rods that go between each panel that control rotation, and in a fire if we had to, apparently we’d just have to drive through them.”

The claim that there is not sufficient Australian research was put to the NSW Planning Minister, but a response was not received for that question.

Despite what effects have or haven’t been proven, the Culcairn project would no doubt have an aesthetic impact for the Feuerhedts as the panels are in some places less than a kilometre from their home and would form an L-shape around their property.

The canola currently on their leased land will be turned into feed soon, which is sought after now more than ever due to the drought.

“We’ve done well, but you drive even from here to Walbundrie and things start to look crook,” Mr Feuerherdt said.

A community meeting to explore the development of solar infrastructure in the Greater Hume area is being held next week.

In a statement to The Border Mail, Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez said consultation on a proposed site near Culcairn was in the very early stages.

“We are still considering the feasibility of the site,” he said.

“However, our policy has always been to consult the community throughout the prospecting and development process of any project.

“We are committed to maintaining an open dialogue with local councils, communities and neighbours from the very beginning, to address potential concerns early on and minimise the impact on local residents.

“Our aim has always been to do what is within our power to develop projects that provide maximum benefit to the local and surrounding community … we will continue to keep locals abreast of all developments.”

A NSW Planning and Environment spokesman said the final Large-scale Solar Energy Guidelines would be released later this year.

“The potential impacts of state-significant solar projects on local councils and communities is important to the department’s assessment process,” he said.

“There are formal and informal opportunities for local councils and the community to have a say throughout the assessment process, including during the exhibition of each project’s Environmental Impact Statement.

“The assessment of all solar proposals takes into consideration land use compatibility, particularly in relation to agricultural land … (and) consults with expert government agencies.”

Have something to add? Email ellen.ebsary@fairfaxmedia.com.au