A fourth developer is scoping out a large-scale solar farm in the Greater Hume Shire, to the concern of a farming family who are growing their tourism business.
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Representatives of Bison Energy met with Walla residents this week to discuss a $450 million project off Benambra Road.
The 300 megawatt project is described as occupying "around 614 hectares of rural land currently used for primary production".
It would connect to the TransGrid Jindera to Wagga line and affect seven property owners, the closest dwelling being just over 100 metres to the west of the site.
Despite the development being described in the scoping report as "not having high visibility", the owners of wedding venue Orange Grove Gardens would have clear view of panels from the deck of their events space.
Trish Feuerherdt said she and her husband Adrian had hosted more than 200 weddings in 10 years, but they were now facing uncertainty.
"We are now moving into accommodation and have put in eco-lodges to open it further up to Melbourne and Sydney, but I don't know how many city people will want to come out here and see solar panels," she said.
"Orange Grove Gardens is not just our business, it's our home and farm, and where our kids are growing up."
Mrs Feuerherdt was concerned agricultural land could be covered by panels for potentially 30 years, just because it's an easy access point for transmission line.
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"They've followed the grid and have openly said that's why they have chosen this area," she said.
"There's a lot of unanswered questions; how will the removal of trees affect water on neighbouring properties? What will the panels do to the makeup of the soil?
"We're having a lot of sleepless nights, because I don't think any (solar farms) in NSW have been knocked back."
As with other proposed sites, it is not located on Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL), but farmers have maintained if land is used for agriculture, it should be left alone.
The 'Walla Walla Solar Farm' project adds to plans for Cummings Rd in Culcairn (Culcairn Solar Farm), Drumwood Rd in Jindera (Glenellen Solar Farm) and Walla-Walla-Jindera Rd (Jindera Solar Farm), which combined would cover at least 2600 hectares in the Greater Hume Shire.
As farmers join together to oppose large solar developments, Farrer incumbent Sussan Ley has stated her "discomfort" with them being on prime agricultural land.
Ms Ley was asked her opinion on the proposals at The Border Mail's forum.
"I feel very uncomfortable, because I remember when a very early solar farm development went up in Broken Hill and everyone like it; it was on arid western country, it made perfect sense and the community supported it, (but) that wasn't the experience of farmers where often the solar farm is actually taking over prime agricultural land," she replied.
"In a similar way they (NSW government) decided that you wouldn't have coal seam gas on prime agricultural land, I think they should come up with a very similar policy for solar."
Independent Farrer candidate Kevin Mack said the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation had requested more information.
"It is a state planning issue and it would appear they haven't really got in front of the ball on this issue," he said.
