Greater Hume Council will lodge a submission objecting to the Walla Walla Solar Farm with one councillor describing the removal of trees as "bordering on criminal".
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Councillor Annette Schilg moved a motion that Council lodge a submission to NSW Planning Department that objected to the 300MW project.
"I feel we are at conflict within ourselves with what's before us," she said.
"The local strategic planning statement... indicates we as Greater Hume Council into the future are about protecting and preserving our natural environment, our wildlife habitat and primary production.
"There just doesn't seem to be a fit with what's proposed."
Cr Schilg upheld the concern outlined in the draft submission prepared by staff regarding the removal of 13.83 hectares of native vegetation and 53 paddock trees.
"These mature trees, it's 60 to 80 years at least before the develop hollows," she said.
Cr Tony Quinn, who with Cr Heather Wilton and Cr Denise Knight voted against Cr Schilg's motion, said council "ought not put in a submission".
"These solar farms have become a very emotive scene ... we've got neighbours pitted against neighbours, we've got hatred, all the sad things you don't want," he said.
"We're putting in a submission which I regard as very emotive.
"This is a development application which is legal under planning law and I believe we should be looking at it on solid, factual grounds ... not emotive things."
Trish Feuerherdt, owner of wedding and function venue Orange Grove Gardens, earlier put to council her business could generate $105 million over 30 years at current growth rates.
"But the difference is while growing my business ... everything we do feeds back into the local economy," she said.
"Can the proponent provide the same impact?
"We are in the worst drought since the federation drought and we have been blessed - on our first three paddocks, harvest to this point has been 2.7 tonne to the hectare of grain and off those same paddocks we have pulled four tonne to a hectare of straw and these paddocks are within 300 metres of the proposed solar boundary.
"Solar developers regularly claim agriculture and solar can co-exist.
"Having viewed many solar developments in the region, I am yet to see one engaging a complementary, commercial-scale agricultural enterprise.
"We have not been provided with any substantial mitigation that would make a difference to saving my business and the agricultural land."
Cr Knight had earlier moved the submission should raise concerns about, rather than object to, the project.
"I understand completely what has been put in here, but I think we ought to be looking at them as concerns that may be able to be mitigated," she said.
Cr Schilg's motion was ultimately passed.
Among the concerns outlined by environment and planning director Colin Kane in the draft submission, that will now be lodged, was that proposed landscaping would "not provide a timely response to address the amenity loss of nearby receivers" for the four un-involved neighbouring properties that have a direct outlook.
Mr Kane made reference to Orange Grove Gardens and the impact it will have on their business.
"It would be an adverse social and economic outcome if the Walla Walla solar farm was detrimental to the function centre business as it provides employment for local people" he said.
As in his submission opposing the Jindera Solar Farm, Mr Kane raised the "the potential for the heat island effect to adversely impact upon localised climatic conditions".
"The EIS relies upon several studies that have been undertaken internationally ... however there is no cited Australian studies on the heat island effect.
"It may not be appropriate to extrapolate the results of international studies on the heat island effect to localised conditions where this development is large, another nearby proposed development bigger again, there is receivers that are as close as 80 metres from the property boundary and the mean summer maximum temperature is 32.3 degrees.
"Inspections by Council of the development site and adjacent land would indicate that it is high quality agricultural land."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Councillor Matt Hicks, having declared a non-pecuniary interest, removed himself from any considerations of solar projects.
It was also raised as a matter of urgency that developers FRV and Neoen had approached council about voluntary planning agreements and councillors resolved that staff could enter into negotiations on the topic. This has occurred with CWP Renewables, who are yet to exhibit their plans.
Submissions to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on the Walla solar farm are open until December 2.