The urgency of renewable power cannot be stressed enough. Climate change is with us in a big way. Witness the fire season starting earlier not only in Australia, but around the planet. Reduced growing season rainfall has been happening over the last three decades, increased drought and late frosts all forecast by CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology. But in Greater Hume Shire renewable energy is shunned.
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Jindera and Surrounds Solar Awareness Group raised a number of points which require a response.
Loss of farming land: They claim some of the best land in Australia, they obviously haven't travelled far. Speak to the farmers to get the truth about land capability. Greatest loss of farming land is lifestyle and hobby farm blocks.
Loss of Trees: Very few will go. There are no native grasses, as land has been farmed for years, and more trees planted than removed.
Erosion: Would be no different to normal farming practices. Running sheep would require normal management. Lucerne and medics would be great.
Fire risk: The design takes this into account with asset protection zones, with roads forming fire breaks. Not much would burn in the structures. Farming at harvest time is the highest risk.
Noise: Current quarry nearby has noise and high road use. Construction phase of solar farm is relatively short and roads will be refurbished on completion.
Visual impact: Trees will ultimately block the view, no one owns a view. I actually asked Greater Hume Council to consider putting solar panels on the Culcairn Common to power the town, just like Lockhart. And that installation would be right in front of my house. But no vision so no project.
Cheaper power: Renewable energy is cheaper and bring prices down.
Removal of installation: Nothing is concreted in and agreements will be in place to return land to agricultural use - unlike residential sub divisions that remove that land permanently.
Linkage infrastructure: Code for putting them out west. No private company would do this due to the sheer cost, risk of unreliability due to storms and fire, even terrorism. Whereas the infrastructure is already here, it's a no-brainer. To run a power line and power boosting facilities will cause massive tree destruction as there has to be 60-metre-wide corridors and continuing maintenance.
Panels on industrial estates and car parks: No power company is going to do that. Take a look at private businesses, most already have solar to try and reduce their running costs. Use of agricultural land for power production and production of meat and wool is the absolutely best solution for sustainability.
Greg Vonthien, Culcairn
Let's get a franchise
After reading the article and seeing the goal to grow the borders population to 300,000+ in the next 20 years (The Border Mail, November 18), I believe Albury-Wodonga should be looking into getting a professional sporting franchise.
Whether it be NBL or a league, possibly even BBL.The benefits for jobs in sports health, construction, tourism would be enormous. And would continually sustain these industries.
