Glenellen solar farm plans on public exhibition

It was originally proposed by CWP Renewables and sold to Trina Solar Australia earlier this year.

Project development manager Dave Allen said designs have been amended for the 200 megawatt farm.

"Neighbours to the project have raised concerns like visual screening, site access, high levels of construction traffic and noise," he said.

"As a result of this feedback we have increased the green corridor setback of the solar farm from boundaries and added additional vegetation and tree plantings to further screen the solar farm from neighbours' views.

"We're very thankful for how neighbours are engaging with us - it's been a pragmatic, constructive process and it has challenged us to deliver a design that we think balances the need for more clean energy with the need to protect the regional amenity."

According to the environmental impact statement, the project "may temporarily reduce agricultural production", including on the land mapped as important agricultural land under draft Department of Primary Industries maps.

"However, once constructed sheep grazing will continue within the Site to control vegetation beneath the solar array, allowing for the continuation of existing agricultural activities. Therefore, impacts of the proposed development on agricultural production at a regional level are not significant," the EIS states.

It is currently used mostly for grazing and some cultivation.

The EIS flags the farm "will unavoidably impact up to 11.4 ha of native vegetation and 81 paddock trees", however "this area calculation includes an overestimation of the actual vegetation to be cleared".

Mr Allen said in a media release approximately four hectares of native trees, shrubs and grasses may be removed during construction.

"Suitably matched native vegetation offset credits will be acquired to account for these losses," he said.

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"Further, an additional 200 native trees and shrubs will be planted at the Glenellen Solar Farm site as part of developing vegetation shelter belts and visual impact buffers."

The EIS considers the project not likely to impact upon Box-Gum Woodland, Superb Parrot and Koala.

There are 22 residences within one kilometre of the proposed development, which is in close proximity to the Jindera Solar Farm.