The Independent Planning Commission is holding its second public meeting on solar farms proposed in Greater Hume Shire, held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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The 120 megawatt Jindera Solar Farm follows the Walla proposal in being referred to the IPC, as there have been 50 or more unique public objections and Greater Hume Council has objected.
Commissioner Andrew Hutton said the IPC was accepting written submissions until next Friday.
"Following today's meeting will endeavour to determine the development application as soon as possible ... there may be delays if we find additional information is needed," he said.
Energy Assessments director Nicole Brewer is the first speaker.
She described that 390,000 solar panels at around three metres high and a new 600 metre transmission line are involved in the project, which will have a 337 hectare-footprint and a $168 million investment.
Nearly 90 per cent of 109 submissions objected, with 25 residences within one kilometre of the project.
Ms Brewer raised that the design had avoided creeks and there would be vegetation retained.
"I wanted to draw your attention to the area through the centre of the western portion that's been retained, to highlight there were changes ... to retain an additional area of around four hectares of native vegetation," she said.
"The Department in our assessment has also imposed a range of conditions.
"The Department recognises there is community concern around the issue of agricultural land.
"The majority of the site is class three.
"The Department is aware about concerns around mapping and the status of that new agricultural mapping project, but I note that on this site there were additional soil assessments undertaken and they found that the class three land was more likely to be class four and that DPI Agriculture accepted that assessment."
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Jindera Solar Farm Pty Ltd also proposes to develop 30 MW/60 MW-hour (MWh) of battery storage.
"Battery energy storage would also allow the project to store solar energy ... which can contribute to grid stability and energy security," Ms Brewer said.
"The department does consider changes made... have significantly reduced residual impact."
The Jindera Solar Farm is proposed by Hanwha Energy and Green Switch Australia.
Green Switch project development director Symon Grasby said there was a minimum 30-metre setback from any solar infrastructure and the boundaries of neighbouring properties.
"We've now also introduced a setback from Glenellen Road to create further distance," he said.
"There is now 120 metres from the south side of Glenellen Road to the nearest solar infrastructure.
"We have relocated and we propose now fewer inverters. We've reconfigured and moved the on-site substation location.
"Both of these initiatives were to try and ensure we minimise the potential for noise."
Mr Grasby said a voluntary planning agreement would contribute $1.7 million to Greater Hume Council.
"We will provide $25,000 each year which can be used to support community projects and community groups," he said.
"Anyone from within Greater Hume can apply for a share of the community fund, however what we've tried to do is ensure any applications form within five kilometres of the proposed project site will get priority.
Mr Grasby said a report had been commissioned to determine the best form of "agrivoltaics".
"The report actually concluded that the best outcome we could achieve at Jindera were to continue with stock management, sheep grazing, alongside solar activity," he said.
"That conclusion is not that surprising, given most of the land ... is currently grazed by sheep, that being the best agricultural activity for that land.
"We've also made clear commitments on how we decommission ... and recycling as much material as we can."
Commissioner Hutton asked if the reshaping of the development and reduction of inverters impacted the capacity to generate 120 megawatts.
Mr Grasby said it did not, saying "it doesn't impact the capacity because we can actually use slightly more efficient solar panels".
Commissioner Zada Lipman sought to clarify poles that would be erected for squirrel gliders and whether 12 of 19 farm dams that will be retained can be used for dust suppression.
"I understand that seven dams are to be removed. In the event there is water in the [other] dams, would you be able to utilise that?" she asked.
Mr Grasby said it would.
Residents express their views
Martin Salzke, a fifth generation farmer whose great-grandfather purchased property that will be leased for the Jindera Solar Farm in 1897, said the land had good soil and rainfall but was limited.
"The limitations are that some areas are too wet and many crops do not survive," he said.
"This was our experience when we shifted our farming practice to a more 50 per cent livestock, 50 per cent cropping [operation].
"We were basically going backwards financially.
"My late father and I were quick to investigate the options of solar farming ... and the ability to continue with the sheep grazing under the solar panels.
"I am looking at the solar panels to provide shade and shelter to the sheep and I believe it will also allow the grass to stay greener, for longer.
"Our land will be fully returned to agricultural land. There are too many areas around town that are good farming land, that have been turned into housing blocks - they will never be returned to farming land."
Jonathan Schulz is the other property owner who will lease land to Jindera Solar Farm, his grandfather purchasing land in the 1930s.
"My parents, my wife and I have purchased other parcels of land to take our land holding to about 1000 hectares ... approximately 200 hectares is within the proposed solar farm area," he said.
"This will make our children fourth generation farmers.
"With the income generated ... it will drought-proof our farm financially and it will provide a diverse income stream."
Mr Schulz has worked with Landcare on environmental projects such as fencing off waterways for their protection from sheep.
"These will be retained - with caring for the environment, we are pleased to be able to provide clean, green solar energy from our farm," he said.
"With the dams they are planning on filling in, we will be building dam capacity on other parts of our farm."
Greater Hume residents Jeannie Kenney and Raymond Jarock also spoke in favour of the project, with Mr Jarock believing the majority of residents also supported the project but "didn't want to get drawn into conflict".
Klinberg Road resident and farmer Olivia Hanel expressed her disappointment to the IPC the meeting was being held virtually and not in Jindera.
"Being only four kilometres from Jindera ... with the possibility of another large scale solar farm, Glenellen, to be only 320 metres away from the Jindera Solar Farm boundary ... it is extremely difficult for many," she said.
"The draft of the Riverina Murray important agricultural mapping ... is no longer available for public viewing as it is being revised but continues to be delayed.
"Land being used [was] conveniently changed [from] classification three, downgraded to four after geological testing. This is why the mapping is very important."
Ms Hanel took issue with the position that residents' concerns about the impact on neighbouring land values was not relevant because developers state there is "no evidence" proving this to be the case.
"This statement is a stark reminder that mostly, ordinary Australian citizens are shown little respect by large business entities," she said.
"Our home and land were always going to be our retirement, and who wants to live next door to a large-scale solar farm?
"There is more than low impact."
Walla resident Jennifer Jacob, who presented to the Walla solar IPC meeting, reiterated a conversation she had a community meeting.
"The chairman said he had looked around our area and was surprised there was so much cropping - the Department had never received an application in such a heavily-populated area," she said.
Greg Vonthien had also addressed the IPC previously and was not the only speaker to express disdain about the level of opposition from the Council and residents.
"Business people in Albury-Wodonga that I associated with are asking some serious questions about the thinking in Greater Hume Shire," he said.
"I'm a bit embarrassed to answer that."
The meeting concluded at 12.15pm.