Related story: Photon Energy proposes solar farm at Carrick
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Photon Energy has taken its plans for a 144 megawatt solar farm on Carrick Road, north of Goulburn to the people.
Its well attended community consultation on Thursday night in Towrang ebbed and flowed as residents aired their thoughts.
The words mitigation and preliminary became the cornerstone of the consultation led by brothers and the company’s project developers Nick and Chris Guzowski.
The primary catalyst for the $188 million development, Nick said, was the renewed focus on solar and rising electricity prices.
Founded in the Czech Republic in 2008, the company moved to Australia in 2012 and has now overseen solar farm projects in Leeton, Queanbeyan and Gunning. This is one of the larger projects Photon Energy will construct in the state.
Residents were first notified of the project in the weeks leading up to the public talk.
The proposal will be located on the south eastern corner of the Lockyersleigh property on Carrick Road due to the close proximity to the high voltage network.
Structures on the farm will range from 1.6m to 3m in height. A substation, which will sit in the corner of the site, will be taller.
The pair also suggested visual impact buffers such as the erection of trees and discrete security fencing.
“In terms of the view it is very personal a lot for communities to mind the view, some find it more interesting, that’s why we want to get your perspective,” Chris said.
“All of our plans about the site are based on current information, discussion with the land owner and technical constraints.
“What’s valuable is the input from the community; we’re flexible with how we plan it.
Traffic and noise impacts are expected for the initial six to nine months of construction with Photon Energy currently in conversation with Holcim, which owns the nearby quarry, to use its existing road regularly used to transport materials.
About 100 jobs will be available to the local workforce. No more than five permanent positions will be available after construction. A local office is also expected to be set up to combine operations work from the proposed Carrick and Gunning solar farms
Many at the meeting wanted to know about the financial return to the community.
“It’s all really open for discussion,” Nick responded. “It’s not until you talk to the community until you found out where the benefits to the community are.”
Possible tourism benefits of the solar farm will also be explored during their research.
The solar farm’s economic life is estimated to be 25 years. The Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be completed in six months.
Resident support solar but will wait for further plans
Michael Cernik, who lives on a property in direct sight of Photon Energy’s proposed solar farm, said the community supported solar energy but needed more details on the project first.
“We’ve lived in big cities and precisely wanted to get away and appreciate the natural landscape,” he said.
“When it’s a large undertaking like this it would be nice for the community to get some financial benefit so that we can share in the wealth for using our valley.”
Mr Cernik said continued consultation was important and would benefit the community.
Project manager Nick Guzowski said the consultation was useful as it allowed for feedback and strategies to benefit the community
“We will continue to consult with the community,” he said.
“We collected contact details at the session whereby we will provide regular updates on progress of the project. As we progress through the planning process and reach key milestones, we will arrange further community consultation sessions.”
