THEY came to talk about development and jobs in Bathurst but were met with jeering and opposition.
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Plans to construct a 203 hectare solar farm seven kilometres south-east of Bathurst at Brewongle will be lodged within the next fortnight by Photon Energy Australia.
And, in the lead up they called a public meeting on Wednesday to talk about the 100 jobs it will bring during construction and benefits for the wider community.
Photon Energy Australia managing director Michael Gartner had hoped to share his vision for the facility and its benefits for Bathurst.
What followed was an often interrupted meeting with many attendees calling and yelling out their opposition to the power plant.
“You want a discussion but you don’t give a damn,” one person called out.
Mr Gartner repeatedly had to ask for interruptions to cease so he could continue his presentation.
The solar panels will run stand a maximum of 2.5 metres from the ground and will have little “visual impact”, Photon representatives said.
“From a distance it’ll be like a row of trees,” they said.
The statement drew an angry and loud reaction from those in the hall with a number deciding to walk out.
The project is in the very early stages of planning with an environmental impact statement yet to be conducted.
“I’ll save you the process, you can piss off,” another resident yelled out.
Mr Gartner said the land was ideal as it was flat, cleared and had a high voltage transmission line already running through it.
Grazing can still be conducted and it was, he said, the preferred management plan for keeping grass levels down and reducing fire risk.
The land’s owners have agreed to a 25 year lease to Photon Energy with options to extend.
They were present at Wednesday’s meeting but chose not to speak to the Western Advocate.
Mr Gartner said he was surprised by the angry reaction at the meeting, but said the project was not a “done deal” at this stage.
“I was a little surprised because we hadn’t actually presented the project to them, it looked like they’d already made their minds up,” he said.