Like Bathurst, other rural communities are expressing concern about the loss of agricultural land to large-scale solar arrays.

The same rules for the clearing of paddock trees should apply to solar arrays as applies to landholders.

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Agrovoltaic studies in Europe and the US have shown that when panels are raised and correctly spaced, partial shading and condensation can improve moisture retention in soils, improving pasture and crop yields, while still allowing animals to graze and machinery to work beneath the panels.

It will be important that Australia's renewable energy developments take advantage of world-best practice like this so that food productivity is not lost and soil quality is maintained.