Councillor John Fry says the proposal for a solar farm at Glanmire could help future-proof the region's energy supply as long as landowners are carefully considered in the planning process.
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Landowners in the Glanmire area received correspondence from UK-based company Elgin Energy last week of their plans to develop a develop a 60 megawatt solar farm on 160 hectares beside the Great Western Highway east of Bathurst.
Cr Fry supports the proposal, but acknowledged a compromise must be met between developers and landowners to address concerns around the proposal.
"We have to have this [solar farm], but the rights and sensitivities of neighbouring landowners must also be considered," he said.
"If landowners fear the project will devalue their property, Bathurst Regional Council should look at developing a planning process for a renewable energy corridor to satisfy all parties, including compensation for neighbouring landowners."
A key concern highlighted by Glanmire landowners is the solar farm's potential effects on productive agricultural land, which they believe could significantly impact the local economy.
But Cr Fry said it's possible for solar farms and agricultural land to coexist.
"It may require something as simple as rearranging the alignment of the panels or allocating slightly less panels per hectare for the project to satisfy all involved," he said.
"Regenerative agriculture and renewable energy can coexist without compromising the land, and I believe solar companies should be pressured by the local community to provide further detail on these plans."
All three proposals have faced opposition from landowners, with the prime agricultural land argument central to each debate.
Cr Fry understands the concerns of landowners, but stressed it could prove harmful for the environment in the long term if the three tiers of government continue to "undermine solar."
"We've had over $300 million worth of solar proposals in the region over the last few years, it's the future and we can't continue relying on coal and gas as long-term solutions," he said.
"The state government is piloting a renewable energy zone [REZ] for the Central West/Orana region, and I've highlighted to Matt Kean [NSW Environment Minister] our need for funding for a corridor linking to the zone."
Cr Fry is pushing for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's senior program manager to address council on the REZ in February.
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