The construction of a 95 megawatt solar farm and associated infrastructure is set to be located approximately five kilometers west of Gulgong.

The concern for residents is that the construction of the solar farm will not only change the visual aspects of the area, but produce a constant noise from 3,600 tracking panels, to the tune of 78 decibels.

Resident Rebecca O’Connell, who also spoke at the Mid-Western Regional Council open day on May 17 about her concerns, submitted a comment on the NSW Department of Planning website.

“Tom Best informed us that the Solar Farm would produce a constant noise of 78dB from sun up to sun down, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year,” the O’Connell submission read.

“Tom Best tried to assure us that our sleep will not be impacted by the noise but … most of the main income earners in the area are miners who work shift work so noise created during daylight hours are just as intrusive.”

Tom Best, who is the Senior Manager for Project Development at First Solar, has commented that the construction will positively impact the community.

“In addition to providing clean renewable solar energy, the proposed Beryl Solar Farm will support the local economy, creating direct and indirect jobs and developing skills in a growing industry, and supporting small businesses,” he said.

The noise complaints were also addressed by the First Solar senior manager.

“The predicted noise levels for the worst case scenario based on concurrent operation of the proposed plant and all equipment at the most impacted residence would be approximately 32dba,” he reported.

“This sound power level is the equivalent of a whisper or noise within a library and materially less than the sound of running water in a creek.”

It is also estimated that the farm would generate enough to power 28,000 average NSW homes.

“The proposed Beryl Solar Farm will produce approximately 241,000 megawatt hours of solar energy each year, and displace more than 183,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” he said.

Planning for the project has commenced and is on track for completion in the later stages of 2017.