A proposed amendment to Mid-Western Regional Council's Development Control Plan (DCP) to specifically include provisions for solar energy farms, is currently on public exhibition to seek community feedback.
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Councillors voted unanimously at their April meeting to place the draft document out for a 28-day submission period.
The report was recommended to council by the Manager Statutory Planning "following a substantial increase in development enquiries relating to solar energy farms within the region both from proponents and members of the community". The DCP provides planning and design considerations for a variety of development types when a Development Application is submitted. But there are currently no guidelines in place for solar energy farms.
The amendment would add section '6.5 Solar Energy Farms', requiring consideration of matters such as; land use conflicts and site selection; impacts on agricultural land, businesses and tourism; visual impacts with respect to topography and proximity to scenic or public locations; development setbacks or buffers to adjoining lands and infrastructure.
The report went to council a week after a meeting held by the group Gulgong Residents for Responsible Renewables (GRRR), voted unanimously to voice their concerns over the location selected for a proposed solar farm north of town.
However, the draft amendment points out that if a solar farm is categorised as a State Significant Development - which the the proposed Gulgong Solar Project is - "the assessment of the application is undertaken by the Department of Planning and Environment". If this does occur, Council is not the approving authority, but "consistency with this section of the DCP is still required".
The 'Draft Development Control Plan 2013 Amendment 4 - Solar Energy Farms', is on exhibition until Tuesday, May 21, 2019. It can be viewed at Council's centres at Mudgee (Market Street), Gulgong (Herbert Street), and Rylstone (Louee Street). Or online at midwestern.nsw.gov.au
Enquiries should be directed to Council's Director Development on (02) 6378 2850 or 1300 765 002. Written comments should be addressed to the General Manager of Mid-Western Regional Council, PO Box 156, Mudgee, or emailed to council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au by 4.30pm, May 21.
