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A 5 megawatt (MW) solar farm planned for Old Mill Road in Gulgong will not go ahead after a NSW Planning Panel unanimously voted to refuse the development application (DA) on Monday a spokesperson confirmed to the Mudgee Guardian.

The NSW Planning website is expected to be updated soon with details on the reasons for the refusal.

As detailed by the panel in a document available at the NSW Planning Portal and below, reasons for refusal were varied, including that it would be too visible to Gulgong residents.

The development site is not considered suitable for the proposed solar farm given its physical relationship to the township of Gulgong and the inability to visually screen the proposal from the township and from the surrounding rural landscape in a manner sympathetic to its setting and the rural landscape.

Another reason for refusal was the DA didn't adequately address the 'potential impacts associated with the proposal and has failed to consider the potential impacts on all adjoining and adjacent residential and rural properties.'

In coming to its decision, the panel considered written submissions made during the public exhibition and heard from those wishing to address the panel. The panel noted that issues of concern included: