Orange Grove Road residents will voice their thoughts on two proposed solar farms next week.
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Phil Glover, Leah Woods and Chris Avard are among the locals who will attend one-on-one meetings with Photon Energy and community consultations with Overland Sun Farming, the parent company of Orange Grove Sun Farm.
Both solar companies have proposed solar farms on Orange Grove Road, with the impact of flooding a common concerns amongst would-be neighbours.
In January, Phil Glover spoke to the NVI about his concerns for his property and livestock if the proposed Photon Energy site at 765 Orange Grove Road is approved because it is situated on a floodplain.
On Thursday, Mr Glover said he will be meeting with both Photon Energy and Overland and will focus on what the companies have to say.
Nearby neighbour Leah Woods will also be speaking to both parties next week, with an appointment with Photon on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs Woods and her husband live directly next door to the proposed Photon Energy site and have concerns about how it will impact them on a daily level and also in times of flood.
Up on the hill, Chris Avard and his neighbours Graeme and Emma Brown, Col and Jenny Kemba will “collectively sit down and discuss our concerns” with Photon next week. In January, Mr Avard told the NVI he did not want the project to impact his outlook or the capital value of his property.
“I think all these projects have got to be taken on their merit and I’ll try and stay on form with what they’re proposing,” he said.
Mr Avard said he would like to see “accurate data” and flood modelling for both the Photon site and the Overland site.
“It will be interesting to see how they address [potential flooding],” he said.
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A spokesperson for Photon Energy said the project manager of the Gunnedah solar farm, Nick Guzowski, will represent Photon Energy at the one-on-one meetings. He will be accompanied by representatives from environmental and community relations consultants pitt&sherry KMH Environmental.
“There will be a total of nine meetings with up to several people attending some of the meetings,” the spokesperson said.
“Photon Energy has requested the meetings as a proactive step to update the community. A key reason for the meetings is to discuss flood modelling with residents.”
Photon Energy’s business development manager Robert Ibrahim said the meetings would focus on “coming back to residents with answers to questions they have raised”.
“We will also be sharing photomontages of what the solar farm will look like from neighbouring properties,” he said.
“Following the community consultation, we will finalise our Environmental Impact Statement in preparation for submission to the Department of Planning and Environment in April.”
Overland Sun Farming will hold community information and feedback sessions in the Baxter Room at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club on March 15 from 5.30pm-7.30pm and March 16 from 7am-9am.
Overland Sun Farming was contacted by the NVI but did not respond before publication.
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