Geoff Hood, a former farm manager and contractor in the area where the farm has been approved, said the initial design had not adequately addressed flood mitigation.

However, the final design would "enable the development to enhance the economic diversity and productivity of Gunnedah shire".

Read also:

"The initial concepts and footprint put forward by the project's consultants were poorly researched. This understandably got adjoining landholders offside," Mr Hood told the NVI.

"Also, the proposed development would have been non-complying works under the Carroll to Boggabri Floodplain Management Plan.

"The final design number five has reduced the development footprint, located [the site] further away from the Namoi River, acceptance of drop-down security fencing at locations to accommodate floodwater, and vegetation buffer screening to neighbours."

Farmer Malcolm Payne lives east of the site and said he didn't think the final design hit the mark.

"I still don’t think they’ve adequately looked into the flood impacts," he said.

"They seem to think it will be fine, but it’s not going to be fine. It will cause a lot of problems.

"I’m all for solar farms but not on the floodplain."

Mr Payne said he had suggested the farm be built "up onto the red country", but Photon Energy had decided build infrastructure on the floodplain.

"If it had been a farmer, he wouldn’t have been able to do it," he said.

"We can’t put anything where there’s a watercourse."

Keep up-to-date with all your local news by subscribing here.