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There was much celebration in the Singleton district on Saturday night when the local group opposed to the construction of a solar farm announced the project will not be proceeding.
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Singleton Solar Standoff said the proposal by Elgin Energy for the solar farm at Mitchells Flat will not be proceeding.
Michael Holz their spokesperson said whilst this might have been difficult for Elgin, their decision is a great outcome for our community and we are all certainly relieved that they have chosen to focus their “development efforts” elsewhere.
“The 550 acre parcel of productive agricultural land will remain as it is,” he said.
First proposed in 2024 the Elgin Energy project was expected to have a capacity of about 90 megawatts (MW)(AC) and would comprise ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) modules (panels). It would have required the construction of a 14-kilometre transmission line.
It was be located on a 235-hectare property, Endeavour, at 1023 Gresford Road, about 12 km from town. The property is now used to graze beef cattle and is believed to be owned by Bill Reynolds, who, it is understood, bought the holding in 2003.
Elgin Energy’s Antione Pavone addressed the Singleton Council in November 2024, saying his company has been operating in the Australian market since 2018 and is currently working on 15 projects in the country.
He said the site at Mitchell’s Flat was selected due to its flat topography and that it was cleared – for ease of installation of the solar panels.
“A community benefit sharing scheme will be established in consultation with Council and the community,” he said.
At the same meeting Mitchell’s Flat residents Cheryl Holz and Nigel Korff addressed the Council.
Mrs Holz said that residents of Hunterview would be impacted by the construction of a transmission line linking the project to the grid.
She called for more consultation on the project and said the solar farm would bring industrialisation to an area free from that type of development.
Mr Korff said the proposed project would sacrifice prime agricultural land and transform a rural community.
He said he was not opposed to renewables, stating that ” they play a large part in our energy future, but we ask that they be placed in the right place.
“Mining land is ideal as it is close to electrical infrastructure,” he said.
However at that meeting Singleton Council resolved to: oppose the site of the proposed Mitchell’s Flat solar farm due to the proximity to numerous dwellings, potential fire risk and potential insurance increases.
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