By Jeremy Sollars
Southern Downs councillors will decide on an application for a massive solar farm at Sladevale north of Warwick at a special meeting next Wednesday 6 June.
A media statement released by the council today, Wednesday 30 May, advised of the special meeting.
A report to councillors from the council’s planning staff on the Terrain Solar plan – recommending its approval – was placed on the council’s website this afternoon.
The Free Times covers the solar farm plan extensively in our print edition out tomorrow, Thursday 31 May, with the announcement of the special meeting and the planning officers’ report coming after time of printing this week.
The council had earlier advised us that the special meeting could be held on Wednesday 13 June but a date had not been confirmed at that time.
Residents at a public meeting about the Terrain Solar plan at the Warwick Town Hall on Monday 14 May voiced concerns about a lack of time and a lack of expertise on the part of council’s planning staff to properly examine the likely impacts of the development.
But chief among their concerns are the visual impact of 250,000 solar panels in the Sladevale valley – also known as Campbells Plains – and the loss of prime agricultural land.
Councillors will have the option of going against the recommended approval by the council’s planning staff and refusing the Terrain Solar application.
They could also defer their decision to allow themselves more time to consider the application.
The special council meeting next Wednesday 6 June will be open to the public and is scheduled to start at 2pm.
To view the report from officers to next week’s special council meeting go to www.sdrc.qld.gov.au and click the ‘Council Meetings’ tab.
• Check out the Free Times cover story on the controversial solar farm plan in this week’s print edition out tomorrow, Thursday 31 May.
