{"id":229406,"date":"2019-02-22T17:19:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T07:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=229406"},"modified":"2020-07-24T10:26:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-24T00:26:14","slug":"mystery-clouds-solar-farm-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/02\/22\/mystery-clouds-solar-farm-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"Mystery Clouds Solar Farm Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Will it or won’t it be built? Terrain Solar hopes to build a solar farm on the outskirts of Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
SBRC CEO Mark Pitt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 22, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett councillors have voted on the next step in legal proceedings involving Terrain Solar – the company which hopes to build a solar farm on the outskirts of Kingaroy – but no one is willing to state publicly exactly what that next step is.<\/p>\n

In November, Council voted to reject a proposal by Terrain Solar to build a 130ha solar farm on a large block of land at the corner of Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road and Redmans Road.<\/p>\n

Terrain immediately filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane citing the SBRC and seven co-respondents.<\/p>\n

Five of the people named are local residents, either living beside or overlooking the proposed development.<\/p>\n

Two others have interests in land near the development.<\/p>\n

All seven had lodged objections with Council against the project.<\/p>\n

Councillors went into confidential session on Wednesday to consider an offer by Terrain Solar to settle its appeal against the Council decision.<\/p>\n

After a long session behind closed doors, Cr Terry\u00a0Fleischfresser moved, Cr Kathy Duff seconded:<\/p>\n

“That Council resolve to accept the recommendations contained within the report in relation to the\u00a0development application for a material change of use for a Major Utility (40MW Solar Farm) and\u00a0reconfiguring a lot (access easement and subdivision by lease) on land at 397 Kingaroy Barkers\u00a0Creek Road, Kingaroy described as Lots 4 and 5 on SP219361 and Lot 228 on FTZ37463.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The vote was carried 6-0.<\/p>\n

Cr Roz Frohloff, who has previously declared a conflict of interest in the matter, was absent and did not vote.<\/p>\n

However, it is unclear whether the vote means the SBRC will be defending Terrain Solar’s appeal or whether negotiations are being undertaken with the company.<\/p>\n

Citing confidentiality, Mayor Keith Campbell referred southburnett.com.au<\/strong> to Council CEO Mark Pitt, saying he was the only person authorised to speak about the matter<\/p>\n

But Mr Pitt could only confirm that as a result of the vote “Council will be participating in the court process”.<\/p>\n

southburnett.com.au<\/strong> contacted one of the other parties listed in the appeal but they were also in the dark about what Council was proposing to do.<\/p>\n

No date has been set yet for the first mention of the matter in court.<\/p>\n

Terrain Solar has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n