Plans for $18m solar farm at Happy Valley lodged with State Commission Assessment Panel
SA Water has amended its plans for an $18.6 million solar farm at Happy Valley to retain some of the pine trees on the site, following community anger.
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SA Water has scaled back its plan to build an $18.6 million solar farm at Happy Valley Reservoir after residents protested the loss of a pine tree plantation.
Under the original plan to install 30,000 solar panels on the corner of Black and Main South roads, the entire plantation would have been removed.
The amended version – lodged with the state planning authority – will retain a 40m buffer of pine trees between the panels and Black Rd.
ForestrySA would cut down all other trees prior to the panel installation.
In addition, the type of solar panel would take up less space than originally proposed – causing a further reduction to the size of the farm.
Flagstaff Hill resident Greg Keep, who joined forces with 15 others in opposing the initial plan, said he supported the compromise.
“The majority of locals are happy with the SA Water proposal to add in new vegetation along with a new style of solar panel that lies closer to the ground and is less intrusive,” Mr Keep said.
“The 40m buffer will hide the panels until more native vegetation can grow and take over from the introduced ‘non-native’ pines currently lining the road.”
Environment Minister David Speirs and Liberal MP for Davenport Steve Murray supported the protest group in a bid to ensure the “visual appeal” of the site remained.
“I was deeply concerned with part of the initial SA Water proposal involving the removal of all of the Aleppo pine trees on Black Rd,” Mr Murray said.
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“Happy Valley Reservoir has long been a unique part of our local area.
“It combines a balance between native animals and natural beauty on the one hand, and engineering and industrialised use on the other.
“The latest proposal from SA Water of a 40m band of the Aleppo pines along the Blacks Road boundary preserves that balance, and accordingly has my full support.”
SA Water has been approached for comment.