Residents furious at SA Water plan to remove pine trees in Flagstaff Hill for solar panels

Residents are furious over a plan by SA Water to remove the pine tree plantation on Black Rd at Flagstaff Hill to make way for 30,000 solar panels.

The entrance to the Flagstaff Pines Estate on Black Road with the pine plantations to the side. Picture: Michael Butt.

Flagstaff Hill residents are furious over a plan by SA Water to remove the pine tree plantation on Black Rd to make way for a solar farm.

SA Water wants to remove the trees and install 30,000 solar panels on the corner of Black Rd and Main South Rd.

About 15 local residents who oppose the plan have joined forces to oppose it.

Flagstaff Hill resident Greg Keep said he is concerned about the visual impact of losing the trees as well as the potential loss of wildlife.

“SA Water haven’t done their homework as to the ramifications, they don’t even know what sort of panels they are going to use yet,” Mr Keep said.

“We are concerned about the aesthetics of it — because it is going to be a national park, that area — and what happens to the rest of the animals like the kangaroos up there.

“There are black and white cockatoos that feed off the nuts off of those trees — and there will be a reflection off the solar panels for drivers going down Black Rd.

A black and white cockatoo similar to those at Flagstaff Hill. Picture: Natalie Slade.

“There are going to be huge ramifications for everyone in the area.”

He said the land behind the old drive-in on Majors Rd at O’Halloran Hill would be a better site for the solar farm.

Michael Butt lives directly opposite the pine plantation in the Pines Estate and said he was concerned about the lack of consultation.

“I strongly oppose the proposed development,” he said.

“It is a huge industrial-scale development and will constitute a blight on a neighbourhood which over the years has been blessed with a cornucopia of bird, animal and tree life.”

Mr Keep said the group had been touch with Environment Minister David Speirs about their concerns.

Mr Speirs said ensuring the “visual appeal” of the site was a priority for him.

“As a local member in the area, I am aware of the concerns of the community and have sought assurances from SA Water that they will continue to work with the local community to co-create a visual buffer for the site,” Mr Speirs said.

“The proposed solar installation at Happy Valley Reservoir is part of SA Water’s goal for zero net electricity costs in the coming years.

“This project is about reducing SA Water’s operating costs in an environmentally friendly way which in turn will help with household water bills.”

SA Water’s community engagement manager Matthew Bonnett said the company was working closely with direct neighbours to gather their feedback on the project.

“We understand visual amenity is important to the local community, so solar panels at Happy Valley will be set back around 20 metres from the reservoir reserve boundary and screened by an earth mound planted with low growing native vegetation, which will add to local biodiversity,” Mr Bonnett said.

“Forestry SA’s commercial Aleppo pine plantation hosted on SA Water land along Main South and Black Rd in Happy Valley will be harvested, to allow for the installation of solar panels. (The) pine crop was always intended to be harvested and is several years overdue for felling.

“A large area of native vegetation will remain in the reservoir reserve.”