Sunshine Coast Council’s Valdora solar farm switched off during flood event

Sunshine Coast Council is counting the costs of flood impacts on its $50m solar farm which has been temporarily disconnected from the grid after the site was inundated.

Power has been switched off at the Sunshine Coast Council’s $50m solar farm after the hinterland flood-prone site was inundated during recent wet weather.

The Valdora solar farm which offsets council’s energy usage was temporarily disconnected from Energex’s grid on Saturday, February 26 as a “precautionary measure”, a council spokesman confirmed.

Some units are yet to be reconnected 11 days later.

Photos from the February 26 weekend showed the land was inundated with water during the six-day deluge which left many homes flooded and roads torn up.

The council spokesman said no key operational infrastructure was inundated.

He said the council was still assessing the cost of the flooding impact on the facility which was built in 2017.

He said once flood waters subsided a full inspection was carried out and two of the six power conversion units were reconnected to the grid on Wednesday, March 9.

Sunshine Coast Council’s solar farm pictured in late February during the recent flooding event. It is understood this was not when floodwaters were at the peak. Picture: Suzanne Tigell

The remaining units were expected to be reconnected “over the coming days”, he said.

He said prior to building the solar farm a comprehensive flood study, based on the 2014 Maroochy River Flood model was completed by a leading consultancy and the council.

“Construction was tailored to the cane land site,” he said.

“All key components within the solar farm, including electrical equipment, solar panels, inverters, switchboards and batteries, are situated well above the 1:100 flood level and the highest flood levels ever recorded in the area.

“No infrastructure related to operational performance of the solar farm was inundated by flood waters.”

Sunshine Coast Council's solar farm pictured in late February during the recent flooding event. It is understood this was not when floodwaters were at the peak. Picture: Suzanne Tigell

Yandina resident Suzanne Tigell said it was another example of why floodplains should not be developed.

She questioned why the council did not inform residents about flooding at the solar farm.

“There is so much development on the floodplains now,” she said.

“I’d hate to see something major here on the Coast now because we’ve dodged that many bullets in the past 10 to 15 years with major flooding.”

The council purchased the 49ha parcel of land off Coolum-Yandina Rd in May, 2014, for $1.65m after the cane land was sold less than two years’ prior for $770,000.

But initial costs to ratepayers increased to more than $4m with the council also spending $2.3m on costs to develop the project plan as well as the intellectual property and the $300,000 option and rent payments totalling $56,000.

The council spokesman said the facility would continue to provide benefits to the region.

“The award-winning Sunshine Coast Solar farm (2018 Australian Regional Development Environmental and Sustainability Award) continues to provide savings to council and reduce council’s operating costs,” he said.

“It delivers benefits to our environment, offsetting more than 100 per cent of council’s electricity consumption, demonstrating Sunshine Coast Council’s commitment to be Australia’s most sustainable region.”