Solar Power Row Clouds Rural Dream

Newcastle Herald

Thursday November 18, 2004

By MELISSA CHAIN

A GIRVAN couple's dream of living on an acreage and breeding cattle could be shattered if a council accepts a recommendation that it refuse to allow the installation of solar power on the site.

Wendy and Colin Roberts have been told by Great Lakes Council's planning department that they must install electricity on the approved sub-divided 84 hectare block on Branch Lane.

The pair bought the land between Stroud and Bulahdelah in February for $265,000, with intentions of selling one of the 42 hectare blocks and living on the other half with 50 beef cattle.

The land is about 1.3 kilometres from the nearest electricity power site and about a kilometre from the second block. Both blocks are heavily covered with trees and to connect to power would require the removal of up to 500 trees.

Mrs Roberts said she began making inquiries about installing phone lines, electricity and dams as required and the cost of mains power to the hip pocket and environment was high.

"Country Energy would charge $67,000 to install the line, plus the expense for cutting down the hardened wood trees was estimated to be at least $30,000," Mrs Roberts said.

"So we started to think solar and there are incentives to use it because the Government gives you a rebate."

In August, the couple submitted a modification of consent to install solar power and it has been recommended for refusal at Tuesday's council meeting.

She said the council's reason for refusal was that it would set a precedent for sub-divided blocks.

"If we can't get the solar option approved we're going to have to reconsider our options, but we'd like to keep the acres because we like the lifestyle," Mrs Roberts said.

Council director of planning Glenn Handford said the whole Branch Lane area had the potential to be upgraded.

"As you intensify land you should provide adequate infrastructure to satisfy future development," Mr Handford said.

"We'd be almost condemning people in the future to having further costs if they wanted to have electricity on their block . . . it's prohibitive."

State Opposition energy and utilities spokesman Brad Hazzard labelled the council's refusal as "loopy".