FRV acknowledges that the Inverell shire region is recognised across Australia for its productive agricultural land, which supports grain, sheep, and beef production and that the potential loss of agricultural land may be a concern of some within the community.

The Texas Solar Farm site, spanning approximately 900 hectares, is presently dedicated to rotational grazing with no sustained crop production, this site constitutes only a portion of the available grazing land in the region. The proposed solar farm would also represent a temporary use of the land. After the solar farm’s operational life, the solar farm would be decommissioned, and the site would be returned to grazing land.

The solar panels would not occupy a large surface area within the site, which means that pasture continues to grow within the solar farm. FRV has many operational solar farms where managed grazing of sheep can continue the site, without any health or safety risks to livestock.

FRV will complete a thorough assessment of the solar farm’s potential impacts on agriculture in the region before we consider submitting a Development Application

Texas Solar Farm will deliver significant benefits to the region:

• Construction will create job opportunities. FRV encourages all contractors working on its solar farm developments to hire local contractors and utilise local suppliers wherever possible. It is estimated that up 200 workers will be required to construct the project.
• During operations, 4 to 5 full time equivalent ongoing operational roles will be created. Maintenance contracts for panel cleaning, fence repair, road grading, etc. would also be required and would likely be met by local contractors.
• The employment benefits extend through the local supply chains to fuel supply, vehicle servicing, hotels/motels, B&B’s, cafés, pubs, catering, cleaning companies, tradespersons, tool and equipment suppliers and many other businesses.
• Located on the transmission line between Bulli Creek to Dumaresq, the project will deliver clean, zero emissions electricity to meet the region’s energy needs and help further the development of the NSW clean energy industry.

FRV Services Australia is the owner and developer of the Texas Solar Farm project.

A Development Application is expected to be lodged with Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in late-2024. As the ‘consent authority’, DPE will assess our solar farm concept in accordance with the relevant land use planning requirements and policy.

FRV is committed to developing a reliable and safe clean energy asset for the region and to continuing community engagement throughout the project’s lifetime.

Texas Solar Farm will utilise state of the art solar photovoltaic panels mounted on a horizontal, single axis tracking system that enables the panels to track the sun. This technology operates in varying daylight conditions including low light and cloudy weather and is extremely efficient for generating clean electricity with minimal noise, water consumption or waste.

The solar farm would consist of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels like those installed throughout Australia on residential and commercial properties.

The panels will be mounted on steel frames supported by driven piles that will create minimal disturb

Once complete, Texas Solar Farm is expected to operate and generate energy for at least 30 years.