By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A $38 million solar farm with about 68,000 solar panels has been proposed for a 44-hectare former landfill in Springvale South.
The Green Wedge site bounded by Clarke Street and Rowan, Westall and Springvale roads could power 10,000 average homes with about 39,000 megawatt-hours of “secure and stable green energy”.
Its proponent Progress Solar claims the project could save 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, as well as create 50 jobs during construction and seven ongoing jobs.
The facility includes a 27 megawatt DC solar plant, and a dedicated sub-station to feed power into the Victorian grid.
A provisional battery storage area, central inverters and access roads will also be built.
Progress Solar has lodged a planning application with Greater Dandenong Council, with input from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
The location is mainly vacant, but for a gas extraction facility as part of landfill rehabilitation works.
According to Progress Solar’s planning report, the site is not listed as a future proposed park as part of the touted ‘Chain of Parks’ in the Green Wedge sandbelt.
The site neighbours two former landfills that have turned to parklands.
The landfill closed in 2003.
Progress Solar project manager Wayne Pierce said the site was “perfectly suited” for a solar facility.
In its submissions to the council, Progress Solar has claimed its design would not impede managing risks such as landfill gas explosions and leachate.
It has also pledged to use thick native vegetation to screen the solar panel’s reflectivity from neighbouring roads. The panels’ maximum height would be four metres.
“The project proponent will also endeavour to utilise as low panel racking structures as possible, to minimise the height and visibility of the solar farm from the road.”
Progress Solar is holding an information session at Springvale Indoor Sports Centre, 546 Springvale Road, Springvale South between 2pm-7pm on Tuesday 30 July.
EPA representatives will also be there.
