Stop Venn Energy
Boree Solar Project Opposition · Geurie NSW
Landholders · Residents · Community
The Real Impact on
Geurie's Community
Behind the planning documents and megawatt figures are families, farms, and a community that was given little warning and less say. These are their concerns — in their own words.
On this page
Who is Affected
More Than Just the Properties on the Lease
Venn Energy's Boree Solar Project covers six lots on 1,322 hectares of land north of Geurie. But the ripple effects extend far beyond those property boundaries — to neighbouring graziers who share kilometres of fencing with the proposed site, to local businesses whose livelihoods depend on a working agricultural community, and to the village of Geurie itself.
Venn Energy leased the land before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or meaningful consultation with neighbouring landholders. When notifications did arrive, they came as an unsealed flyer — with less than a month for affected parties to respond to a community survey.
The Dubbo Regional Council — the elected local government body — was not formally notified until April 1, 2025, four days after landholders received their letters. The mayor learned of the project via Facebook on the same day.
6
Lots within the proposed site boundary
Covering 1,322 hectares of RU1-zoned Primary Production land
5km
Of shared boundary — one neighbouring property alone
Regenerative graziers Hat Creek, Geurie share 5km of boundary with the proposed site
< 30 days
Given to respond to Venn Energy's community survey
Landholders received notification by letter with under a month to respond
4
Maximum landholders Venn Energy agreed to meet
The company refused broader community meetings and subsequently cut off contact
In Their Own Words
Landholder and Resident Accounts
The following accounts are drawn from published media coverage and on-record statements. Additional community voices will be added as landholders provide consent to publish their stories. If you are affected and wish to share your experience, contact us here.
"Can you imagine opening a letter and seeing your entire property boxed in by potentially tens of thousands of solar panels, surrounded by 10-foot fences, razor wire, security cameras and floodlights?"
Peter Reardon
Landholder, Beldara, Geurie NSW — five of six boundary fences adjoin the proposed site
Source: The Land, October 2025
"On the tiny map provided, we discovered the site is on three of our four boundaries. We've had to scramble for more information, turn our lives upside down, and forgo daily practices just to meet their deadlines."
Mary Noglik
Regenerative grazier, Hat Creek, Geurie NSW — 202ha property with biodiversity and riparian protection orders
Source: The Land, October 2025
"We're supported by farmers, shearers, and irrigators. If people aren't working the land, it will slow down our business. We've seen very little trade from existing Solar Projects — and it's daunting, because who really benefits in a small town like this?"
Rachel McMaster
Co-owner, Geurie General Store — serving the community for 123 years
Source: The Land, October 2025
"She couldn't imagine living on the property during or after construction when their house becomes surrounded by infrastructure on three sides. The project has left her feeling sick to the stomach every day, distressed, and debilitated."
Robyn Hicks
Landholder, Geurie area — reported by Daily Liberal, May 2025
Source: Daily Liberal, May 2025
"Our village doesn't cope with flooding, and farms that usually absorb rainwater will no longer do so. Our 123-year-old store floods already and this could seriously impact our insurance and future."
Rachel McMaster
Co-owner, Geurie General Store
Source: The Land, October 2025
"I attended the Boree Solar Project briefing session as a support person for an affected landholder. During that meeting, I witnessed a visibly distressed resident seeking answers about a development that could surround his home on three sides. Rather than receiving empathy or meaningful engagement, he was subjected to the remark (from the Venn Engagement Manager): 'I don't like the way you look at me, and what you do with your mouth when you speak.' In my opinion, that interaction epitomises the consultation failures that have characterised Venn Energy's engagement with the Geurie Comminity."
Renee Harrison
Source: The Land, October 2025
[Additional landholder account — to be added with permission. Contact us if you are an affected landholder or resident and wish to share your story on this page.]
Your name here
Landholder, Beldara, Geurie NSW — five of six boundary fences adjoin the proposed site
Landholder / resident, Geurie or surrounds
Environmental & Agricultural Concerns
What the Community is Asking to Be Assessed
Loss of Class 1 Agricultural Land
The site is zoned RU1 – Primary Production. Converting 1,322 hectares of this country to industrial use for 30+ years represents an irreversible loss of some of Central West NSW's most productive farming and grazing land. Class 1 agricultural land, once removed from production, cannot be replaced.
Flood Risk and Drainage Change
Vegetated farmland absorbs rainfall and slows runoff. Converting large areas to hardstand and panel arrays changes drainage patterns. Geurie village already floods — community members are concerned the project will increase flood risk and insurance exposure for local properties.
Biodiversity and Riparian Orders
Parts of neighbouring properties carry biodiversity and riparian protection orders. The interaction between the proposed project boundary and these protected areas has not been independently assessed. Dust, water pollution, and habitat fragmentation during construction are documented concerns.
Visual Amenity and Landscape Character
The Geurie and Wongarbon landscape is open, agricultural, and valued by residents and visitors. A 1,322-hectare solar installation — with 10-foot perimeter fencing, security lighting, camera infrastructure, and tens of thousands of panels — fundamentally changes that character for a 30-year operational life.
Construction Traffic and Road Damage
A project of this scale requires significant heavy haulage across local roads over an extended construction period. Dust, vibration, and wear on Albion Hills Road, Firbank Road, Westella Road, and the Mitchell Highway — and the costs of remediation — have not been addressed in community communications.
Local Economic Viability
Geurie's economy depends on agricultural activity. Fewer farming operations means fewer workers, fewer service needs, and less trade for local businesses. The General Store, shearing contractors, machinery dealers, and local suppliers all depend on the district continuing to farm. Solar Projects do not generate the same economic activity as working agricultural land.
NSW Parliamentary Inquiry – REZ Impacts
Impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on Rural and Regional Communities and Industries in New South Wales.
Multiple affected residents submitted evidence to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry regarding the impacts of Renewable Energy Zones and the proposed Boree Solar Project. These submissions raise concerns regarding consultation, agricultural land use, biodiversity, community wellbeing and project governance.
1
Submission No. 142
Peter Reardon (Geurie)
A directly impacted landholder whose property borders the proposed Boree Solar Project on multiple sides. The submission raises concerns regarding consultation practices, agricultural land loss, biodiversity impacts, fire safety risks, property impacts, and the broader effects of Renewable Energy Zone developments on rural communities.
2
Submission No. 143
Mary Noglik & Les Dwyer-Gray
Adjacent landholders who describe significant concerns regarding consultation timelines, transparency, water management, biodiversity, agricultural impacts, and the potential long-term effects of the Boree Solar Project on neighbouring properties and the local environment.
3
Submission No. 144
Renee Harrison
Submitted as a representative and support person for an affected landholder. The submission outlines concerns regarding community engagement, consultation processes, project communication, information transparency, and stakeholder treatment during project briefings.
4
Submission No. 146
Robyn & Bill Hicks
Residents living adjacent to the proposed project area who raise concerns about notification processes, consultation standards, governance, community impacts, landholder rights, and the effect of large-scale renewable energy developments on rural communities.
How We Were Treated
A Broken Consultation Process
The community's opposition to the Boree Solar Project is not only about the project itself — it is also about how Venn Energy has conducted itself throughout the scoping and early engagement phase. The Energy and Water Ombudsman, in submissions to a NSW parliamentary inquiry, confirmed that neighbours are routinely excluded from meaningful consultation, with engagement directed primarily to those who have already leased land.
The Stop Boree Solar Project campaign is committed to exercising its rights through legitimate NSW planning channels — including formal EIS submissions, council engagement, and direct contact with the Minister for Planning. The process failures documented here form part of the case for why this project should be subjected to the most rigorous independent scrutiny.
The Save Geurie – Stop Boree Solar Project group has an active case with the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) regarding poor engagement and consultation by Venn Energy.
01
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
02
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
03
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
04
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
05
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
06
Land leased before any community consultation
Venn Energy secured leases on 1,300+ hectares before conducting any social impact assessment, environmental study, or contact with neighbouring landholders.
Venn Energy Consultation Process
Community Voices, Questions & Consultation Updates
Community members have documented a range of concerns relating to consultation, engagement practices, information transparency, and stakeholder communication associated with the proposed Boree Solar Project. The materials below include community-recorded videos, public commentary, media reports, and supporting documentation that provide additional context regarding the consultation process.
Community Information Session
This video captures community discussion regarding the proposed Boree Solar Project and provides insight into questions raised by local residents about consultation, engagement processes, project communication, and information provided to affected landholders throughout the early stages of project development.
Landholder Experiences
Affected residents discuss their personal experiences engaging with project representatives, including concerns relating to communication, consultation timelines, information availability, and the challenges faced by neighbouring landholders seeking clarity about potential project impacts.
Community Questions & Concerns
Community members raise questions regarding project planning, consultation practices, environmental considerations, neighbouring property impacts, and the level of information available to residents seeking to understand the proposed development.
Consultation & Engagement Discussion
Additional community-recorded footage documenting discussions relating to stakeholder engagement, consultation outcomes, communication processes, and responses provided to community members during project engagement activities.
Community Voices Against the Proposed Boree Solar Factory
Local residents and community representatives gather to express their concerns about the proposed Boree Solar Factory at Geurie, highlighting the importance of community consultation, transparency, and protecting local interests.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Proposed Boree Solar Project
Community members gather to discuss the scale and potential impact of the proposed Boree Solar Project, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making and local community engagement.
Community Consultation on the Proposed Boree Solar Project
Local leaders and residents come together to discuss the proposed Boree Solar Project, encouraging community participation, open dialogue, and the opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and questions.
Residents Engage in Discussion Over the Boree Solar Proposal
Community members gather for an information and consultation session on the proposed Boree Solar Project, sharing concerns, asking questions, and participating in discussions about its potential impact on the local area.
Community Questions Remain After Boree Solar Consultation
A large turnout at the Geurie community consultation highlighted ongoing concerns about the proposed Boree Solar Farm, with many residents and local leaders seeking clearer answers on the project's impact and future plans.
Community Meeting for "STOP BOREE SOLAR FACTORY AT GEURIE" Group
A small gathering of people interacting and discussing inside an indoor community hall, likely related to local opposition or discussions surrounding the proposed solar factory project.
Media Coverage
The Boree Solar Project has been reported across regional and national agricultural media.
The Land
Boree Solar Project proposal blindsides angered Geurie landholders
Daily Liberal
Farmers feel 'bullied' by renewables projects next door
The Land
Venn Energy's proposed Solar Projects face landowner opposition
Central Western Daily
Farmers feel 'bullied' by renewables projects next door
Other Venn Energy Projects
Community concerns relating to consultation, communication, stakeholder engagement, and project transparency have also been raised in connection with other Venn Energy developments. The examples below provide additional context and demonstrate that concerns expressed by residents near the Boree Solar Project are not unique to a single project location.
1
Lambruk (Loomberah) Solar Project
The Lambruk Solar Project (formerly known as the Acacia Solar Project) has attracted significant community concern regarding consultation processes, stakeholder engagement, project communication, and the treatment of neighbouring landholders. Community groups lodged complaints with the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC), citing concerns about consultation practices, access to information, community meetings, and communication with affected residents.
2
Cooba Solar Project (Colbinabbin, Victoria)
The proposed Cooba Solar Project in Colbinabbin, Victoria has generated significant discussion within the local community. Concerns raised by residents, community groups, and local representatives have focused on consultation, landscape impacts, agricultural land use, project scale, and broader community implications associated with large-scale renewable energy developments.
Solar stoush
THE CAMPASPE Shire Council has formally opposed the planning application for the Cooba Solar Farm throwing their support behind a community who have vehemently opposed the Colbinabbin siting of the project.
Colbinabbin pushes back against proposed
Colbinabbin residents and the local council are calling on the Victorian government to reconsider plans to develop a solar farm on prime agricultural land.
Cooba Solar farm planning application opposed
At last night’s meeting Campaspe Shire Council agreed to formally oppose the planning application for the Cooba Solar Farm, citing significant concerns regarding its impact on agricultural land and the local environment.
Cooba Project Opposition Ramped Up
Council Votes to Oppose...
Your Submission Can Change the Outcome
The EIS public exhibition window is the community's formal opportunity to be heard by NSW Planning. Every submission counts.