Plans are afoot to build a large solar panel farm close to the township of historic Vacy.
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Rio Indygen has confirmed it will submit a development application to Dungog council to seek approval for the renewable energy project.
The Australian company, which has a British branch, has secured an option to lease a large parcel of land. If approved, it would take about six months to establish the 25 megawatt farm and it would run for 30 years.
After that it would either be upgraded or decommissioned.
Power from the farm would be sent to the substation at nearby Martins Creek.
Managing director David Ashton wrote to some affected landowners last month to unveil the company's plan.
"I'm committed to involving and engaging the community in this decision-making stage of the project ... I'm making plans to hold a presentation and question and answer session," Mr Ashton wrote.
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The Mercury approached the company for comment but it did not respond before this newspaper went to press.
The plan has ruffled Vacy residents who are concerned about the environmental and visual impact, as well as the affect on agriculture.
Terence Pitkin said the proposed site had been previously used for cattle grazing and included the floodplain where the Paterson and Allyn rivers met.
He said the Vacy village overlooked the site.
"It doesn't matter how you feel about renewable energy, the farm would be in the direct line of sight of up to 50 rural properties in the valley around Vacy as well as the school playground and sports oval," he said.
"It would bring the industrialisation of a rural landscape. It would change the rural character of the beautiful valley that we have. I think the only reason they are doing this is because of the proximity to the substation."
"This is going to have a full-on impact," Mr Pitkin said.
"If it happens we will be squinting at large solar panels scattered all along the banks of the Paterson and Allyn rivers and into the surrounding hills."
Mr Pitkin is leading the fight against the project and is creating a Vacy Village Action Group.
He said new power lines may have to be added along Horns Crossing Road and across rural properties so the farm could connect to the Martins Creek sub-station.
Rio Indygen signed the option to lease form in November. It followed a preliminary constraints analysis, which was completed in June.
The only publicly available information about the project is available at martinscreeksolarfarm.com.au
Mr Pitkin said residents can join the action group by calling him on 0407 931 118.