A LOCAL council has given early approval for an electrical company’s proposal to build infrastructure supporting a planned solar farm in Renmark.
Renmark Paringa councillors passed a motion at last month’s general meeting allowing the potential for a power line easement at Lot 803, Jane Eliza Avenue – which would run to a planned Yates Electrical Services (YES) solar farm on David Street – to be investigated by SA Power Networks (SAPN).
The decision came after council initially voted against a proposal from YES to investigate an overhead power line easement at its January general meeting.
Renmark Paringa chief executive officer Tony Siviour said YES managing director Mark Yates had since been able to provide council with a clearer proposal regarding the construction.
“He’s made his intentions in terms of an easement clearer,” Mr Siviour said.
“He gave council seven options, of which they’ve given a preferred option… which is an underground option.
“We’ve given Yates the opportunity to go and explore it with SA Power Networks (and) it would still have to come back for further consideration of council.”
Mr Siviour said an underground easement route would have the least impact on any future development council planned for the area.
“It’s a smaller easement with no road access required,” he said.
“There were quite a few things flagged by SAPN regarding an overhead powerline, that made the underground one more attractive.”