Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell has refused to retract claims he made in parliament about a company's behaviour towards residents living next to its proposed Upper Hunter solar farm development.
Mr Layzell told NSW Parliament on September 17 Terrain Solar and its partner RATCH-Australia were seeking to locate Maison Dieu Solar Farm within a few metres of a neighbouring property's boundary.
"Imagine having a development like that on your doorstep. The developer seems to have no intention of making it easier for the residents," Mr Layzell said.
"We need proper development guidelines for solar factories that clearly designate minimum buffer zones for residential properties."
The National Party MP was also critical of the company's approach to compensation and its refusal to buy out directly affected residents.
The $127 million project is located about 10km north-west of Singleton.
It would occupy 203 hectares of former agricultural land and contain 110,000 solar panels that would produce 60 megawatts of power. The project also features a 40 megawatt battery project.
In a letter sent to Mr Layzell this week, the proponents claimed his comments to parliament were inaccurate and misleading. They particularly objected to his assertion that adjacent landholders had not been offered compensation.
The letter requests that Mr Layzell take "immediate steps" to remove Facebook posts, correct the parliamentary Hansard and remove the edited parliamentary webcast.
"However, if we cannot achieve a satisfactory resolution we will need to refer these potentially serious breaches of parliamentary process to the Speaker of the House of Representatives," Terrain Solar wrote.
Mr Layzell told the Newcastle Herald that he considered the letter to be threatening and he had reported it to the Speaker of NSW Legislative Assembly Greg Piper.
Maison Dieu resident Tony Zanardi presently looks out on a landscape featuring cattle grazing, kangaroos and wildlife that could be replaced by thousands of solar panels.
He said the project had been forced onto the area's 137 residents without adequate consultation.
"For some strange reason these state significant projects get to bypass everybody's objections," Mr Zanardi said.
"I don't believe this company has been very honest or forthcoming with a lot of information. When you ask them a question they just beat around the bush and say 'Oh, we've answered that."
Mr Zanardi said the compensation he had been offered was inadequate when compared to the project's impact on his property.
"If a coal mine comes within a certain distance of your property they have to buy you out or compensate you but there is no such legislation when it comes to solar farms," he said.
Mr Zanardi said the proponents had refused to accept his argument that the solar farm would destroy his property's value.
"There's a place for sale up the road that has had several people look at it but there hasn't been a single offer," he said.
"The solar farm people reckon it won't affect your property's value but international research shows properties within half a mile of a solar farm lose 40 per cent of their value."
In a statement, Terrain Solar said it took its engagement with local communities seriously and continued to engage to reach agreements that took into account project impacts and fair compensation.
"Our partners, RATCH-Australia also has a strong record and takes pride in their work within the communities where they operate and in the last five years have distributed almost $2.5m in annual community benefit sharing funds, going beyond what is legislatively or regulatory required to share renewable energy benefits with those living closest to the infrastructure," the statement said.
Energy giant AGL advised in August that it had entered into a binding agreement for the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares and units in Firm Power (an unrelated company) and Terrain Solar for approximately $250 million.
Mr Layzell said he totally supported affected residents who were in a David and Goliath battle for justice.
"I keep saying this is a potentially good project but there is so much pressure coming down from the federal government to get these things rolled out that the companies behave like they are untouchable," he said.
"The companies are taking completely the wrong attitude towards residents and they are not being fair in their approach.
"This is a well developed project but they have not finalised neighbourhood agreements with the poor people who live in these houses where the solar farm will be right up to their boundary."
