MINISTER for the State Electricity Commission (SEC), Lily D’Ambrosio, believes concerns over land disputes of renewable energy projects, including the proposed $750m Meadow Creek project proposed near Moyhu, can be resolved with a balanced consultation approach.
The Meadow Creek project is slated to be up to a 330 megawatt (MW) site, potentially providing clean energy to 110,000 regional homes as part of an increasing focus on renewables in North East Victoria.
Concerns have previously been raised by community members about run-off from the development filtering into the nearby King River and Hurdle Creek, as well as an anticipated spike in insurance premiums for landowners who neighbour the solar farm.
A King Valley CFA captain also raised concerns around a lack of clear instruction and training in the event of a fire at the proposed 1400 acre solar farm, which borders the existing Bobinawarrah CFA shed and town hall.
Visiting Glenrowan Solar Farm late last month, Minister D’Ambrosio said she was confident good engagement with the local community and local emergency services would accommodate interests of all parties to bring forward the “benefit” of renewable energy projects in the region.
Latest Stories
“Sharing of land or land use is always going to be a fundamental question and that is why with all developers of renewable energy projects, I know there is a big focus on how they engage with local communities and their councils,” she said.
“We want Victorians to feel confident that those critical decision points are available to everyone to be able to put forward their views and balanced decisions will be taken to abide guidelines.”
But One Nation upper house MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell wants to legislate stricter regulations on where solar farms can be built.
Following consultations with the Meadow Creek Agricultural Community Action Group, and others, she has lodged a bill to be discussed in parliament this month.
Ms Tyrell said her Planning and Environment Amendment (Soil Protection) (Solar Power Generation Facilities) Bill 2023 was not anti-solar power generation, but hoped to ensure the protection of important land.
“I support responsible renewable energy projects, but we must take a cautious approach to make sure such projects are established on suitable land,” she said.
“My bill is one of common sense and simply legislates the existing departmental considerations regarding where future solar farms should be built.”
Newly elected National Farmers Federation (NFF) president David Jochinke also expressed his concerns on the proposed project on “prime agricultural land” to national media this week, seeking more consultation with farmers and regional communities when presented with renewable energy projects.
Ms D’Ambrosio’s visited Glenrowan Solar Farm following the State Government’s announcement of the incoming SEC’s strategic plan, with the aim of guiding the state to 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035.
