Mistake waiting to happen: Mayor writes to Premier

THE poor treatment of community members objecting to a proposed renewable energy facility currently seeking government approval to proceed in the King Valley has been raised with a letter by Wangaratta city Mayor Irene Grant with the Victorian Premier. Cr Grant, who has served multiple terms as a councillor, administrator and mayor, also highlighted a draft VicGrid document currently out for consultation that does not include the North East as a renewable energy zone. Her letter to Premier Jacinta Allan, Treasurer and Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, and Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio expressed her "extreme concern" over the impact the solar facility application has had on the community. "The community has now been subjected to almost three years of uncertainty and emotional anguish which only heightened at a meeting in Bobinawarrah on 5 June," she wrote. "In the guise of community consultation, the meeting attendees were both insulted and patronised by the application presenters (Urbis) with information that was inappropriately researched, incorrect, fabricated in parts and of course did not address the concerns of the audience – it was simply a 'box-ticking exercise' labelled as consultation. "It was painful to watch farming families, many of whom have successfully farmed land for over 100 years, being told that their land was only 'marginal' or that sheep could graze in high rainfall pastures, agriculture did not matter – never mind the cutesy comments about this project being 'good for the local community' despite more than 420 submissions to the contrary and of course the Rural City of Wangaratta rejection on strong planning grounds." Cr Grant explained to the premier that council considered and rejected this application on strong planning grounds and made this clear in its submission to the application process in October 2024. She told the premier that grounds included the impact on a significant water catchment, the loss of prime agricultural land, the environmental impacts on fauna and flora, the unsuitability of unsealed local roads, as well as considerable negative social impacts on the local community. "The Victorian government has invested millions of dollars in the King Valley to support agriculture, viticulture and of course tourism...to allow an industrial development of more than 550 hectares to go ahead would damage this beautiful part of the state forever," she wrote. "We also note the work undertaken on the government's behalf by VicGrid does not identify this area, or region as being suitable for any of the proposed Renewable Energy Zones (REZ’s), for future renewables projects." The draft plan sets out seven draft proposed renewable energy zones: South West, Central Highlands, Grampians Wimmera, Wimmera Southern Mallee, North West, Central North and Gippsland, but the North East is excluded. These are the areas identified as most suitable to host new renewable energy generation, such as wind turbines and solar farms, and battery storage. "We assume that had this application been muted, or made after the finalisation of this important state led work, that the application would have been discouraged, and had a harder road in front of it to be approved?" Cr Grant asked the premier. "We argue that given this work is well advanced it should be given serious weight in the current determination process by government." Council has already invited Minister Kilkenny to visit the site which she declined, and Mayor Grant sent a fresh invite to the premier in her letter. "Please consider the King Valley as a significant water catchment, land that produces food, land with strong environmental values and an important part of the social and economic fabric of Victoria," Cr Grant wrote. "This is not a plea of 'not in my backyard' but rather a statement about a special part of this country." Meadow Creek Solar Farm still being assessed by department THE proposed Meadow Creek Solar Farm, 27km south-east of Wangaratta, and 28km east of Glenrowan will generate up to 332MW of renewable energy - enough to power 110,000 homes and help Victoria to meet its 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2030. The proposal also includes a 250MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to ensure reliable power during peak demand when people need it most. The project is being assessed under the Department of Transport and Planning’s Development Facilitation Program, prioritising projects with significant economic value. After its assessment, the planning permit will be considered by the Victorian Minister for Planning as the responsible minister. The project has also been referred to the Commonwealth Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). Proponents of the project say, if approved, it will provide economic benefit to the region, with local employment opportunities during construction and ongoing operations, as well as engaging local businesses wherever possible. They say it will help reduce energy costs and keeping energy affordable, contribute to a more reliable power supply, enable agricultural activities to continue alongside the solar farm, offer biodiversity protection by enhancing wildlife corridors with new wildlife-friendly fencing, and providing significant landscaping and buffers to protect waterways.

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