The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the Allan Labor Government to reject the application put forward by Venn Energy for the Cooba Solar Facility.
Ms Cleeland put forward the request during the most recent sitting week of Parliament, sharing the concerns of the Colbinabbin community.
“This proposed renewable energy project has left community members in towns like Colbinabbin feeling frustrated and ignored, with the 665-hectare site set to consume much of the region’s prime agricultural land,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Locals have made it clear they are not against renewable projects; they just don’t believe ones like this should consume such productive land when there are several alternative options available.”
The 740,000 eight-metre-tall solar panels for the site are set to be constructed in the middle of the Heathcote Wine GI, which includes prime, highly arable agricultural land on the eastern slope of the Mt Camel hill range.
“Local winegrowers have shared fears about the impact this massive project may have on the local microclimate – something they say will dramatically alter their ability to grow grapes for their wine,” Ms Cleeland said.
The project has also been criticised by the Campaspe Shire Council, who share concerns about the location of the proposed facility and the lack of community consultation involved.
“Sadly, locals in the towns surrounding this proposed solar facility have been ignored and Venn Energy has failed to carry out effective community consultation,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We simply cannot allow large corporations to swoop into our communities, dismiss the concerns of the people, then take all the benefits offshore, leaving locals in a worse position than before.”
The frustrations of the community have been voiced in the form of a petition that Ms Cleeland has sponsored and tabled in Parliament.
The petition has reached nearly 2000 signatures, with responses coming all the way from Bendigo.
“With Colbinabbin having a population of less than 300 people, it is clear this issue is resonating with people from across regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.
“I implore the Minister to listen to members of the Colbinabbin community and ensure the application for this project is rejected for the sake of the local region.”
