Cleeland hosts renewable energy roundtable to put regional communities first

Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has joined Shadow Minister for Energy David Davis and Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell in Benalla to hear directly from communities living alongside renewable energy developments.

Representatives from communities impacted by the Glenrowan West, Mokoan West and Goorambat renewable energy projects attended a roundtable discussion to share their experiences, highlighting the challenges and impact that has come with Labor’s reckless renewable rollout.

The discussion focused on protecting regional communities from international companies that have destroyed the environment and divided communities, with participants raising issues including community consultation, transmission infrastructure, agricultural impacts, landholder rights and the need for lasting local benefits.

The roundtable was an opportunity to share the Liberals and Nationals’ commitment to energy security, including reinstating the two kilometre buffer, making community voice critical and central to all decisions, reinstating the VCAT right to appeal, allowing councils to contribute to permit approvals, and protecting prime agricultural land.

Ms Cleeland said regional communities’ voices want to be protected and genuinely heard, rather than silenced and objection rights destroyed.

“Communities like Glenrowan West, Mokoan West and Goorambat are living with the reality of these projects every day. They deserve genuine consultation, clear communication and confidence that their concerns are being listened to before decisions are made,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Regional Victorians expect renewable energy projects to be planned responsibly, with respect for productive farmland, local communities and the people who call these areas home – that has not been the case under Labor.”

“Under Labor, regional Victorians have been left to deal with the consequences of a reckless rollout. This government has allowed some of the worst renewable energy operators to come into Victoria with no real rule book – just guidelines that have been routinely ignored. They have steamrolled our communities, torn through pristine environments and called it environmental progress.

“Communities feel abused and divided. Neighbours have been pitted against each other, dissent has been silenced, and some operators aren’t even offering the community fund support they promised. Families are living with the strain, land values have been smashed, insurance risk has gone up, and there are still no proper protections in place if a catastrophic fire or environmental crisis is triggered – the decommissioning guidelines themselves are deeply concerning.”

“The Liberals and Nationals will protect prime agricultural land and the future of these communities. That means putting community voice back at the centre of every decision, not treating regional Victoria as collateral damage in Labor’s rollout.”