Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Ovens Valley solar projects

Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (09:52): I rise to put on record my bitter disappointment about the battery energy storage system project that was given the green light at Dederang last week. After a couple of years of angst, research and public meetings, this hardworking community have been let down by the Allan Labor government. Renewables have a place in our energy mix, but they should never be used to belt a community into submission. The lack of consultation is an insult to this community and shows that it always was and always will be a box-ticking exercise – consulted the community, tick.

Further to this, Bobinawarrah – or Meadow Creek, as the proponents like to call it – is a solar factory proposition 20 kilometres from Wangaratta. Again we have a community that has objected to the location on prime agricultural land, with genuine concerns for the future sustainability of farming in this region should this project get the green light too. Submissions have closed for those objecting to this solar factory, and I note the Goulburn–Murray Water report says the proposal is not in accordance with the guidance of the EPA guideline for onsite wastewater management. The proposal poses a high risk of offsite impacts and poses a high risk to the water quality of the Ovens River at Wangaratta, especially in their special water supply catchment. Only time will tell if the Victorian government is prepared to risk the water supply that supplies the Wangaratta community of some 30,000 people or if, like the Dederang community and the Colbinabbin renewable projects, it simply gets rubberstamped and the project continues with the renewables-at-any-cost agenda. If submissions are closed for the public, then they should be closed for everyone. The GMW report does not and will not pass the pub test to install a solar factory in Bobinawarrah. It is over to you, Minister.