Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Renewable energy infrastructure

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (19:14): (1467) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. In light of the rapid expansion of renewable energy developments across Northern Victoria, my job is to listen to people and raise their concerns. In the government’s pursuit of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035, and with a growing population, it is evident that the number of large-scale projects in our region will only increase. I attended a community forum with my Nationals colleague Dr Anne Webster in Birchip last weekend, and we heard that there are plans for 600 to 700 wind turbines within close proximity to the town. They are up to 280 metres high. I know that in close proximity to Bendigo there are proposals for very large solar farms. There is the Goornong solar farm, the Fosterville solar farm and the Axedale solar farm, which includes 70 to 80 forty-foot containers with batteries. There is the Muskerry solar power station, about half a million solar panels across a thousand acres, and also the Colbinabbin solar farm, another 700,000 solar panels. Local residents and the Campaspe Shire Council said:

… the development would cover prime agricultural land with eight-metre-high solar panels.

I have spoken with a farmer who has been approached by 13 different companies seeking to utilise his farmland, and I know many other farmers who have grown very tired of having to get across all the information. Many have raised legitimate questions that deserve answers. The action I seek is for the government to produce an easy-to-understand guide that provides answers to these frequently asked questions to address their concerns.

Last week I met with Andrew Woodhams on his farm in Axedale. He inadvertently found out about a massive solar farm planned for the property next door. He developed a solar neighbourhood agreement. They decided to relocate their home on the property to avoid it overlooking the panels. The company agreed to plant trees and change the colour of the fence and work around their home. But unfortunately the company was sold to another international company and their previous neighbourhood agreement has been thrown out. Much to their frustration, their beautiful newly constructed home will now be located right opposite the solar farm.

Concerns have been raised about some solar developments. I know we had the solar farm at Cohuna, which has been closed for the past 12 months following a fire. Also just recently we had another solar farm catch alight in Raywood. The local town was warned about the toxic smoke, and it took hours for the CFA to put it out. There are a number of questions that need to be addressed: the fire risk, the burden on CFA volunteers, what happens to wind and solar farms at the end of their life, what rights residents have to ensure neighbourhood agreements are honoured, the insurance requirements for neighbours and what happens if they are found liable for damage to a neighbouring solar farm, how local communities and neighbours will be compensated, what research has been done to consider the heat impact of large-scale solar panels on surrounding properties and what opportunities exist for recycling the solar panels. There have also been concerns about wind turbine blades shedding on stock, the health of stock and the impact on classification of wool, and abattoirs putting restrictions on stock that have been grazed under solar panels. I ask the minister to produce a guide to address these concerns.