Wednesday, 13 August 2025

 Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) presented a petition bearing 500 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the Fera Australia wind energy facility proposal in the Koyuga Nanneella area. While we support renewable energy initiatives, we firmly oppose the proposed location. Fera intends to install 25 wind turbines with a towering tip height of 265 metres and blades spanning 170 metres. The small land allotments in our area mean that many neighbours would live in close proximity to the proposed facility. Fera’s proposed setback distance of only one kilometre between the turbines and neighbouring homes falls significantly short of best practices. According to the NSW draft wind energy policy framework, a turbine this size should be no less than 2.25 kilometres from neighbouring dwellings.

The proposed location lies on a floodplain and upgrades required to access roads, installation of crane pads, and soil relocation during construction could obstruct floodwater flow. This facility could exacerbate future flooding risks. The site earmarked is productive irrigatable land used for intensive food production. Installing wind turbines here would compromise valuable agricultural resources.

The Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to withhold approval of the Fera Australia Koyuga Nanneella wind farm based on its unsuitable location.

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.