Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Emma Kealy has slammed the Labor Government’s approval of the Warracknabeal Energy Park, accusing Labor of ignoring legitimate concerns from neighbouring farmers and Yarriambiack Shire Council.
Ms Kealy said renewable energy projects could bring investment and opportunities to regional communities, but these benefits must not come at the expense of farmers’ rights, productive agricultural land or local infrastructure.
“This project may well deliver benefits to our region, but that doesn’t give Labor a free pass to ignore the people who will have to live with its impacts,” Ms Kealy said.
“Farmers and neighbours have raised serious questions about agricultural land, property values, turbine setbacks and compensation. They deserve proper answers, not a government that simply pushes ahead.
“Labor hasn’t even adopted all the recommendations of its own independent inquiry panel and failed to require specific agricultural expertise on that panel in the first place.
“Some neighbouring landholders are yet to secure compensation arrangements, but Labor has pushed ahead with approval through a planning scheme amendment, denying them the usual right to challenge a planning permit decision at VCAT.
“It’s extraordinary that people who will have to live with the consequences of this development have been denied a fair opportunity to appeal.”
Ms Kealy said the decision also exposed Labor’s failure to adequately plan for the project’s impact on local communities.
“We’re being told this project will create around 950 jobs during construction. That could be a great opportunity for our region, but where will these workers come from, and where will they live?
“Yarriambiack Shire Council has raised serious concerns about the pressure on local housing, roads and essential services, yet Labor has failed to demonstrate how these impacts will be managed or who will pay for them.
“It’s simply not good enough to approve a development of this scale without resolving these fundamental questions, then expect a small rural council and its ratepayers to pick up the pieces.”
Ms Kealy said The Nationals would restore fairness and accountability to renewable energy planning decisions.
“The Nationals will restore the right to appeal renewable energy planning decisions at VCAT, so affected landholders and neighbours have a genuine opportunity to challenge decisions that impact their properties and livelihoods.
“My Agricultural Land and Food Security Bill would establish a renewable energy rehabilitation and bond scheme, ensuring developers are financially accountable for restoring land at the end of a project’s life.
“It would also require the net impact on Victoria’s agricultural capability to be measured, publicly reported and mandated as a consideration in the approval process.
“The Nationals will also introduce a two-kilometre buffer between wind turbines and neighbouring residences to better protect rural families.
“Renewable energy developments should be assessed on their merits, with proper consideration of their benefits and impacts. Farmers should not be expected to surrender their rights or bear unfair costs simply because the Government wants a project approved.
“People who live and work in the Wimmera know their land and their communities. Their concerns should carry real weight in decisions that affect their future.
“Country Victorians deserves more than consultation that doesn’t lead to answers.
“The Nationals will stand up for local decision-making, protect agricultural land and ensure regional communities receive their fair share of the benefits, not just the burden, of major developments.”