Colbinabbin community takes fight to Parliament

THE rural community of Colbinabbin united with MPs and councillors to take their fight to parliament to oppose Venn Energy’s Cooba Solar Project recently.

They believe the project contravenes the government’s own Solar Energy Facilities planning guidelines.

“Colbinabbin farmers, community members, business owners and members of the Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group (C.R.A.G) filled the gallery in Parliament House on Wednesday, 2 April,” said John Davies, chair of the Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group.

“They witnessed five Liberal and National MPs launch their adjournment campaign calling for five State Minsters to adhere to their own government’s planning guidelines and reject planning application 2403122, lodged by Venn Energy, for a permit to use and develop prime agricultural land in Colbinabbin for a solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) energy facility.”

Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell called for the Minister for Planning to reject permit application 2403122, on the grounds that it contravenes the government’s own planning guidelines in two key aspects.

“It will take valuable state-significant agricultural land out of production and it will ruin the landscape, values and views of the area by turning a beautiful pastoral scene into an eyesore of metal and glass,” she said.

Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad informed the Minister for Agriculture that ag is the main economic driver at Colbinabbin and the Campaspe Shire, and the proposed site of 665 hectares of 700,000 solar panels and over 100 battery storage containers is on prime agriculture land.

Ms Broad noted her disappointment in learning that the project developer did not complete any soil testing of the area and significantly understated the quality of the soil in their proposal, using data from the City of Greater Bendigo, which is vastly different.

Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security David Davis called on the Minister for Energy and Resources to adhere to the Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guidelines.

Member for the North Eastern Metropolitan Region Richard Welch called for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events to meet with the Colbinabbin community who have spent decades building a future based on wine, food, nature, art and tourism.

“They have done everything right: investing in all these areas, creating jobs and drawing visitors to a vibrant, emerging and scenic destination with over 60 wineries,” he said.

Member for Western Victoria Joe McCracken called on the Minister for Emergencies to work with other ministerial colleagues to ensure greater consultation within approval processes with farmers, landholders and interested parties.

Mr Davies said the respective ministers have 30 days to respond to the calls.