Shire passes solar farm decision to Planning Minister

THE Surf Coast Shire will seek a ruling from the Victorian Planning Minister on an application for a solar energy plant to be integrated with a wind farm proposed to be built near Inverleigh.

A decision on application for the wind farm automatically rests with the state government.

A ruling on the solar plant would ordinarily rest with the Surf Coast Shire as the responsible planning authority, but the council in this case resolved to ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to consider both applications together to avoid risk of confusion in the community and potentially costly duplication of processes.

The project proponent has indicated that the solar farm will not proceed if the wind farm is not approved, as its sub-station is required for both.

“We hope that the minister will agree to our request so assessment of the applications can be as streamlined as possible,” shire mayor David Bell said.

“Consideration of this as one integrated facility would result in the most orderly planning process and outcome, given the likelihood of high public interest in the project.

“Having people responding on one part of the proposal with us and another part of the proposal with the minister could potentially become unwieldy and confusing.”

Councillors voted at their May 22 meeting in favour of asking the minister to adjudicate on both applications.

External consultation on the wind farm proposal, for Mount Pollock south of Inverleigh, has not yet been undertaken because the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has requested further information.

Community members will have opportunity to make submissions to the minister on the proposal, and all property owners within five kilometres of the proposed development will have to be notified.