‘It will forever change our lives’: Vic farmers close gates on govt’s Renewable Energy Zones project

Victorian farmers have banded together to map out 600,000ha of land where solar fields, wind farms and battery storage are not welcome in a bid to halt a controversial government project.

Victorian farmers are pulling together a map of no-go zones for renewable energy projects with over 600,000 hectares marked.

Victoria farmers fearful of the mass rollout of solar fields, wind farms, battery storage, and transmission lines in regional Victoria have begun mapping out where projects are not welcome in the bid to halt a controversial government project.

More than 600,000 hectares have already been publicly lodged as a “no-go zone” by farm owners in central Victoria and more farmers are being urged to close the gate and fight the rollout.

It comes after farmers have slammed the state’s public consultation on the proposed Renewable Energy Zones, saying consultation by the agency set up by the government, VicGrid, to pave the way is a “sham”.

Marcia McIntyre with her family at the sight of proposed Transmission lines near Kanya. Picture: Rob Leeson

Sheep and cropping farmer Marcia McIntyre, 42, from the Wimmera, said agricultural communities are highly “distressed” by the push for new zones.

“The large majority of farmers do not want to be in a REZ and do not want any of these turbines, panels, transmission lines and batteries. It’s a very small minority that sign up to these things,” she said.

“We are not talking about a small amount of impact, it’s on horrific proportions and the regions do not want it.

“People do not want their land devalued or permanently damaged, nor the native environment destroyed, they want to live in their own homes and enjoy their own land.”

Ms McIntyre says despite community objections within her region an early maps released by VicGrid in December — as part of their ongoing $540m renewable energy transition plan — designated vast swathes of their community as a premium renewable energy zones (REZ).

Tier 1 locations have been identified across the Lodden Mallee, Central Highlands, and Wimmera. While to the east, Gippsland areas have been rated tier 3.

Farmers who have been placed in Renewable Energy Zones say they haven’t been properly consulted by the government. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Another farmer, Julie Weir from Karyrie, described the stress as “all-consuming.”

“It will forever change our lives environmentally, emotionally, socially and economically.

“Just the proposition of becoming a REZ has already changed our lives and communities beyond repair.”

She is encouraging more farmers to register their opposition to the zones on the No Rez Map circulating in the community.

Victorian Farmers Federation head Brett Hosking said the state government’s move was of major concern to farmers as there was little regulation or protection for landholders.

“No one is denying climate change,” he said.

“We all acknowledge we need to cut our emissions and that the way the rollout is happening, but the way communities have been engaged with, the way farmers are being treated is appalling.”

He said the state government needed to rethink its move to impose new zones on entire communities.

He added that farmers were already regularly being hassled by commercial company prospectors to have energy infrastructure built on their land, “which is overwhelming.”

He said companies offer a mix of deals but that it was difficult for owners to understand the implications.

“The problem is the rules and regulations on these things are not fit for purpose.

“We need rules that protect people, but that are also flexible.

“We need to force the infrastructure developers to engage with neighbours like buffers zones applying on the home property and not impacting what neighbours want to do.”

a Victorian Government spokesperson said: “As our aging coal fire power plants retire, it is critical we connect new renewable generation into the grid to keep the lights on and deliver affordable energy to all Victorians, while also generating over $7 billion in investment in regional Victoria including direct benefits to local communities.”

“We established VicGrid to coordinate renewable energy planning, ensuring we build the right infrastructure in the right place, include local communities early in the planning process, and protect our energy, food and water security. We’re also creating funds for communities that host Renewable Energy Zones so they can share in the benefits.”

“VicGrid will soon release the draft Victorian Transmission Plan for consultation, which will provide a 15-year plan for Victoria’s Renewable Energy Zones and is drawing upon over 60 datasets and extensive public input.”

Originally published as ‘It will forever change our lives’: Vic farmers close gates on govt’s Renewable Energy Zones project