‘Voices ignored’: Labor MP wants govt’s renewable energy zone plans for western Vic to be dumped
A Victorian Labor MP has called for renewable energy zone proposals to be dumped for the Grampians and Wimmera regions as angry regional Victorians prepare to rally against the rollout.
Victoria
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A Labor MP has sensationally called for some Victorian communities to be spared from the rollout of controversial new renewable energy zones proposed by the Allan government that will pave the way for massive solar and wind projects.
Martha Haylett, who holds the marginal seat of Ripon in the state’s west, has written to VicGrid – the government agency in charge of planning the state’s ambitious renewables rollout – urging them to dump proposed zones in the Grampians and Wimmera regions.
In the letter to the VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker, seen by the Herald Sun, Ms Haylett called for the new zones to be “reconsidered,” warning that the community opposing them feel “their voices have been ignored”.
“It is critical that the renewable energy projects have social licence to proceed, and it is clear that the communities of Marnoo, Rich Avon East, Wallaloo, Morri Morri, Joel Joel, Navarre, and Paradise object to being included in the Grampians Wimmera REZ,” she said.
It comes after VicGrid released maps in May signposting where wind and solar are best suited in Victoria, mainly in areas where thousands of farmers and residents had raised objections.
The report also outlined the locations of hundreds of kilometres of new transmission lines.
The Allan government is currently pushing a bill in parliament to introduce the new zones, but also to give transmission companies new powers to enter private property without consent, with any landholder obstructing access facing a fine of $1221 or a penalty of $12,210 if they go to court.
The legislation and the renewable rollout has enraged communities across regional Victoria, with hundreds of angry residents expected to attend a rally on the steps of parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Andrew Weidemann AM, Rupanyup farmer and meeting co-ordinator, urged anyone affected to attend.
“This legislation is a step too far,” he said.
“It shows no respect for farmers, for privacy, for biosecurity, for family life … The Victorian government appears to be taking away our rights to private property, whereby anyone can enter our family farms, our paddocks, our backyards, front yards, and courtyards without our consent.”
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