Heathcote wine region could become home to Australia’s largest solar farm

Heathcote locals fear Victoria’s new planning regime will see their objections to the solar farm ignored, despite their belief that it contravenes state and local government planning guidelines.

Colbinabbin locals, who are concerned their wishes will be overlooked as the state government considers an 800Ha solar farm in the middle of the renowned Heathcote wine region. Picture taken at Colbinabbin Estate winery. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Victoria’s Heathcote wine region will become home to Australia’s largest solar farm if the state government approves what is set to be one of the first applications under its new planning fast-track for renewable energy projects.

Residents and farmers in ­central Victoria’s Colbinabbin – where multinational company Venn Energy hopes to establish its 800ha Cooba solar farm – say they fear the new planning ­regime will mean their objections to the project are ignored, despite their belief that it contravenes state and local government planning guidelines.

Under changes announced last week by Premier Jacinta Allan and set to apply from April 1, third parties will lose the right to appeal to the decision.

Applications will be determined by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, on the advice of an in-house panel, with decisions required to be made within four months, as the government strives to reach its target of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

John Davies, who with wife Jenny owns the 60ha Colbinabbin Estate vineyard, is spokesman for the Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group, representing about 60 businesses, farmers and residents whose properties surround the proposed solar farm.

Mr Davies he and other group members believed they had a strong case for appeal after examining the planning guidelines.

Colbinabbin Estate vineyard manager Colin Neate. Heathcote wine producers are concerned their wishes will be overlooked as the government considers an 800Ha solar farm in the middle of the renowned region. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“State planning guidelines prioritise the protection of productive agricultural land, and when you have a look at the land in question, it’s not only productive, it’s highly productive – it’s another step above merely productive agricultural land,” Mr Davies said.

Colbinabbin means “the meeting of black and red soils” in the local Ngurelban Indigenous language, and the Mt Camel range, which spans the length of the ­renowned wine region, is home to rare and highly sought-after Cambrian volcanic soil.

An irrigation pipeline providing high-quality water to properties along the range adds even greater value.

The site chosen for the solar farm is home to a plethora of flora and fauna, including centuries-old river redgums and native birds, reptiles and marsupials.

Ironically, it was Colbinabbin that was visited by then Labor minister for conservation, forests and lands, Joan Kirner, in 1986, when the future premier opened one of Victoria’s first Landcare branches.

Mr Davies said his community had confidence, before the planning shake-up, in the independence and authority of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ensure state planning guidelines were followed.

“But we now feel that the calling-in process means the minister doesn’t have to follow any advice. The only avenue for appeal is on a point of law to the Supreme Court (rather than on policy or planning grounds), which is beyond belief,” he said.

“What the Premier has done is to deny citizens natural justice.”

Aerial view of Central Victoria's Heathcote wine region, showing vineyards surrounding the proposed location of the 800Ha Cooba Solar farm.

Campaspe Shire mayor Rob Amos said that while his council was supportive of renewable ­energy projects, they “should not be prioritised over and above other planning objectives, including the loss of or impacts to productive agricultural land”.

“High-value agricultural land like that in Cooba, with unique soil types and access to a reliable supply of water for irrigation, is a precious resource which cannot move, unlike a solar farm whose location criteria is largely determined by access to the grid,” Mr Amos said.

“The recent (planning) announcement is concerning as it reflects an ongoing centralisation of planning to state government and to Melbourne, away from local government and the communities most affected by these decisions.”

A Venn Energy spokeswoman said the projects planning application would be made public as part of the planning process and was “supported by specific studies, comprehensively addressing questions around agriculture, visual impact, hydrology, biodiver­sity and more”.

“Venn’s consultation with the Colbinabbin community is ongoing, and we will continue to meet with relevant community members throughout this process,” she said.

A state government spokeswoman said neighbours and community members would still be able to formally object to projects.