Kiewa Valley: Lithium battery proposal rocks Dederang

Keiwa Valley farmers and residents are digging in to stop a lithium battery facility being built on farmland. See the details.

Kiewa Valley farmers and residents are digging in for a fight to stop a lithium battery facility being built on farmland near Dederang.

Mint Renewables, which aims to “solve the challenges that are already slowing the energy transition”, have a struck a deal to lease privately-owned land to create a 400-megawatt battery energy storage system.

A public meeting attended by close to 200 people last week was their first step in trying to stop the project earmarked for the Yackandandah-Dederang Road site.

“We have a great fear of what this proposal will do to our valley,” neighbouring property owner Sharon McEvoy said.

“We are not against renewables, but we strongly feel the Kiewa Valley is not the place for them.”

Dederang farmer Sharon McEvoy and husband John own the neighbouring property where a lithium battery facility is being proposed by Mint Renewables. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Among concerns raised at the public meeting were a facility of its type being built in a known high-risk bushfire region, potential contamination of nearby waterways, site clean-up and impact on land values.

Mint Renewables didn’t attend the meeting, but said in a statement: “A planning permit, if approved, will have site-specific conditions addressing safety and fire risk which Mint will comply with.

“This will require the final selected battery units and site layout to meet the technical standards required to minimise the risk of thermal runaway and fire risks.”

The project’s size and scale means approval from the state government will be required.

Murray Valley MP Tim McCurdy, who called the public meeting, said he would only meet with Mint Renewables if community representatives were present.

Kiewa Valley farmers, from left, Paul Ingram, John and Sharon McEvoy, Chris Hicks and Mick Fisher-Smith are fighting the creation of a lithium battery facility near Dederang. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mrs McEvoy said renewables companies were zeroing in on North East Victoria due to capacity upgrades to Glenrowan and Dederang transmission lines.

Farmers and business owners are also fighting plans to create a 570ha King Valley solar farm.

“These developers will blaze a trail for others to follow,” she said.

“There is already a second agreement in place with a landholder.

“For our economy to function we need affordable food and energy.

“You can construct a battery farm anywhere, but our secure food production is often restricted to high rainfall, productive farming land.”

A fire from a 13-tinne lithium battery unit at a Tesla battery site in Geelong in July 2021. Picture: Fire Rescue Victoria

The Mint Renewables spokeswoman said initial grid investigations suggested it was a “suitable location”.

“The site is directly adjacent to the approximately 8ha Dederang terminal station, one of the largest grid terminal stations in the state, and adjacent to multiple high voltage transmission lines.

“This minimises the change in landscape character and need for additional connection infrastructure.”