Renewable divide: Farmers query RMCG consultancy’s independence

Consultancy firm RMCG is being paid by solar farm developers, while advising government on the impact of renewables on agriculture.

The RMCG consultancy is being asked for “credible, evidence-based advice” on the impacts of VNI West, while also doing work for renewable project proponents.

Rural consultants RMCG are being paid by the Victorian government to independently assess the impacts of renewable energy projects and the VNI West project on agriculture – while also being paid to undertake assessments for solar farm developers.

Planning documents show RMCG has been paid by the developers seeking planning approval to build solar farms at Meadow Creek, Viewbank and Bookar.

One farming family opposed to a solar farm project, on which RMCG advised the agricultural impacts would be “insignificant”, said the consultancy could not take developer’s money and then portray itself as independent.

The government has appointed RMCG as its “specialist VicGrid agriculture consultancy”, to give independent advice on renewable energy zone impacts on agriculture.

RMCG has also been contracted to facilitate and chair Transmission Company Victoria’s Community Reference Group, which gathers feedback from farmers and other community leaders on the controversial VNI West Interconnector transmission line that will feed renewable electricity into Melbourne and interstate.

Some members of the CRG have questioned why RMCG is facilitating their meetings and asked: “How can RMCG be taking money from (renewables) proponents and be seen as independent?”

RMCG has also appointed its principal consultant Claire Flanagan-Smith as chair of the CRG, a move that members say breaches their terms of reference, which state it and the chair “are required to act with independence”.

But while Ms Flanagan-Smith is a principal consultant with RMCG, she said “my role as chair is not to take sides but to facilitate open, fair discussions where all voices are heard on matters within scope”.

Ms Flanagan-Smith said RMCG was also conducting the agricultural and cultural heritage assessments for the VNI West Environmental Effects Statement.

VNI West program director Tony Hedley said the chair worked “at arm’s length from TCV, and was required to act with independence”.

As for RMCG being awarded contracts to undertake TCV’s VNI West EES, Mr Hedley said another firm AECOM had won the contract and had chosen to subcontract multiple consultants, including RMCG.

Ms Flanagan-Smith said RMCG’s role in the EES process was “to provide credible, evidence-based advice on agricultural and cultural heritage impacts of the project”.

“As a business deeply rooted in agriculture and rural communities, we acknowledge the challenges associated with working on complex issues and take careful precautions to ensure confidentiality, independence and transparency.

“It is important to note that while we work across sectors, we do not have a governance role in these projects, which allows us to maintain our independence.”