Renewables review recommendations sitting idle

The new energy infrastructure commissioner has called for action on a community engagement review handed down a year ago.

Australia’s newly appointed energy infrastructure commissioner Tony Mahar believes more must be done for rural communities facing a future with renewable energy infrastructure.

The former National Farmers’ Federation chief executive has conceded “too often” angst has developed when “large energy projects are presented to communities with little explanation of why they are needed, when and how decisions will be made”.

He has taken over as the permanent replacement for Andrew Dyer, who spent almost nine years in the role.

One of Mr Dyer’s final jobs was completing a community engagement review in response to concerns from those most affected by large wind and solar farms.

The Wimmera and Mallee regions are witnessing a surge in wind farm proposals with farmers alarmee about growing community divisions between hosts and non-hosts.

But Mr Dyer’s nine recommendations are still to be implemented more than 12 months since they were handed down.

Former National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar has taken over from Andrew Dyer as the nation’s energy infrastructure commissioner Picture: (AAP Image/Lukas Coch).

Mr Mahar said the recommendations must be progressed as a matter of urgency.

“Meaningful engagement sounds easy, but it has proven a challenge,” he said.

“Rural and regional communities in Australia have often been the silent pillars of energy production.

“They have hosted mines, energy infrastructure and pipelines for decades and there are many cases of where this has been done well, where the benefits have been realised.

“But it is not happening well enough or often enough.”

Meanwhile, a recently completed national online survey has found nine out of 10 people opposed renewable projects on farmland.

A survey that attracted 1800 respondents revealed nine out of 10 people opposed renewable projects on farmland.

Farming advocacy group Farms for Food launched the online survey in December after Farmers for Climate Action published survey results last September saying seven in 10 people supported renewable projects on farmland.

More than 1800 people took part in the survey that was the first to specifically include neighbours of renewable projects.

​Of those who responded, 90.1 per cent own, work or have a close connection to farmland.

Ninety-two per cent of all respondents strongly opposed renewable energy projects on farmland.

Of 729 people who classified themselves as a neighbour to a renewable energy project, 81 per cent were in opposition to energy projects.

​Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Ag Protection Association president Ross Johns said the results reflected the conversations it was having in rural Australia.

“The government is out of control and has lost its connection to rural and regional Australia,” he said.

​“It’s a great pity that the governments of Australia are guaranteeing the profits of multinationals over the interests of Australians, energy users and farmers.”