Renewables: Planning application for $750m King Valley solar farm expected to be lodged shortly

Farmers upset at plans for a huge solar farm in North East Victoria are keeping up the fight to stop it proceeding. See the latest.

A farmer-driven bid to halt a $750 million dollar solar farm in the King Valley is ramping up ahead of the anticipated lodging of the planning application for the facility.

The Meadow Creek 330MW solar farm, south of Wangaratta, has been on the drawing board for more than a year, but has met strong resistance from a community action group made up mostly of farmers.

An estimated 160 people attended a meeting on Tuesday night at the Bobinawarrah Hall to outline the next steps in the fight against the solar farm.

More than 160 people attended a public meeting at Bobinawarrah Hall to discuss opposition to the nearby Meadow Creek solar farm proposal. Picture: Supplied

John Conroy said lodging of the planning application would be a “really significant move”.

“It’s completely inappropriate to be putting an industrial facility of this scale in this area,” he said.

“As a community we’re leaving no stone unturned in our fight.

“Up until now the only response we’re going to get from the (state government) planning department is that they’ve seen no application so they can’t comment.

“We’ve fought hard so far and made people aware of the issues.

“They’ve painted a pretty picture, but we’re exposing the flaws.

“It is going to increase fire risk in our region.

“It is 2.5km from a state park.”

Mr Conroy said governments would be better served purchasing big parcels of low-value land to develop large solar hubs rather than allowing developers to target prime agricultural farmland in an ad hoc manner.

A large crowd attended a public meeting to continue the fight against a solar farm being built in the King Valley. Picture: Supplied

A large solar farm already exists at nearby Glenrowan West and local beef producer Jacqui Fogarty urged the Meadow Creek group “to stick together and fight”.

“It has divided our community here unfortunately,” she said.

“I’m living with it now, the depression, the anxiety, people need to be aware of their mental health and keep a lookout for a each other.

“It does affect you because it feels as though you are fighting the government basically.”

The planning application will address issues including visual amenity, agriculture and land use, traffic and transport, noise and vibration and cultural heritage.

The Meadow Creek solar farm developers have been contacted for comment.