Local leaders challenge Colbinabbin’s solar project problem

By Jemma Jones

Jul 9, 2024

**Colbinabbin Renewable Action chair John Davies lead discussions with Peter Walsh and Cr Paul Jarman when they visited residents of the neighboring properties to the proposed Cooba Solar Facility** Photo by Jemma Jones

Local leaders have put their two cents in about the controversial proposed solar facility in Colbinabbin.

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Families and residents residing next to the land proposed for the divisive Cooba Solar Project received a visit from state Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and Rochester-ward Cr Paul Jarman on Wednesday, July 3.

The visit was brought on by ongoing concerns that the solar facility will impede the agriculture land that the solar project is currently proposed to be built.

Sixteen community members and residents of neighbouring farms gathered in Peter Tuohey’s home overlooking the proposed site for the Cooba Solar facility.

All sixteen attendees are also a part of the Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group, which consists of approximately 150 local Colbinabbin business owners, farmers, neighbours and residents opposing the solar project.

The discussions were in public, where Mr Walsh and Cr Jarman heard from residents about their concerns before entering into a private conversation later on in the day away from prying eyes and cameras.

The main emotion felt in the public morning gathering was one of motivation for action and change.

Mr Walsh and Cr Jarman heard from the affected residents about issues that could be brought upon by the development of the solar facility including visual amenity, loss of intergeneration farming, fire risk, the insurance impact, agritourism, and the proposed land being “prime agricultural land” and “arable”, of which only four per cent of land in Australia is arable according to the Victorian Farmer’s Federation (VFF)

Arable land, according to the VFF is “land used or suitable for growing crops.”

Colbinabbin Renewable Action group chair, John Davies lead discussions with Mr Walsh and Cr Jarman with the main point being that the proposed land being “prime agricultural land” goes against the requirements listed in the Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guideline.

The guideline states: “A solar energy facility should not lead to ... the loss of productive, state-significant agricultural land.”

The Colbinabbin Renewable Action group argues that the proposed land is on “prime agricultural land” which goes against state guidelines for solar projects. Photo by Jemma Jones

In the June 18 Council meeting, Cr Jarman lead the motion for a submission to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in relation to the role that communities play in the development of renewable projects.

In the Council meeting, he addressed the Cooba Solar Farm project and the issue of local government not having a role in the decision-making aside from advocating.

“Because of local government’s inability to influence that decision other than advocate and lobby on beside of for our community – it really is an issue that many of local government, particularly in regionals around transmission lines, solar farms and renewables in general,”

“It’s absolutely crucial that we embrace this type of technology, I’m not against that - but it also needs to be better understood where appropriate locations are, particularly at the expense of high value rural lands that is the backbone of our community,”

In the meeting with the Colbinabbin residents, he seconded that opinion.

**Peter Walsh and Cr Paul Jarman listened to the concerns and worries of Colbinabbin residents that will be “directly affected” by the development of the Cooba Solar Facility** Photo by Jemma Jones

“It’s quite a large development, and the site’s quite unique; hence you have Peter’s interest and I have come out here to essentially get a better understanding so that we can form a view on where we are,” Cr Jarman said.

“Campaspe Shire is absolutely pro-renewable… but what the concerns that I’ve got, and I can only speak for myself, is that appropriate location of those renewables is really the discussion that I’m here to understand to sort of inform the opinion.”

In the public meeting, Mr Walsh did not comment on a lot, but was interested to hear what the group’s process going forward was.

The next step in the process is a waiting game, essentially.

The group needs to wait for Venn energy to submit a further information requirement document which will include information about cultural heritage, environmental impact and other factors.

This document will be up on public display before the Victorian planning minister decides whether the project will continue.

After meeting with the residents of Colbinabbin and members of the Renewable Action group, Mr Walsh confirmed he will be supporting them in their opposition to the Cooba Solar farm.

“The locals have a very solid and well-planned position on why this project should not go ahead and while no-one doubts the long-term need for renewable sources of energy in the overall mix to keep the state’s lights on and businesses and factories working, at this stage there needs to be a more considered approach as to where these facilities are sited,” Mr Walsh said.

He said he will work with National Members for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, who has previously voiced support for the opposition of the project, to make sure that the project is moved to a more suitable place that “is not in the heart of such prime agricultural country.”