Protect farms from energy projects

VFF president Emma Germano said the transition to renewable energy could not come at the cost of losing the state’s most valuable farmland.

“Victoria needs to take a balanced approach to renewable energy development,” Ms Germano said.

“Victorian food and fibre production must be acknowledged for the value it provides the state.

“Victoria produces 30 per cent of the nation’s food from just 1.5 per cent of Australia’s land mass.

“Any reduction in that area will have a drastic impact on the quantity and variety of food available to the community.

“The first step to doing this is identifying and protecting our most strategically significant farmland that underpins jobs and food security.

“The Paris Agreement requires that responses to climate change must not threaten food production.”

As part of its recent submission to the government’s statewide transmission plan, the VFF has identified key farming regions that are critical to the state’s food security, exports and jobs in the food processing and manufacturing sectors.

“The areas we have identified have some of the best soils, access to water and proximity to manufacturing hubs and infrastructure. These things cannot be replicated elsewhere,” Ms Germano said.

“The regions identified on the map we have provided to the government indicates which farmland is the least compatible with large scale renewable energy and transmission infrastructure.

“The government needs to take a strong policy position to protect this land and demonstrate to the community that it values the importance of farming to the Victorian economy and community.

“Whilst we are saying there should be a red light to development in these regions, we are not saying there should be a green light to bulldoze over the rest of the state’s farmland.

“All renewable energy and transmission infrastructure must be properly planned in a way that is compatible with existing agricultural uses.

“We are calling for a dedicated land access code of practice for infrastructure development to control the poor behaviour of energy developers, better protect farmers’ rights and ensure that infrastructure is located in ways that minimise disruptions to farm operations and businesses,” Ms Germano said.

The VFF has an overlay sketch depicting the areas it wants protection for, including a large part of northern Victoria, which is one of Victoria’s main dairy production regions.

The submission points out that dairy processors are key employers in many regional areas such as Kyabram, Girgarre, Shepparton, Tatura and Strathmerton.

“The nature of dairy production systems (animal welfare; daily milking) sees the increased need for accommodation on-farm, including for farm workers,” Ms Germano said.

“Wind energy approvals now include a restriction on housing within 2km of turbines.

“This is making it difficult to develop on-farm housing and is discouraging the purchase of land that is blighted by renewable energy.”