An international company is planning to build a massive solar farm in the midst of the Colbinabbin wine region, and the locals are not happy.
A community action group has been formed and a petition is being organised, although the residents are concerned that new state planning processes will limit their ability to intervene.
According to Victorian Government records, the Venn Energy project known as Cooba, with a projected capacity of 300 megawatts, is currently under consideration.
It would be one of the largest solar farms in Victoria if it goes ahead, but it is close to a developing vine growing region.
Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group chair John Davies said the proposed solar farm was in the wrong spot.
“Only about four per cent of Australia is arable land; we need to keep the best land for more productive use,” he said.
Mr Davies said the area was also serviced by Goulburn-Murray Water, which could provide a quality water source.
“Our group is not against renewables; we just believe this is in the wrong place.”
The group is also arguing that there is a heat island effect.
“If you have 1600 acres [650 hectares] of solar panels our big concern is that there will be a micro-climate created which could push up the temperature by three degrees in a region that is noted for its soil and climate for vine growing,” Mr Davies said.
He said the size of the farm would turn the area into an industrial-looking landscape which would impinge on the region’s growing attraction to tourists.
“A solar facility of this size would have a catastrophic impact on the landscape and consequently harm expanding wine tourism in the region.“
Mr Davies, who owns the Colbinabbin Estate, operating a a vineyard on 72 hectares, said the development company had not called any public meetings but was meeting with neighbouring property owners on a one-to-one basis.
He said this application would be dealt with by the Victorian energy minister and there was no appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“The government has removed the checks and balances from the process.”
The proposed solar farm falls within the Heathcote region of the Geographical Indication region, a system established to identify where wine grapes come from.
The Venn company did not respond to a request from Country News.
The Cooba Solar Farm website has been taken down.
The nearby Corop solar farm, which has been approved, is expected to generate 440MW of power.