‘Buying time for the Reef': $300m earmarked for novel coral research

Dozens of experiments aimed at bolstering the resilience of Great Barrier Reef corals will receive as much as $300 million in public and private funds over five years to give reefs a fighting chance against climate change.

As the third mass coral bleaching event in five years unfolds on the Great
 Barrier Reef and in the Coral Sea, the government is planning to test
 different approaches to make corals more resilient.

The Morrison government's support for 43 so-called interventions - ranging from pumping up cooler waters to making artificial sea fogs to reduce temperature - comes as researchers report the latest mass coral bleaching has extended to the Coral Sea.

The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program - the result of a two-year feasibility study that winnowed down 160 ventures seeking more research - was "our chance to shine", Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.

"We know that climate change is the number one challenge to our reef but we also know there is much we can do to prepare the reef to become as resilient as it needs to be," she said.

Read the story from The Age by Peter Hannam - “‘Buying time for the Reef': $300m earmarked for novel coral research.”

Solar farm support urged

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed believes the city’s council could use some Victorian Government help in assessing $300 million worth of solar farm applications, viewed by some councillors as problematic to determine.

Suzanna Sheed.

While Ms Sheed acknowledged the Moira Shire had no issue dealing with its own solar farm applications worth hundreds of millions, she identified a distinction between the land the solar farms were proposed for in the Moira Shire compared to Greater Shepparton.

‘‘Where a number of the applications, I understand, are to build on productive agricultural farming properties,’’ she said.

Ms Sheed said she had contacted Victoria’s planning minister outlining the concerns of constituents and objectors.

She said in circumstances where there was ‘‘a strong government policy to pursue renewable energy’’ she suggested help could be offered to ensure decisions made were sustainable in the future.

She suggested an expert panel to hear from all parties and assist in forming policy and guidelines.

Solar farm applications totalling more than $300 million will be addressed at a Shepparton council meeting this month.

Two councillors believe the proposals are problematic for the council to determine and fear a situation where whatever the resolution, the matters may end up at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Victoria’s planning minister has yet to decide whether he will determine the projects, estimated to produce a total 200 MW of power for the region.

The council had in November voted for its chief executive to request the minister to decide on the solar farm planning applications in Greater Shepparton and establish a process providing an opportunity for affected stakeholders to be heard.

While Ms Sheed understood Victoria’s Planning Department’s general view might be for councils to determine such applications, she said the importance for the right framework around solar farm projects was there.

‘‘We really welcome this sort of investment,’’ she said.

‘‘We know we’ve got significant policy challenges ahead, and renewable energy is part of the solution.

‘‘We’ve got sunshine and the capacity to host solar farms in that region and we would want to.’’

The council declined to comment on the matter last week and did not shed light on what would specifically be considered at this month’s meeting.

Thomas Moir’s story into today’s Shepparton News - “Solar farm support urged.”

Solar power struggle

Solar farm applications totalling more than $300 million will be addressed at a Greater Shepparton City Council meeting this month.

But two councillors say the proposals are problematic for the council to determine and fear a situation where whatever the resolution, the matters may end up at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Solar power struggle in the Goulburn Valley.

Victoria’s Planning Minister has yet to decide whether he will determine the projects, estimated to produce a total 200 MW of power for the region.

The council had in November voted for its chief executive to request the minister to decide on the solar farm planning applications in Greater Shepparton and establish a process providing an opportunity for affected stakeholders to be heard.

The council is keeping quiet on the matter for now and did not shed light on what would specifically be considered.

Councillors will be briefed next week ahead of the meeting.

The council declined to comment on the matter, and Mayor Kim O’Keeffe, when contacted, also declined to comment.

Five solar farm proposals — located in Tatura East, Tallygaroopna, Lemnos, Congupna and Mooroopna — were detailed in a council report last year. These projects are expected to produce an estimated output of 217 MW and cost a total $316 million, according to council projections.

The council’s main concern with the applications is ‘‘whether the loss of productive agricultural land . . . for a solar farm produces acceptable planning outcomes’’.

Officers would need to consider conflicting policies and decide on net benefit.

Cr Dennis Patterson said the council needed guidance from the Victorian Government on the applications, arguing it constituted new territory to decide on.

‘‘These are the things we have to be careful on,’’ he said, adding it wouldn’t be ideal for the matters to be decided at VCAT.

Regarding uncertainty around the impact of solar farms on orchards, Cr Patterson said it was a ‘‘complicated scenario’’ where facts needed to be found.

Cr Chris Hazelman said: ‘‘We’ve heard the relevant objections from people nearby, which indicates concerns about the science, about amenity, about the alienation of agricultural land.

‘‘And in the absence of those guidelines, it would appear that regardless of what decision council makes, either for or against . . . it will inevitably end up in VCAT. It’s going to make it difficult.’’

Asked about the Greater Shepparton solar farm applications, a spokesperson for Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning had prepared advice for the minister to consider, and he would make his ruling in due course.

Guidelines assisting solar farm proponents with navigating social and environment-related matters in the planning permit preapplication and application processes are in their final stages, The News understands.

This story from today’s Shepparton News - “Solar power struggle.”

Council backs solar farms.

Councillors are celebrating a ‘‘solar city’’ return with more than $300 million and 200 megawatts of proposals across five solar farm projects being considered for Greater Shepparton.

The council on Tuesday night voted for its chief executive to request Victoria’s planning minister decide on the solar farm planning applications in Greater Shepparton.

The council also resolved to invite the minister to establish a process that provides a fair and proper opportunity for all affected stakeholders to be heard.

Background to this week’s meeting detailed that if future applications are lodged, officers propose to also refer those applications to the minister for a decision.

Five solar farm proposals — located in Tatura East, Tallygaroopna, Lemnos, Congupna and Mooroopna — have been detailed by the council in background to the meeting.

These projects would produce an estimated output of 217 megawatts and cost a total $316 million, according to council projections.

The council’s main concern with the applications is ‘‘whether the loss of productive agricultural land . . . for a solar farm produces acceptable planning outcomes’’.

Officers would need to consider conflicting policies and decide on net benefit, considered a difficult task.

‘‘Officers consider that the most efficient method of determining these solar farm applications . . . is to request (the minister) become the decision maker,’’ the report continues.

If agreed, it would ensure decisions were determined faster.

Background also refers to a sixth solar farm application, totalling 100 megawatts and worth $150 million, as being expected in about six months.

In moving the motion to refer the proposals on to the minister, Cr Dinny Adem stressed the ‘‘1000 percent’’ support for solar farms from the council and cited the potential for applicants to get tied up in processes.

Cr Chris Hazelman agreed it was appropriate to refer the items on for government assistance in helping determine such applications.

‘‘This is really the tip of the iceberg,’’ Cr Bruce Giovanetti said, referring to renewable energy targets, predicting ‘‘huge development in this area’’.

Cr Fern Summer moved an amendment to ensure the council also helped develop a strategy to balance the existing prime agricultural land use with large-scale renewable energy applications but did not receive support.

Following the meeting, Mayor Kim O’Keeffe spruiked the ‘‘significant investment’’ forthcoming from the proposals, which presented a valuable opportunity for the city.

Background to the meeting emphasised the motion carried by the council did not remove the opportunity of objectors to two of the projects to be heard.

Story by Thomas  Moir in the Shepparton News - “Council backs solar farms.”