Solar projects in spotlight

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has welcomed a Victorian Government decision to assess planning applications for four proposed Greater Shepparton region solar farm projects.

State Member for Shepparton,
Suzanna Sheed.

Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced last week he would appoint an independent panel to assess the applications at Congupna, Lemnos, Tallygaroopna and Tatura East after Greater Shepparton City Council requested he stepped in.

The issue is an agenda item at tonight’s council meeting.

Ms Sheed said while it was usually preferable for councils to determine planning applications in their own municipality, the complexity of assessing solar projects in agricultural districts called for additional support.

Raising her concerns with Mr Wynne, Ms Sheed said she also urged the government to address the lack of relevant guidelines.

‘‘While the Greater Shepparton area enjoys plentiful sunshine year round, making it an ideal location for solar farms, it is also home to the prime agricultural land at the heart of our economy,’’ she said.

‘‘It is important that we find a balance between renewable energy investment and the sustainable future of our farming industry.

‘‘An independent panel will bring welcome expertise to the decision-making process and enable all parties to be heard in an appropriate forum.’’

Just days before the applications were due to be assessed at tonight’s meeting, the council agenda had revealed that councillors were recommended to vote in favour of the applications, subject to a raft of conditions.

But Mr Wynne ‘‘called in’’ the applications and said the panel would ensure objectors had their say and their concerns were addressed appropriately.

Ms Sheed said she was pleased the panel would also provide broader advice on how future solar farm projects would be assessed in Victoria.

‘‘Renewable energy is a rapidly growing sector and I expect we will see increasing numbers of applications for solar farms across the state,’’ Ms Sheed said.

‘‘If you combine that with the significant proportion of land used for agricultural purposes, there will no doubt be other councils in Victoria facing similar challenges to ours.

‘‘I would hope the findings of this expert panel will support all councils in setting regionspecific planning strategies for solar farms for the benefit of their individual communities.’’

Story by Tara Whitsed from today’s Shepparton News - “Solar projects in spotlight.”

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.”

MP questions court’s green credentials.

The sun will definitely shine on Shepparton’s new five-storey law court complex once it’s complete.

But will the building be able to make the best use of it?

Work on Shepparton's new court house building is
now much further advanced, but local Member Suzanna
Sheed, and environment group spokesman, John Pettigrew,
are hoping its green credentials are already built in.

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has questioned how green the city’s new, improved and fast-developing courthouse building will be.

In Parliament last week, Ms Sheed posed a constituency question to the state’s Attorney-General.

‘‘Can the Attorney advise what energy-saving and energy-producing features have been incorporated into the design of the new Shepparton law courts?’’ Ms Sheed asked.

‘‘Constituents in my community have recently had the opportunity to tour the new court and have raised questions with my office about its solar energy generating capacity.’’

Ms Sheed said renewable energy remained ‘‘one of the cornerstone policies of this government’’ and it would make sense to capitalise on the sunshine Shepparton received ‘‘almost every day of the year.’’

‘‘The new Shepparton law courts will be an outstanding addition to the city, and they provide an opportunity for state-of-the-art energy conservation features,’’ she said.

Goulburn Valley Environment Group president John Pettigrew said new landmark buildings being constructed in the city, including the new five-storey Shepparton Art Museum at Victoria Park Lake, should lead by example and be built to be as sustainable as possible.

Mr Pettigrew questioned whether opportunities had been missed in not bringing the community along with decisions made and features integrated

‘‘What’s taken up in these buildings is often dictated by budgets,’’ he said.

Mr Pettigrew said if long-term operational costings were taken into account, developers ‘‘might come up with a different answer’’ and pay more attention to energy-saving measures.

Ms Sheed believed the courthouse had been designed sustainably, but this week said she wanted to know about the details.

She said constituents had asked her about whether solar panels would be used on the new building and questioned what energy efficiency measures would be integrated.

‘‘I’m keen to get a more detailed account of what features are built in,’’ she said.

Ms Sheed is expecting an answer from the Attorney General’s department in the near future.

Story by Thomas Moir in today’s Shepparton News - “MP questions court’s green credentials.”