Calls for Victoria to roll out London-style car emissions charge

The Victorian government is being urged by a leading transport expert to consider a London-style tax where motorists in high-polluting vehicles would have to pay to drive through Melbourne's CBD.

China has grown to be the world's largest producer of electric vehicles.

London’s ultra low emissions zone was introduced last year to reduce pollution and emissions and encourage the take up of cleaner modes of transport such as electric cars.

The call for Victoria to consider the London model comes after The Age revealed this week that electric car sales in Australia have tripled but still lag far behind many countries in Europe.

The Grattan Institute’s transport and cities program director, Marion Terrill, said the Andrews government should look to London’s scheme as an option for increasing the use of low-emissions vehicles such as electric cars.

Read the story from The Age by Benjamin Preiss - “Calls for Victoria to roll out London-style car emissions charge.”

Region solar farms decision still in limbo

The Victorian Government was in Numurkah yesterday spruiking the new solar farm. However, it wouldn’t provide any significant update on three proposed solar farms in the Shepparton area. 

Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said: ‘‘ Victoria (is) leading the way approving . . . the construction and build’’ of renewable energy projects, but passed the buck back to Planning Minister Richard Wynne to make the final decision. 

The government has consistently said it would not decide on the proposed solar farms in Lemnos, Tallygaroopna and Tatura East until guidelines were released by an independent panel. 

Lily D'Ambrosio.

The guidelines will assist Mr Wynne’s decision if the solar farms should be built at the proposed locations. 

It’s understood those guidelines would be released on June 30. Last week a government spokesperson told the News the guidelines were in the ‘‘ process of being finalised’’. 

Yesterday the News asked Ms D’Ambrosio why the guidelines had not been released. 

‘‘ I think it’s important we get it right,’’ she said. 

‘‘ The guidelines that are under consideration by the Planning Minister will be in place for a number of years and provide the necessary road map for industry to understand where it can invest, the local conditions it needs to take into account, and consultation with local council and community. 

‘‘ We have to get this right and I know the Planning Minister will make his decision available at the right time when he’s considered all of the issues put forward to him.’’ 

Concerns have been raised in the past by State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed about building the solar farms on prime agricultural land. 

Ms D’Ambrosio said the decision rested with Mr Wynne whether to approve the proposed farms. 

‘‘ We will certainly hear from the minister for planning when he’s fully considered all of the issues.’’ 

Story by James Bennett from The Shepparton News - “Region solar farms decision still in limbo”.

Sweating on solar

WHETHER OR NOT FOUR LARGE-SCALE SOLAR FACILITIES GO AHEAD CONCERNS

While more solar developments for the region are welcome, a set of long-awaited guidelines to help guide locations should be released first, State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed says.

This week, the Victorian Government revealed new solar and wind farms will pump more than 900 megawatts of energy into Victoria’s grid following the state government’s reverse auction.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Tuesday announced six successful projects, including the Cohuna solar farm, north-west of Echuca, that will produce 34.2 MW, while Winton solar farm near Benalla will produce 98.8 MW.

Building will start early 2019 and they are expected to be completed in 2020.

But some within the Greater Shepparton region are sweating on the outcomes of four largescale solar facilities, decisions currently with the planning minister’s office, which had been set to be released some time this month.

This process is also set to create a set of guidelines to assist the planning of future such developments.

Ms Sheed says it is concerning that ‘‘more projects are being announced when we don’t yet have the guidelines’’.

‘‘And that’s really what we all want to see happen,’’ she said.

‘‘You get out the draft guidelines, let us comment, let us start looking at what the ideal positions are for these types of projects and let’s not stop them from (going) where they’re desirable.’’

The government ran a reverse auctions scheme which saw project developers compete to be the lowest-cost provider.

Ms Sheed said renewable energy was a welcome chapter in the local energy story, given the Shepparton area’s suitability for it, adding she doesn’t ‘‘detect any opposition to solar in our community’’. The only issue remains location.

‘‘We really have a big concern over solar farms being located on modernised, irrigated agricultural land.’’

Regarding the four pending solar decisions, Ms Sheed stressed the region was ‘‘very keen to get an answer on those as soon as possible’’.

‘‘It’s seven months since it’s been referred to the minister.

‘‘There’s neighbours to these projects who are really concerned about what solar might do to their farming enterprises.’’

‘‘And let’s get some guidelines in place to protect our valuable agricultural land in this region.’’

This story by Thomas Moir is from The Shepparton  News - “Sweating on solar.”

Uncertainty about solar project

As Victoria’s planning minister considers the outcomes of four Greater Shepparton solar developments, no timelines have been set for a fifth solar project that had been earmarked for land south of Mooroopna.

Greater Shepparton City Council chief executive Peter Harriott had last year been optimistic of the first sod being turned on it last year.

More than six months later, the council last week said while the tender process had been completed on the project, confidential negotiations were continuing.

The News last week asked the council what the status of the proposal was and what the next steps were.

The council was asked whether a group had been selected to lead the proposal yet, whether the project had timelines attached and whether the project was awaiting a set of guidelines being created by the Victorian Government for such solar developments.

‘‘The tender process has been undertaken and confidential negotiations are currently under way,’’ council’s sustainable development director Geraldine Christou said in a statement.

‘‘There are no timelines available at this stage for when an announcement will be made.’’

Asked whether the proposal for a GV Link freight and logistics hub had the potential to impact the progress of the solar farm proposal or shift it to different land, The News was told the two proposals were planned for seperate but adjacent plots of land.

Former mayor Dinny Adem expected that developers of the council’s Mooroopna solar farm would be formalised at a council meeting last year, but that timelines had not at the time been set in stone at the time.

Following an expressions of interest callout to parties interested in leasing land south of Mooroopna for a large-scale solar facility, the council moved to a limited tender process to develop the facility.

Prior to this, the net had been cast out for those interested in developing a large-scale solar farm on GV Link land.

The council had last year hoped the development would be capable of producing a minimum of 10 megawatts, and that the facility might help reverse uncertainty caused by extra energy costs estimated as being in the millions for some businesses.

Story by Thomas Moir from The Shepparton News - “Uncertainty about solar project.”

Vic solar cash hailed

IT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THOSE CONSIDERING INVESTING IN DOMESTIC SOLAR. IT’S A PROVEN COST-EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT, AND WILL RELIABLY REDUCE PEOPLE’S ELECTRICITY BILLS. — GEOFF LODGE

Goulburn Valley Community Energy’s chief executive has hailed a Victorian Government incentive for residents to install household solar panels as a proven measure to drive down power prices.

Geoff Lodge believes areas such as the Goulburn Valley — once known as the solar city — could stand to benefit more than other parts of Victoria.

In contrast, Mr Lodge was highly critical of the Federal Government’s National Energy Guarantee’s transparency and ambition yesterday; on the day Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared to back away from plans to legislate climate change targets as part of the policy.

Geoff Lodge - "Significant contribution".

He described the two policies as ‘‘chalk and cheese’’.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday announced a re-elected Labor government would pay for 650 000 homes to get solar panels under a $1.24 billion plan where owner-occupiers would get about $4500 to install panels and repay half through their bill savings.

The government says the panels plan could save Victorians up to $900 a year on their energy bills.

While no shortage of factors are at play, Mr Lodge believed the $900 figure was well and truly ‘‘in the ballpark’’ of the sort of savings that could be made.

‘‘I think it’s very appealing,’’ he said of the solar initiative, which, he added, would remove a significant portion of the upfront costs.

‘‘It will make a significant contribution to those considering investing in domestic solar.

‘‘It’s a proven cost-effective investment, and will reliably reduce people’s electricity bills.’’

Mr Lodge said renewable energy investment was proven to reduce the wholesale cost of electricity.

He estimated that a household solar system installed today would broadly-speaking be paid off in four to five years for most households.

And solar systems in northern Victoria would generate more energy than in metro areas.

‘‘People in the Goulburn Valley will get a better return than those in Melbourne, purely from the system generating more electricity,’’ he said.

In a further announcement yesterday, Victorians who swap their old hot water system for a solar one can get a $1000 rebate under a $60 million program as the state government seeks to woo voters on cost of living.

The 10-year program starts immediately, Mr Andrews announced yesterday.

The government predicts the systems will save households between $160 to $400 a year in electricity bills.

Both plans will be available to households with a combined income of up to $180 000 who live in their own home valued up to $3 million.

The hot water rebate has been created so houses who cannot get solar panels because of roof design or shade can still get a reduction in energy bills.

Houses can take part in the half-price solar panels program or the $1000 hot water rebate, but not both.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy was dubious of how much the announcements would save households.

Mr Lodge described the hot water announcement as another opportunity for households to participate in the program, especially those, like many in the Goulburn Valley, who had already installed solar systems.

AAP story from The Shepparton News - “Vic solar cash hailed”.

Advice on automated and zero emission vehicle infrastructure

The Victorian Government has requested Infrastructure Victoria provide advice on the infrastructure required to enable the implementation of automated and zero emissions vehicles in Victoria.

Infrastructure Victoria has released a report outlining future scenarios for automated and zero emissions vehicles in Victoria.

Read the report and watch the video from Infrastructure Victoria - “Advice on automated and zero emission  vehicle infrastructure.”

Victorian government furious as Turnbull 'takes credit' for French solar deal

The Turnbull government has been accused of trying to steal credit for a state-backed solar deal by failing to invite the Victorian government to a ceremony with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron.

Missing out: President of France, Emmanuel Macron, left,
and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull won't have Victorian
 officials on their guest list at a Sydney signing.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Macron were due to attend the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Neoen, France's biggest renewable energy producer, and Anglo-Australia's Zen Energy at Admiralty House beside Sydney Harbour on Wednesday morning.

Victoria's Labor government has been a big supporter of Neoen in Australia, providing a tender to supply Melbourne's tram network with clean energy that helped underpin the firm's Numurkah Solar Farm near Shepparton in north-eastern Victoria.

Read Peter Hannam’s story from today’s Age - “Victorian government furious as Turnbull 'takes credit' for French solar deal.”

Prime agricultural land loss or booming future energy? That's the solar planning conundrum for Victoria

Residents near Shepparton are concerned that farmland the Victorian Government has invested in under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will be lost to agriculture as the state undergoes a solar farm boom.

Victorian farmers are concerned about the lack of
 solar planning laws on prime agricultural land.

Four applications for solar farms in the Greater Shepparton region that could produce up to 243 megawatts of electricity have been proposed for Tatura, Tallygaroopna, Lemnos and Congupna, and have been 'called in' by the Victorian planning minister.

The projects, worth a total of nearly $300 million, are now being investigated by a planning panel with a view that their decision will form the basis for new planning policy in the state.

Critics say there has been no thought put to where the solar farms are being placed and how much prime agricultural land is being lost, and while there is suitable, more arid land available close by.

Read the story by Warwick Long from ABC Rural News - “Prime agricultural land loss or booming future energy? That's the solar planning conundrum for Victoria.”

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.”

State Government announces $30 million plan to help farmers with their energy bills

Today's Country News tells of a Victorian Government announcement of $30 million in funding to help farmers manage their energy costs (should you not be able to read this, grab a copy of today's Shepparton News, which includes this week's Country News.

Logging of Victorian old-growth forest ‘cannot proceed’, lawyers say

A Victorian government-owned business is poised to clear-fell hundreds of hectares of spectacular old-growth forest, in a move lawyers say is unlawful and which they intend to halt through the supreme court if necessary.

 VicForests is poised to clear-fell hundreds
 of hectares of spectacular old-growth forest.

The area about to be logged by VicForests contains countless trees that are centuries old. It is made up of two forest types that are required by law to have 60% marked by the government as “special protections zones” that can’t be logged – a step that has not been taken.

Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) has written to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, arguing that, in order to protect 60% of those forest types, the areas that are about to be logged must be included in the special protection zones.

Read Michael Slezak’s story on The Guardian - “Logging of Victorian old-growth forest ‘cannot proceed’, lawyers say.”

Envirokids rewarded for action

Tatura Primary School’s Envirokids group were named the best Student Action Team at the Victorian Government’s Resource Smart Schools Awards ceremony recently.

Teacher Donna Crosbie and several students travelled to the event at Melbourne’s Imax Theatre to learn if they were successful and be entertained by the energetic MC Costa Georgiadis.

Resource smart: Tatura Primary School’s Envirokids (standing)
 Bella Heart, Teige Mobberley, Noah Walker, Ava Fasano,
Cooper O’Neill, Leon Findlay, (front) Fayte Belmont-Wickliffe,
 Kalisha Hopson, Chloe Andonoudis, Sarah Saffron, Jemma
 Bailey, Taylee Shuttleworth.

The Envirokids group is made of 12 students in Years 3 to 6 who have been busy putting into practice programs to reduce waste and improve sustainability at the school. The group, elected at the start of the year, meets once a week to have a discussion and create a plan of action for the week.

‘‘They have helped educate their peers with initiatives such as bringing their lunch in a reusable container rather than in packaging and encouraging composting at the school,’’ Ms Crosbie said.

‘‘We have seen real results with the school’s landfill reduced by 33 cubic metres in the year.

‘‘While we have the Envirokids it is a whole school push to reduce waste.

‘‘The students will take part in Greater Shepparton Council’s Follow Your Rubbish Tours and recently worked with Goulburn Murray Water and the local Landcare Environment Group which discussed nature, waterways during a visit to Lake Bartlett.’’

The Envirokids also worked with Sustainability Victoria’s Resource Smart Program facilitator Alice Russell to do a rubbish audit of the school.

Declan Martin’s story in today’s Shepparton News - “Envirokids rewarded for action.”

Vic says renewables + batteries cheaper than peaking gas

The Victorian government has declared the combination of renewable generation and energy storage as the cheapest source of new peaking power, in documents detailing the state’s $25 million large-scale battery storage scheme.

As formally announced last week, the Andrews Labor government is seeking two 20MW battery storage installations – with a total of 100MWh of storage – to be located in the western part of the state where network strength is low and renewables penetration is high.

And it wants them up and running nice and quick, in time for the next summer peak demand period, in January 2018.

This shouldn’t be a problem, considering the exceptionally strong market response to its call for expressions of interest, which attracted more than 100 enquiries.

Read Sophie Vorrath’s story on RenewEconomy - “Vic says renewables + batteries cheaper than peaking gas.”

More tracks for Winton wetlands

Winton Wetlands will have another $2.94 million spent on building new bike paths and installing interactive ‘‘stations’’ on the Wetlands Indigenous Trail, with employment to be created for local Aboriginal people.

The Victorian Government hopes its grant will lead to a boost in tourism in Benalla by 45000 additional annual visitors within five years.

The trail will include a 12km cycling path with four interactive stations that use sound, light and projection to deliver local stories and information.

The project will also include large-scale iconic artwork, education and training programs and events.

Winton Wetlands chief executive officer Jim Grant was thrilled with the announcement.Read the story by Libby Price in the Benalla Ensign - “More tracks for wetlands.”

Combatting climate change in Victoria

The Victorian Government is laying the foundations for effective and long-lasting climate change action.

In late 2015, 195 countries made a landmark agreement at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Paris to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

Victoria is playing its part to meet that target. 2016 was the world's hottest year on record but it was a year Victoria took important steps and 2017 will be a new year of climate action.

Read the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) story - “Combatting climate change in Victoria.”