Solar bids will wait

The outcomes of the three remaining Greater Shepparton solar farm applications, sitting with the state’s planning minister, was raised on the floor of state parliament last week.

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed asked Planning Minister Richard Wynne for confirmation that decisions on the three pending solar farm applications would be made after new solar guidelines were released.

‘‘Given that the closing date for submissions on the draft solar farm guidelines was only last Friday and that no further work will have been undertaken on those to this stage, will you confirm that you will make no decision on the remaining three Shepparton solar farm applications until those final guidelines have been prepared and released to the public?’’ Ms Sheed asked.

Responding, Mr Wynne gave background on the solar farm applications he had ‘‘called in’’ at the request of the Greater Shepparton City Council and a planning panel that considered the proposals.

‘‘The panel had to weigh up the impacts of the location of these solar farms as they may impact particularly on productive irrigated land,’’ Mr Wynne said.

‘‘Those proposals were in fact addressed by the independent panel, but I felt it was necessary for us to really get some surety around these guidelines going forward, and that is why we have undertaken a broad consultative process obviously right across, not only local government, but indeed the power sector more generally.

‘‘Consultation ought to be a part of my ultimate decision-making.’’

After highlighting a permit for a solar farm in Congupna had last year been approved, he concluded by indicating ‘‘that I will not make any decisions in relation to those three permits until that work is complete’’.

Ms Sheed said she was pleased to hear that assurance.

‘‘While we understand the government’s renewable energy targets and that there is wide support for solar projects in our region, it must be accepted that there are some sites which should be maintained for high-value irrigated agriculture,’’ Ms Sheed said.

‘‘Will you undertake now not to approve any of these three or any other solar farm applications where they are located on farms on the modernised irrigated backbone within the Goulburn-Murray irrigation district?’’

Responding, Mr Wynne said, ‘‘I will not make any decisions about the three existing permits for . . . Lemnos, Tallygaroopna and Tatura East until such time as the work is completed on the solar guidelines and indeed further work that is being undertaken more broadly within my department about land-use questions and issues around water and irrigated land . . .’’

‘‘Because we want to be fully informed in making those decisions,’’ he said.

‘‘We will consider the guidelines and we will consider the expert advice of the departments before I make any decision in relation to the three outstanding applications.’’

Story from The Shepparton News by Thomas Moir - “Solar bids will wait.”

Queensland farmers rally against laws to curb land clearing

The Queensland government is expected to pass new land-clearing laws on Tuesday amid fierce protests by farmers on the steps of the state parliament.

 One Nation senator Pauline Hanson, right, joins protesters
 against Queensland’s new land-clearing laws. 

The laws are an attempt to rein in soaring clearing rates and restore environmental protections that were scrapped in 2013. The Climate Council estimates bushland more than seven times the size of Brisbane – about 1m hectares – was cleared between 2012 and 2016.

About 500 farmers from across the state, wearing green shirts and waving signs that proclaimed them the “true environmentalists”, demonstrated on the grounds that the changes will harm the state’s agricultural sector. They didn’t miss the opportunity to point out that city dwellers’ smashed avocado and soy lattes were, in many cases, products of Queensland farming.

Read Ben Smee’s story from The Guardian - “Queensland farmers rally against laws to curb land clearing.”

Historic moment for Victoria's energy future

In a historic moment for Victoria's energy future, the Victorian Renewable Energy Target today passed the upper house in state Parliament and will become law.

“This is a historic day for Victoria's energy future, and a victory for the community who have long made the case for the Victorian Renewable Energy Target” said a Friends of the Earth renewable energy spokesperson, Pat Simons

Questionable claims on Matthew Guy's billboard.

“The success of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target is thanks to communities, businesses and workers from Portland, to Geelong, Yackandandah, Macedon and Melbourne”

Friends of the Earth congratulates Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, and the Labor government, branding its energy policy achievement an act of national leadership: 

“The Andrews government is leading the nation with a vision for jobs and investment in renewable energy,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth spokesperson.

“While the divided Turnbull government only offers ill-considered thought bubbles on energy, the Andrews government has shown leadership on the Victorian Renewable Energy Target," said Pat Simons.

“Victoria's Andrews government has set the bar for smart energy policy in Australia.”

The passage of legislation was also welcomed by prospective wind farmers from Barunah Park, Kevin and Jenny Blake:

“Renewable energy is extremely important to us, as we have seen the effects of climate change personally on our farm. We are very excited to host turbines as this will help minimise the effects of climate change in the future.”

“This legislation will also help provide us with a means to drought-proof our future earnings and keep our farm sustainable for our children and grandchildren.”

The VRET passed with the support of upper house Greens MPs, Fiona Patten of the Reason Party, Local Jobs First MP James Purcell.

Friends of the Earth was critical of the Matthew Guy opposition, who stuck to their pledge to vote against the VRET even though renewable energy enjoys strong support among Liberal party voters.

"In 2017, it's unacceptable for politicians to vote against policies to tackle climate change," said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth's climate change spokesperson.

"With unprecedented bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef and parts of Victoria experiencing a record dry June, now's not the time to be blocking action on climate change."

“Victorians will remember the opposition's vote against renewable energy jobs and cheaper power when they go to the polls in 2018.”

It is expected the Victorian Renewable Energy will:

• Create 10,000 jobs in wind and solar across the state, from wind tower manufacturing in Portland to cable making in Tottenham, transformer manufacturing in Glen Waverley and Benalla, and warehousing/training in Lyndhurst.

• See Victorian households save an estimated $30 on their power bill each year. Small-medium businesses will save $2,500 and big businesses will save $140,000.

• Victoria's renewable energy rollout of 5,400 MW will cut electricity sector emissions up to 16 percent, helping the state meet its legislated net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Friends of the Earth have coordinated the community campaign for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target since 2014.