A FARMING family bordering the proposed Meadow Creek solar facility site will consider selling their home, as a last resort, if the estimated 566ha solar farm is approved by the State Government.
Fourth-generation farmers John and Jess Conroy fear the facility's approval will be fast-tracked by the government now the community's right to appeal via the state tribunal has been erased.
And while they'll fight tooth and nail to stop the development, Mr Conroy confirmed they will consider leasing or selling their land to the multinational companies which have already made offers, only if the government approves the permit.
"The government doesn't seem to understand and they're looking at this net zero agenda and it looks to me they will sacrifice anything to reach the net zero target," Mr Conroy said.
"We're working very hard, we're paying taxes, we're producing a lot of food and we've got no say.
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"The community engagement process is just box ticking, as we've discovered, and when we queried (the government) as to why they (the proponents) haven't given us more information, they are simply saying the proponents only have to answer them as best practice, they don't have to give us any answers."
The Conroys say that three separate companies have offered them high prices to sell out but it's not something they want to do as they're generational farmers and employ many people in the district.
"We could walk away and never work again, we could earn four times the amount of money from a solar farm on our property than what we could be producing food," Mr Conroy said.
"Our role is to produce food for the nation and we're passionate about it and we'd like to think we do it well and we employ a lot of people directly and indirectly and we're a big part of the community - we look after the community and the people we supply.
"Food is an integral part of why we get up every day, to go to work."
The farmers met with Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy and Wangaratta Mayor Dean Rees on Wednesday to further express their predicament, in what they described as undemocratic, following the government's activation of the accelerated planning pathway for renewable energy projects on April 1.
Under the changes the government has removed the process of appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for renewable energy development, which Mr McCurdy said is a major issue for communities who want to object to any decisions affecting them.
"We always believe that local government and local communities should have a say - we're not anti-renewables, our communities support renewables, but we want to have a say in where they're positioned," he said.
"The government is trying to tell us we should go to the Supreme Court, but that's ridiculous - it's too expensive and it's only on point of law, so we can't go because of a planning process (problem).
"My understanding is that this could be unconstitutional and at this stage the only opportunity for people to object would be through the Supreme Court."
Based on 17 land sales in the Meadow Creek area, the price per hectare is estimated at more than $31,000 (2022 land sales data), making it some of the highest priced farmland in the state.
The Biodiversity Council of Victoria has called for a plan to map appropriate parcels of land for renewable energy facilities prior to the government approving a mass roll out and it's a move Mr McCurdy will support.
"I would absolutely support that and if we can come back with a plan and say these are areas and regions that are best suited to solar and renewable projects we can get the community on board," he said.
"There are communities who will embrace it and there are places which have lower rainfall areas, but on prime agricultural land, we don't support at all.
"If you have maps and a greater understanding of areas into the future, people can plan if they want to live there in two, five or 10 years down the track."'
Cr Rees said the Rural City of Wangaratta handles 99 per cent of planning applications that gives people the right to object and a second right to take it to VCAT if they feel their objections are valid.
He noted that an advisory panel to adjudicate the renewable energy projects roll out will be paid by the Victorian Government.
"I put it out there that within 10-15 years council, elected people from the community, it will be just run by government organisations - no councillors, mark my words on it, that's where we're heading," Cr Rees said.
A State Government spokesperson said community consultation will continue to form a key part of the renewable project planning process.
"Of course Victorians will still be able to have their say and our planners will consider all submissions and unresolved issues will be referred to our advisory committee," the spokesperson said.
"There are no changes to the public notice process and all members of the community will be able to make submissions.
"All objections and feedback will be considered as part of the usual assessment of any application."
The Minister for Planning will ultimately have the final approval on all applications.
