THE CAMPASPE Shire Council has formally opposed the planning application for the Cooba Solar Farm throwing their support behind a community who have vehemently opposed the Colbinabbin siting of the project.
The project involves the construction of a solar farm and battery energy storage system on a 1,147-hectare site in Colbinabbin in the heart of the Heathcote wine region, which is considered prime agricultural land.
The proposed development includes approximately 700,000 solar panels spread over 665 hectares and also necessitates the removal of 6.505 hectares of native vegetation, including 71 large trees.
Proponent Venn Energy who is driving the project said the farm has the potential to power 180,000 homes.
The council has stipulated that whilst it fully supports energy facilities in suitable locations, the Colbinabbin site is not one of them, highlighting several deficiencies in the proposal.
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“We feel the Cooba Solar Farm's proposed site and unresolved issues make it an unsuitable choice,” said Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Daniel Mackrell.
“Council has been advocating against this location for many months and provided supporting information to all members of the Legislative Council during its regional sitting in April in Echuca.”
Council's review, supported by independent technical experts, found the proposal contrary to the Campaspe Planning Scheme and the Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guideline.
Key concerns include the loss of productive agricultural land, inadequate soil surveys, and insufficient information on decommissioning and land restoration.
Council has also argued the project fails to demonstrate strong economic community benefits, particularly in relation to job creation and procurement.
Taking this all into consideration, the Campaspe Shire Council formally agreed to oppose the application during their December 10 meeting, citing significant concerns regarding the project’s impact on agricultural land and the local environment.
A report tabled and endorsed at the meeting recommends the Minister for Planning reject the Cooba Solar Farm planning application due to these potential negative impacts.
Elisa McTaggart a spokesperson for the Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group (C.R.A.G) said the group welcomes Campaspe Shire Council's decisive stance opposing the Cooba Solar Farm planning application.
“Their thorough analysis and subsequent opposition validate the serious concerns our community has raised since this project was first proposed," she said.
"The Council's comprehensive review confirms what our community has long maintained: that this development would irreparably harm some of Victoria's most productive agricultural land.
“Their findings highlight significant deficiencies in Venn Energy's proposal and reporting."
C.R.A.G confirmed the proposed Colbinabbin site is within the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, yet Venn Energy’s planning application fails to acknowledge this.
“The Victorian Government's guidelines clearly state that sites within irrigation districts are unsuitable for solar energy facilities unless early consultation with relevant water corporations occurs,” Ms McTaggart said.
“This oversight raises significant concerns about the project's compliance and its potential impact on our vital irrigation infrastructure."
Furthermore the group believes the proposal's conflict with the Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guidelines demonstrates that careful, strategic planning appears to be lacking at the state government level.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the guideline states “a solar energy facility should not lead to…the loss of productive, state-significant agricultural land”.
The guideline calls for careful consideration when approving solar farms that will result in the loss of productive sites that have “high-quality soils, particularly soils that are niche to a type of crop”.
Ms Lovell said the proposed location of the Cooba Solar Farm has high-quality niche soils – such as Ferrosol soils – that are particularly suited to unique wine grape production in the area.
“When the high quality of the soil is considered together with the possibility for irrigation, this land clearly has the potential to be highly productive for a range of crops that might be grown,” she said.
“This land must be preserved for its best use in the primary production of grapes or other fruits and crops, and not taken out of production by a very large energy infrastructure project.”
Ms Lovell also cites the beauty of the region as central to the aesthetic appeal of the numerous cellar doors and believes the Cooba Solar project will spoil not just the use of land but views along the range.
“Vintners, farmers, and local residents are not against renewables, but all agree that prime agricultural land in the popular tourist area of the Heathcote wine region is not the right location,” she said.
“The rollout of new energy installations must be sensitive to existing uses of the land where they hope to build, and respectful of community concerns.”
Ms Lovell said community support and a social license are essential for an efficient and smooth energy transition.
“Campaspe Shire Council has decided to formally oppose the existing proposal," Ms Lovell said.
“I support their position and urge the Minister for Planning to listen to, and respect, the considered view of local elected councillors.”
Council has approached the state government to work with them to identify an alternative site within the shire, where the impact on prime agricultural land will be less significant.
Council has stipulated it is not opposing the solar farm’s actual development within Campaspe Shire just this specific location.
The state government recently announced it is seeking submissions to inform a Victorian Wine Strategy with a goal to support the sustainability and set the direction of Victoria’s prestigious wine industry.
According to the state government, “wine is an integral part of Victoria’s regional economy, providing jobs at wineries, vineyards and cellar doors while serving as a popular tourist attraction”.
The goal of the wine strategy is to support the growth and sustainability of Victoria’s $9 billion wine industry with a new strategy to ensure it can continue to thrive into the future.
Granting approval for such a large-scale solar farm in a recognised wine region would seemingly be at odds with the government’s vision.
Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in viticulture and tourism in the region over the last couple of decades, with the solar farm project having the potential to negatively affect both these industries.
From a farming perspective, objectors fear the solar farm could impact the microclimate of this renowned grape growing region creating a heat island effect, along with the concern that vineyards will be overshadowed by the eight-metre-high solar panels and supporting infrastructure.
Council itself has likened the area to an “up-and-coming Barossa Valley”, with the solar farm located on farmland right in the middle of the Mount Camel Range wine region, surrounded by vineyards and wineries.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said a clear strategy to protect agricultural land is required.
Referring to the recently released Economic Growth Statement, Ms Germano said the state government recognises farming as a priority sector however “overlooks the inherent conflict between agricultural land use and the demands of other sectors” such as renewable energy development.
“The statement is very heavy on seeing....renewable energy developments over the top of land that produces our food, by loosening planning and environmental safeguards,” she said.
The VFF is calling on the government to protect our most valuable agriculture farmland – which the Cooba Solar Farm would fall under.
“We are calling on the Victorian government to implement a clear and robust strategy to identify and protect strategic agricultural land from inappropriate development,” Ms Germano said.
The state government has confirmed the planning application for the Cooba Solar Farm project is still being assessed and the proposal will be considered on its merits.
According to the government all submissions from community and council will be considered as part of the usual assessment.
For the community who are opposing the development, the Campaspe Shire Council's opposition is seen to reinforce their position that prime agricultural land "must be protected for future generations of farmers".
"We are especially heartened to see council's leadership in protecting prime agricultural land at a time when food security is becoming increasingly crucial for Victoria," said C.R.A.G's Elisa McTaggert
"The council's opposition acknowledges the devastating impact this industrial-scale development would have on our close-knit farming community.
Their decision reflects a deep understanding of our region's unique characteristics, including the world-renowned Heathcote Wine Region and the historical significance of our agricultural heritage.
"This decision represents local government at its best: listening to community concerns, thoroughly examining the evidence, and taking a principled stand to protect the long-term interests of our region.
“We now call on the Victorian State Government to demonstrate similar leadership and reject this inappropriate development proposal."
Venn Energy who are overseeing the Cooba Solar Project declined to comment at this stage.
