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FRIDAY, October 13, 2023
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CHA CHA, THE SHOW IS HERE
MAYBE NOT THIS TIME, BUT UNCLE DOZER SEES A YES EVENTUALLY
WANGARATTA Agricultural Society vice presidents Don Webb and Stan Goldsworthy checked out the Cha Cha amid preparations for the 157th Wangaratta Show, which will be held today and tomorrow. ■ Story page 2 PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
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PRIORITIES FOR NEW TOP COP
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TROTS BACK SUNDAY
Sport
SOLAR BATTLE Concerns over p proposed p $ $750m solar farm p prompt p upper pp house action
EFFORTS to halt development of a $750m proposed solar farm at Meadow Creek have gained parliamentary support, with Wangarattabased state upper house MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell launching a bill to protect Victoria’s prime agricultural land. The One Nation MP’s Planning and Environment Amendment (Soil Protection) (Solar Power Generation Fa-
BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
cilities) Bill 2023 was formally tabled before the Legislative Council last week, in an effort to protect “precious agricultural land and water catchments” from large-scale solar farm development.
Debate around the proposed bill is slated to take place during next week’s parliamentary agenda. Under the bill, authorities would be required to consider whether land proposed for solar farm development is tied to agriculture, is a water supply area, is in a bushfire-prone area or if the land is liable to flooding, and reject any applications
on land which meet two or more of the criteria. Ms Tyrrell said she was hopeful the bill would stop the development of the proposed Meadow Creek project, as well as future projects on certain portions of agricultural land. The $750m proposed Meadow Creek project is slated to be up to a 330 megawatt (MW) site, potentially
providing idi clean l energy tto 110,000 regional homes. “While net-zero emissions through solar and wind generation is a noble goal, we must proceed responsibly to ensure the broader implications of large solar farms on the environment and local communities,” Ms Tyrrell said. “Communities know their land better than anyone and consultation with locals
regarding di planned l d projects j t is vital.” Speaking in parliament, Ms Tyrrell said her first bill of the parliamentary year had been inspired by her close working relationship with the Bobinawarrah community, which has been outspoken in its criticism of the planned 566ha solar farm at Meadow Creek. ■ Continued page 4
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