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FRIDAY, January 26, 2024
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HONOURED W WELL-KNOWN Wangaratta local Maxine Webb has made lo the Order of Australia Medal th honour list on Australia Day h for her outstanding service to fo visual and performing arts, vi and the community. a Her story is on page 2. H PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Clubroom expansion takes shape Page 7
Hot rods a family affair Page 11
Athletes set for Sports Carnival Sport
Not on our land
MORE than 150 people have turned out in support of a Bobinawarrah community groupâs continued efforts to fight a proposed 566ha, $750m solar farm development at Meadow Creek. A community meeting held outside the Bobinawarrah Hall on Tuesday attracted up to 170 supporters from inside and outside of the district as well as Melbourne media group representatives, as efforts
the solar farm Solar S l di dissent continuing i i g to ggrow at M Meadow d C Creek k against development to Minister BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
to repel the construction of a solar facility on âprimeâ agricultural land ramp up. Meadow Creek Agricultural Community Action Group (MCACAG) member Jess Conroy said it was pleasing to see so many people rallying behind the
groupâs plight, with local and state government representatives also in attendance. One Nation MP for Northern Victoria, RikkieLee Tyrrell spoke to the crowd, weeks before her bill aiming to place harsher restrictions on solar farm developments returns to parliament, while Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy and Rural City of Wangaratta
Mayor Dean Rees were also in attendance. âOur original meeting had 80 (attendees), our pre-Christmas meeting had 100 and then this meeting itâs gone up to 160 or 170, so itâs gaining momentum,â Ms Conroy said. âAll of the community were seated around or standing.â The Meadow Creek site has been prioritised as part
of the State Governmentâs focus on solar energy due to its proximity to existing powerline infrastructure, however, MCACAG has raised serious concerns about the risk of building solar infrastructure in fire and flood-prone areas, as well as the potential for lasting impacts on agriculture in the area. Cr Rees said he had commenced advocating
for Planning Sonya Kilkenny. âYou could see the strong vibe in the community that theyâre very anti- this solar farm, not solar farms in general or solar power â theyâre just anti taking up valuable farmland that is probably in the top five areas for grazing and cropping in Victoria, if not Australia,â he said. â Continued page 5
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