PROPONENTS of the highly controversial Meadow Creek Solar Farm are set to meet face-to-face with concerned community members at a last-minute information session in Bobinawarrah on Thursday before the planning application goes to the minister.
Since the 566-hectare, 330MW solar farm was proposed in 2022, project team members have not met with the community since March 2023 and have since changed consultant agencies.
The meeting was announced late last week and will take place five days prior to the end of the project’s public notice period.
Meadow Creek Agricultural Community Action Group member Jess Conroy said the session had been two years in the making for the group, who have been heavily advocating for more community engagement.
Ms Conroy said the meeting had come about as a result of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) Tony Maher, an independent energy adviser from the federal government, and his predecessor John Sheldon.
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The group made contact with then commissioner Mr Sheldon in July 2023 about a lack of community engagement from proponents and no social licence to operate.
Ms Conroy said the group continued to work towards a solution with Mr Sheldon and Mr Maher when he took over in December last year, which has led to the AEIC setting up the last gasp meeting.
Mr Maher, who will also be present at the meeting, said it was vital for all stakeholders to come to a solution and have their concerns heard.
“It’s to bring parties together and see if we can have a constructive conversation and see if any of the issues can be resolved,” he said.
“I think it’s worthwhile trying to do that and that’s the aim.”
The meeting will be facilitated by an independent third-party facilitator who will also provide a record of the meeting to all attendees.
The project’s principal consultants will be at the meeting while a team of qualified expert consultants working with the Meadow Creek Solar Farm will be joining online and will be available to answer questions about the project.
A Meadow Creek Solar Farm spokesperson said the meeting would provide another opportunity for the community to hear about the project and raise their concerns.
“Importantly, attendees will have the chance to ask technical experts to explain parts of the project that are of particular interest or concern to them,” they said.
Also expected to be present at the meeting will be local leaders in all three forms of government in Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Irene Grant, Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy and Indi MP Helen Haines.
Ms Conroy said many of the concerns and questions expected to be asked at the meeting will be similar to those already raised to the proponents, including water catchment zone, traffic impacts and environmental issues.
“They had the opportunity to engage with the community and address the community concerns when they re-lodged the amended documents, but they chose not to,” she said.
The session was expected to run up to two hours from 2pm at the Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall.
Attendees for the meeting are required to register their attendance and can do so via an online form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=p1fxfi5dtEiGAjeo6r8UYWhtpBTOdp9Klxp7qyQVwqBUNU9STDVVOFNSR0lPWUZMVE1KOUpUVjhVUiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
The community was encouraged to submit any questions in writing ahead of time, which can be done on the online form.
If you would like more information or have questions, but can’t make the meeting, you can send an email to the Meadow Creek Solar Farm at info@meadowcreeksolarfarm.com.au
