PREMIER of Victoria Jacinta Allan would not be drawn to comment on the particulars of the Meadow Creek Solar Farm application following a recent letter to the premier from Wangaratta Mayor Irene Grant.
Cr Grant wrote a letter to the premier dated 10 June as an 11th hour plea to the government with a case urging the government to refuse the application based on numerous grounds.
One of the aspects noted by the mayor in her letter was that VicGrid does not identify the North East as being suitable for any of the proposed Renewable Energy Zones (REZs).
The draft REZs show industry and communities where renewable energy development should be focused.
However, a government spokesperson this week reported that VicGrid will soon be consulting on a Grid Impact Assessment process for projects that are under development outside of REZs (including the Meadow Creek proposal), which will be finalised later this year.
Developers inside a renewable energy zone will be given first access to connect to the grid.
VicGrid released a consultation paper on the grid impact assessment in January that set out the proposed approach at a high level for early stakeholder input.
It will soon be launching another round of consultation, open to community and industry, on the new Victorian Access Regime, setting out how access to the transmission network will be managed inside and outside of renewable energy zones.
This will include a detailed grid impact assessment guide and other details of the proposed approach to access and connections, including an update on transitional arrangements for projects underway.
“The grid impact assessment will be based on projects not negatively impacting the network access of generators inside the zone, and meeting government expectations on community, landholder and Traditional Owner engagement, including providing comparable benefits," a government spokesperson said.
“Members of the community can make submissions which will form part of any planning decision-making process.
“Every submission will be considered as part of the decision-making process.”
The planning application and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) controlled action documentation were on public notice/exhibition, which concluded on 10 June.
After public notice finishes, the proponent is required to respond to the concerns made.
Department of Transport and Planning officers engaged with council officers and various agencies including the CFA, Goulburn Murray Water, North East Catchment Management Authority, Worksafe, and DEECA.