The Victorian government has released its long awaited new planning guidelines for large-scale solar farms.
Acting Planning Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said the final Solar Energy Facilities - Design and Development Guideline, would help inform a range of decision makers, solar farm developers and communities on planning requirements for large-scale solar farms.
"With solar technology taking off in Victoria, we need to provide clear advice on how to establish best practice facilities in appropriate locations," Ms D'Ambrosio said.
"The guidelines will help to ensure community consultation is part of the process from an early stage, so local residents are engaged, informed and have an opportunity to provide input before the planning permit is lodged.
"Along with providing more certainty to the community, the guidelines will reduce the burden on local councils and give the renewable energy industry more confidence to invest."
Tallygaroopna dairy farmer Natalie Akers said the guidelines acknowledged the importance of irrigation infrastructure.
The guidelines also provided for a 30 metre buffer for solar developments, and required large facilities to be assessed by the Minister, not left to local government.
"They have acknowledge the heat island impact - which is an improvement given they completely dismissed horticulture's concerns on heat island in the draft," Ms Akers said.
But she said there were still concerns about three projects, planned for the Shepparton region.
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" Given all 3 projects are located on modernised irrigation backbone and form part of the $2 billion spend, these solar projects should be rejected," Ms Akers said.
Ms D'Ambrosio said the guideline was shaped by a nine-month development process including extensive consultation with communities, councils and industry, and a review of best-practice standards interstate and internationally.
The release of the guidelines would provide more confidence to the solar sector and encourage greater investment, as part of Victoria's renewable energy boom.
The guideline also gave certainty for councils and developers as to what was required for developments to achieve acceptable outcomes for land, communities and the environment.
Businesses looking to establish large-scale solar farms in Victoria would use the guideline to ensure proposals were built in appropriate locations, easily accessible to the grid, and consider high-productivity agricultural areas and sensitive landscapes.
The guideline also included a range of best-practice approaches to help developers engage with communities and ensure the least possible environmental and social impacts of their proposals.
The guideline would be implemented through a future planning scheme amendment to the Victorian Planning Scheme.
If the amendment passes the Planning Minister will then become the responsible authority for all large-scale solar farm applications.
The guideline is available to download at planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/solar-energy-facilities-design-and-development-guidelines
This story first appeared on Stock & Land
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
