The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says a Liberals Nationals government will immediately restore the right of property owners to appeal planning powers over renewable energy plans.
Mr Walsh says the public has been stripped of its access to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) by an Allan Labor government “so obsessed with its unworkable renewable energy dream” it will not tolerate any democratic opposition.
He says the Liberals and Nationals are making a stand to put locals first in the transition to renewables.
“For too long, locals haven’t had a voice amid the renewables push from the Allan Labor Government and multi-national corporations, but we will guarantee those affected most by renewable projects in their communities will have rights,” Mr Walsh says.
“This means we will also crackdown on unscrupulous operators, who for their own personal gain want to get rushed approval for projects, only to flip them to buyers unknown to the community,” he says.
“Not only are we giving communities a voice, but we are also protecting them.”
Mr Walsh says other key features of their regional energy development policy include:
- Revoking planning scheme amendment VC261, instituted by Labor to strip local communities of planning powers over the high voltage transmission lines.
- A default 2km buffer zone around proposed wind towers to minimise the impact on residential properties and local communities.
- Ensuring major transmission and large-scale wind and solar generation projects face a rigorous and independent planning panel assessment.
- Developing principles to ensure overhead lines adhere to strict setback requirements to minimise visual and environmental impact.
- Ensuring lower emission generators, high voltage transmission lines and large-scale battery owners are required to comply with all relevant bushfire overlays.
- Advocate to the Commonwealth that any compensation received by landowners for hosting major transmission lines, or for impacts caused by such projects, is exempt from taxation.
“This policy is a major breakthrough for regional communities,” Mr Walsh explains.
“Leaving locals without a voice or an avenue of appeal was un-Australian.
“Our proposal restores the balance between the roll-out of renewable energy and the changes to transmission networks,” he says.
“We support a transition away from coal; however, this must occur in connection with reality and through close consultation with regional communities – and at a workable pace, not a headlong rush to chaos and power failures.”