TAG
land use conflict
The brutal cost of ignoring the bush: Australia’s rural collapse
Government changes have reallocated 3,200 gigalitres of irrigation water to environmental flows, much of it unmetered and flowing out to sea, creating dire consequences for regional food production. The Gannawarra Region alone is losing $1.3 billion annually – and these impacts are expected to worsen.
Farmers say “No” to REZ
Wimmera and Mallee farmers have mapped over 600,000 hectares of farmland where landholders have indicated they do not want to be in a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The farmers that are in opposition have had their paddocks marked darkest.
Farmers’ mining plea rejected
Sarah Herrmann. “If you walk into State Parliament, in the House of Representatives, on the floor — embedded in the carpet — is wheat sheaves and grapes,” Pine Point farmer Brenton Davey says. “That was put there as recognition of what the primary producers have done for this state. And they’re walking all over us — on the carpet.”
Expert speakers address concerns
A community forum in Moulamein last week heard of concerns farmers have of the use of productive agricultural land for renewable energy developments. The meeting was organised by a newly formed group Farming First Forum (FFF) and supported by close to 50 attendees from Hay, Moulamein, Booroorban and surrounds.
Five councils form alliance
Councillors and CEOs from Buloke, Gannawarra, Loddon, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack Shire Councils, along with representatives from the Municipal Association of Victoria and Rural Councils Victoria, met in Charlton last week to discuss the ongoing impact of transmission lines, renewable energy developments and mining.
Out of sight, out of mind
"I focus today on energy policy, because this is a government that 97 times promised before they were elected that they would reduce power bills permanently by $275 per annum. That promise was officially broken on January 1, this year. They hate us talking about it. It was a big promise, it was a bold promise, and it is broken": Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster.
Farmer rights at stake in wake of granted electricity licence: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Essential Services Commission’s decision to grant Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) an electricity transmission licence must not be treated as a license to steamroll landholders in the path of planned renewable energy projects. Amongst a raft of new powers, the licence enables TCV workers to legally enter farms and carry out preparatory works for the VNI West powerline without the need to obtain landholder consent.
Strong opposition to renewable projects on farmland
Nine out of 10 people oppose renewable projects on farmland, a national survey has found. Farming advocacy group Farms for Food launched an online survey in December after Farmers for Climate Action published survey results last September saying seven in 10 people supported renewable projects on farmland.
Powerline battle still strong
In an ironic twist that many joked could have conspiracy written all over it, last Monday’s Community Meeting in Murrabit, to discuss the VNI West transmission line project, at the Murrabit Golf Club, lost power just before the meeting commenced.
Transmission lines – “Don’t think, do!” – More on the landholders’ fight
Peter Hobbs. This article which is intended to be a follow-up and one motivated by Charltonian Glenda Watts’s Letter to the Buloke Times Editor ... Glenda’s message is simple but significant in the process developed by the Victorian Government underpinning the construction of transmission lines in rural Victoria ... What follows is a dissection of these seven steps outlining [TCV's] shortcomings...