Disappointment was the main reaction of dairy farmers objecting the approval of three solar farms in northern Victoria, despite new guidelines not yet being implemented into the planning scheme.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne approved three contentious solar farms on August 23, which he had deferred until further strategic work was undertaken on the future use and management of irrigation infrastructure in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, and consultation was completed on the now released solar guidelines.
One of the main issue’s farmers have with the sites is they will be built on prime agriculture land, land which is currently being upgraded by the area’s irrigation water body, Goulburn-Murray Water, for $2 billion.