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The Nationals unveil plan to prioritise local voices in renewable energy transition and project planning for Latrobe Valley

The Nationals launched a plan prioritising local voices in renewable energy projects. It includes reinstating community rights to appeal, independent assessments, buffer zones, and guarantees for project cleanup and community consultation.

By news@gippsland - 10th October 2024 - Back to News

This week, The Nationals launched a clear plan to put local voices first in the transition to renewables. The Nationals' Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said residents in the Latrobe Valley, like many across the state, have been left out of the conversation on renewable projects by the Allan Labor Government and multinational corporations.

The Nationals launched a plan prioritising local voices in renewable energy projects, ensuring community consultation and reinstating appeal rights in planning processes

Empowering local voices

Mr Cameron said a future Nationals and Liberal Government would ensure that Victorians are heard in decisions about renewable energy projects that affect their communities. "The Nationals and Liberals' Regional Energy Development Policy will reinstate the right of appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which Labor withdrew earlier this year. This will ensure local voices will not be sidelined in the planning process."

It will also:

• Ensure major transmission and large-scale wind and solar generation projects face a rigorous and independent planning panel assessment
• Institute a default 2 km buffer zone around proposed wind towers to minimise the impact on residential properties and local communities
• Ensure lower-emission generators, high-voltage transmission lines and large-scale battery owners are required to comply with all relevant bushfire overlays
• Revoke planning scheme amendment VC261, instituted by Labor to strip local communities of planning powers over high-voltage transmission lines
• Advocate to the federal government that any compensation received by landowners for hosting major transmission lines, or for impacts caused by such projects, is exempt from taxation
• Develop principles that ensure overhead lines adhere to strict setback requirements to minimise visual and environmental impact

Communities need consultation

Mr Cameron highlighted the growing frustration among residents over Labor's disregard for local concerns. "Labor's fast-tracking of renewable projects, without genuine community consultation, is deeply concerning. Our communities must have a say, and we will ensure they do," he said.

In government, The Nationals and Liberals will also instate a bond system to guarantee that developers ensure all decommissioned projects are fully cleaned up and restored. "Our policy will also ensure developers cannot profit from flipping projects to new buyers without proper community consultation. The Nationals and Liberals will always put local communities first," Mr Cameron said.

Pictures from Martin Cameron MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com