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A Victorian community is fighting plans to build battery storage in an area of extreme bushfire risk as the state government closes an appeal road.
Mint Renewables and Trina Solar plan to build two battery energy storage systems (BESS) near the Dederang terminal station.
“It’s just ridiculous,” Dederang’s Sharon McEvoy, who owns farmland next to the proposed sites in north-east Victoria’s Kiewa Valley, told AAP.
‘It faces north, and backs right up next to the bush … surrounded by bushfire management overlays.’
Residents of the Victorian town fear plans for battery storage risk bushfires and the environment.
Ms McEvoy was leading a community meeting as more than 200 frustrated residents of Dederang and nearby communities filled the recreation reserve hall and spilled onto the deck and foyer.
“We know the fire risk,” she told the audience Thursday.
‘We live and breathe it every summer. We are the local CFA. The local CFA cannot fight a BESS fire.’
Battery fires can burn for days, releasing toxic and flammable gases, as seen in 2021’s four-day fire at the Tesla Big Battery site near Geelong, west of Melbourne.
“We care about the environment, the waterways and the land where we live and work,” McEvoy said, fighting back tears.
‘The government sacrifices the welfare of rural areas.’
The meeting came hours after the Victorian Government announced plans to fast-track new renewable energy projects
The meeting came hours after the Victorian Government announced plans to fast-track new renewable energy projects, including removing the ability for third parties to appeal planning decisions in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
AAP has approached the state government for a comment.
“Voices from communities wishing to raise concerns with a proposal will continue to be protected,” the Victorian Government said in a media release launching the plan on Thursday.
‘Third-party objections will still have a place in the approval process, but this change prevents time-consuming and repeated delays that hold these projects back for years.’
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the issue went well beyond a state planning issue.
“What’s happening to your community is happening across the country,” Senator McKenzie told the crowd.
‘We are all moving towards net zero, but we have to share the burden.’
Both Chinese-owned Trina Solar and Mint, owned by Infratil and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, chose not to attend the meeting.
“We are updating our design and developing mitigation measures to ensure the project is well informed by local knowledge,” Mint said in a statement.
‘We will continue to be open and responsive to questions and constructive feedback.’
Ovens Valley State MP Tim McCurdy said residents should direct their concerns to Victoria’s Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny.
“We’re not anti-renewables, we just want communication,” McCurdy told the crowd.
‘We want to know what’s going on.’