The Bookaar Community Action is getting ready to muscle up in its bid to prevent a 550-hectare solar farm proposed to be built on Liberal MP Bev McArthur’s family property, according to spokesman Andrew Duynhoven.
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Corangamite Shire Council refused to issue a permit to Bookaar Renewables Pty Ltd at its September 2018 council meeting, highlighting concerns over loss of agricultural land and environmental impacts, but the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal confirmed an appeal was lodged against the decision last week.
Mr Duynhoven, who is a neighbour of the McArthur family property, said the community group has gained the support of the Victoria Farmers Federation and the United Dairyfarmers Victoria, both of which were among the 80 objections to the proposal, in the VCAT process.
“I think this will be in essence a test case for a lot of solar farms that are at VCAT now,” he said.
“If we win, and it's a David and Goliath battle, we just earn the right to keep the Bookaar community safe … whereas they will earn the right to significant financial gain.
“I'm not against solar, I'm against the rebate system and the incentives it provides – it needs to be able to stand on its own two feet.”
The solar farm proposal involves 700,000 photovoltaic panels, inverters, a substation, battery storage and site compound across a 554 hectare site.
Mrs McArthur, who was recently elected to represent Western Victoria in the upper house, said she has “no connection” to the proposed solar farm, and declined to comment further on the matter.
