10,000 signatures to protect prime agricultural land
By Deanne Jeffers
HUNDREDS of concerned residents have packed recent VicGrid community information sessions in Dookie, as opposition continues to grow against the proposed eastern expansion of the Central North Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The sessions come amid increasing concern from farmers, landholders, residents and community leaders over the potential impacts of transmission infrastructure and renewable energy development on highly productive agricultural land.
Advocacy group Protect Dookie & GV said the turnout reflects widespread frustration over consultation, landholder rights and uncertainty surrounding the Victorian Government’s 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan.
Protect Dookie & GV is calling on the government to remove the eastern section of the Central North REZ from the plan. At the time of publication, the group’s petition had gathered almost 7,000 signatures, with a target of 10,000.
Spokesperson Jodie Fleming said recent information sessions have been constructive but argued that they highlighted ongoing community concerns.
“Unfortunately, this process is a PR exercise by VicGrid,” she said. “While the conversations have been respectful, we do not have any transparency or clarity on the issues we are facing yet.
“The community has been overwhelmingly against the eastern extension and what it means for our region, but it feels like that concern is not being reflected in the process.”
Ms Fleming also questioned the criteria used to assess land suitability for renewable energy projects and transmission development.
“We’ve been told decisions have not been made, but what we are seeing is policy settings shifting to enable projects in areas where there is strong community opposition.”
Ms Fleming said attendance at the sessions was significant, with more than 210 people attending the first meeting,120-150 at the second almost 200 at the last meeting on Monday. She said many attendees travelled from nearby areas, including Gooroombat, which is also included in the proposed eastern extension.
Residents at the sessions raised concerns about potential transmission corridors, impacts on farming operations, compulsory acquisition powers, access rights for surveyors and authorised officers, irrigation infrastructure, and long-term uncertainty for families and businesses.
Protect Dookie & GV is calling for Dookie to be removed from the REZ boundary, arguing further assessment is needed and that consultation should be extended before any final decisions are made.
Local farmer and Dookie Motors owner Brian Feldtman said agriculture underpins the local economy and community life.
“Dookie is an incredibly important farming area. We have sheep, cattle, viticulture, olives, a whole range of agricultural activity,” he said. “We also have the University of Melbourne Dookie campus here, which plays a significant role in agricultural research and education.”
Mr Feldtman said concerns included the potential loss of productive farmland and impacts on the Dookie campus. He also said that the community’s future depended on agriculture remaining viable in the region.
“We have a lot of young farmers here now, which never used to be the case, but if this goes ahead, they will leave. It would break our community I believe,” he said. “Local businesses feel it, the milk bar would struggle, the garage would shut, there won’t be as many students at Melbourne Uni, our primary school is already down to 10 students.”
Ms Fleming echoed those concerns, saying the knock-off effects would be felt across the district.
“Agriculture supports our football and netball club, it impacts businesses like Dookie Motor Service, which repairs farm machinery. If there’s no farmers, who goes to the pub? Rye at Tallis is another example, they do many weddings and events, but who wants to have their wedding overlooking a massive solar farm, rather than Dookie’s canola fields? It changes everything.”
Protect Dookie & GV says it will continue campaigning until the eastern REZ expansion is removed from the Victorian Transmission Plan, arguing that the agricultural significance of the region outweighs the benefits of further transmission development.
The petition can be signed at: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/remove-the-eastern-section-of-the-central-north-rez-from-the-2025-victorian-transmission-plan
