NEHA SAMAR
Dear Editor,
Earlier this year, I wrote about a conversation with a friend who told me I was “one of the good ones” during a discussion about immigration.
I think about the comment often, unsure how to feel about it. It made me question why belonging should ever come with conditions. Why should someone have to be considered an exception to be accepted?
As Victoria approaches another state election, I find myself thinking about that conversation again.
Political campaigns have a way of bringing out the best and worst in public debate. We should be able to disagree. We should be able to challenge policies and question our leaders. But surely we can do that without making people feel they don’t belong.
I’ve watched some of the conversations unfold across our region, and I’ve been particularly disappointed by the way women have been spoken about. Comparing women to chickens or suggesting they are difficult to manage says more about the person making the comment than the women being discussed.
Women contribute enormously to this community. They lead sporting clubs, run organisations, raise families and volunteer their time. They deserve to be taken seriously.
Recently, I took my nine-year-old son to a candidates’ forum. I wanted him to see how democracy works and understand that asking questions of people in power is part of being an active citizen.
I also want him to grow up in a community where people are not judged by their background or treated differently because of who they are.
I don’t expect everyone to share my views. I don’t expect politicians to get everything right. But I do expect those seeking our votes to understand the responsibility that comes with leadership.
Perhaps this election is a good opportunity to ask ourselves what kind of community we want to leave behind for our children.
Because belonging should never depend on being one of the good ones and respect should never be too much to ask of those who want to lead us.
Yours sincerely,
Neha Samar,
Shepparton
PROPOSED BATTERY SITE
Dear Editor,
As with any new development proposal, it is right to subject it to scrutiny. The Avenis Energy Pty Ltd 480 MW battery proposed for a site near the electricity substation is a new land use very different to the traditional uses of land in the planning zone.
However, the world needs to reduce carbon emissions, technology advances and the most essential of 21st century ingredients to the ongoing operation of our human world, electricity, needs to be guaranteed. This is particularly so as Victoria’s 50 year old coal power stations reach retirement age.
The first mentioned objection from council is based on the concern that the battery is to be on productive agricultural land. The proposed 10ha site is cleared land that has not been irrigated for many years. Looking back at aerial imagery to 2010 does not show any more than occasional annual cropping has occurred on the small site. This position also sits uncomfortably with Council’s support for converting much larger tracts of agricultural land into urban and industrial subdivisions.
Council is also objecting to the location, as is the new school that has been built nearby in the last couple of years. How could there be a better location than very close to the largest electrical distribution facility in Shepparton? The concern raised is that of the risk of fire and possible toxic smoke.
Globally, this sort of large battery electricity storage system (BESS) is now commonplace. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2022 there was 28,000 MW of BESS, 97,000MW in 2024, and projections for 970,000MW by 2030. Battery electricity storage systems are now a reliable, cost effective and essential component of a modern, low carbon electricity grid. Suppliers of BESS certainly don’t want to sell products that can fail, and investors would not be investing if there was much chance of their investment catching fire.
Victoria’s electricity grid is very different to what we had in the 20th century, when most electricity came all the way from the Latrobe Valley. This large power infrastructure investment will bring enormous benefit to our region. More importantly, it will improve power reliability to Shepparton’s many industries and residents. Placing this large BESS on the 220kV powerline will capture cheap electricity from solar panels during the day and make it available to businesses and residents when the sun has gone down, (just like home batteries do!).
Hopefully Council will reconsider its objection to this vitally important investment in the region’s growth, prosperity and sustainability. I hope also the school will take the opportunity to learn about the technology, understand the actual risks and recognise its important part to play in de-carbonising the school students future world.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Bruce Gill,
Tatura
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