IMAGINE if you will, an area the size of Carlton, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Richmond and East Melbourne combined, it will give you an idea of the size of a solar farm currently being proposed to be constructed in Corop on farmland northwest of the township of Rushworth.
1.3 million solar panels are to be installed across 1,099 Ha of irrigatable land currently used for grazing. (Collingwood for instance occupies 130Ha) Naturally, the locals who will have to look upon this vast array of panels and deal on a daily basis with the glare are not happy.
From her back door, olive farmer and grazier, Tina Knight looks across idyllic rolling valleys to distant hills with plans to develop rural farm stays on her historic property that her family has held since 1878 is concerned about the visual and industrial disruption the solar farm will create. The solar farm is on the other side of the irrigation canal that runs the length of the proposed development.
This region is being targeted as land suitable to support Australia’s drive towards alternative energy. Large solar farms are currently happening in several locations around the Goulburn Valley such as the 5MW farm in Dookie-Cosgrove.
GVCE Mooroopna Solar Farm is a large solar farm proposed for a 30Ha site on Greater Shepparton City Council owned land at Toolamba Rd, Mooroopna, Victoria.
Other projects currently in planning include Tatura East (45MW), Tallygaroopna (68MW) and Lemnos (100MW) solar farms, subject to conditions.
Each of these is dwarfed by the Corop proposal at 440MW.
The local residents have taken issue with the passage of the proposal through the Campaspe Shire council and although several objections were lodged, they were not considered of concern during council discussions.
The $520M Corop project is being undertaken by Leeson Group, a Melbourne based company. While the project claims it will create 700 jobs during construction, long term it will provide just 30 jobs over its 40 year lifespan.
Currently a plant-based screening 9m wide along the boundary of the property is proposed to, as the company website says, limit the visual impact, it is no guarantee for those that live alongside it will not be affected.
From the position of the objectors, their view is that this might well be located on the rooftops and over highways in places like Melbourne except, voices there would be saying, not in my back yard.
The proposal has several hurdles to still overcome. In addition to the local objections, the land is subject to periodic flooding and requires rezoning by Victorian Planning department while there is a number of wetlands that will be affected by the construction.
