Project concerns

Recently, I spoke in parliament about the Tall Tree Wind Farm project which would render the Lethbridge Airport, northwest of Geelong, virtually unviable.

The wind towers, which are only 30m shorter than the Melbourne Skydeck, are set to be the tallest onshore wind turbines in the world.

The immense scale of this project is also of concern due its proximity to homes and small lifestyle properties.

Populations in Meredith, Inverleigh, Teesdale, Lethbridge and Bannockburn will be impacted by this proposal, as will the thousands who use Geelong’s regional airport for pilot training, travel, firefighting, agriculture and other business purposes.

To make matters worse, those in the community seeking to question the proposal or aspects thereof, will now have no avenue of recourse, given the new regulation, which prevents appeals against planning permit grants at VCAT.

This is a slap in the face for the community who would now be forced to face the enormous complexity, cost and risk of launching Supreme Court action to appeal permission.

Just as a side note, it was Labor, the Greens, Animal Justice Party and Legalise Cannabis who voted for the planning scheme amendment in parliament, which will now deny local communities their right to notification, consultation and appeal in projects like this.

I was joined by hundreds of locals at Lethbridge airport recently who came together to oppose both the harmful Tall Tree Wind Farm project and Labor’s stripping our right to appeal planning decisions for renewable energy projects through to VCAT.

We know that the Tall Tree Wind Farm project will impact communities in the event of a bushfire as takeoffs and landings will become increasingly difficult.

This is Geelong’s regional airport used by emergency firefighters and police. The safety of communities will be jeopardised.

The community deserves to have an emergency response system which is up to scratch and a right to appeal planning proposals which have the capacity to wreck lives, livelihoods and even the safety of communities.

Bev McArthur, MP, Member for Western Victoria Region