One Nation MP Opposes Sheep Farmer’s Solar and Battery Project
The only Victorian MP from One Nation has thrown their support behind a petition to challenge a new solar and battery initiative led by landowners in the state’s agricultural region.
Farmers Rosie and Jonathan Koop, based in Glenrowan West, are looking to develop a solar project with a capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) along with a battery installation on their Nioka property, while also intending to raise livestock on the site.
Location and Context of the Project
The proposed project is situated among numerous other solar ventures that are either operational or in the pipeline, all positioned along the 220-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that runs through north-west Victoria.
This area falls within the draft boundaries of the Central North renewable energy zone (REZ), which VicGrid has classified as “proposed but not declared.” This potential REZ is envisioned as a two-part area, with the western section stretching between Bendigo and Tatura, and the eastern section covering Shepparton to Glenrowan.
Farm Diversification and Community Engagement
By pursuing this solar project, the Koops aim to enhance the farm’s financial stability while maintaining their current livestock numbers. They emphasise the importance of overseeing the project themselves, ensuring they can address sensitive topics such as engaging with local neighbours and managing fire risks.
As stated on the project’s website, the Koops have been integral members of the local community for 15 years, having raised their four children and participated in various community activities spanning farming, sports, and volunteering.
The Nioka Solar team maintains a commitment to engaging proactively with neighbouring landowners, the local community, and essential stakeholders throughout the project’s duration.
Political Opposition and Community Concerns
One Nation’s Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has initiated a petition in the state parliament to halt the solar and battery project, expressing concerns about the implications of renewable energy developments. Tyrrell has previously voiced strong opinions on this matter, claiming that Victoria is trending towards “full on communism.”
In the petition addressed to the state legislative council, Tyrrell raises issues frequently cited against renewable projects, such as the fire hazards associated with batteries and the risk of water pollution from potential “explosions” during operations.
The petition alleges that the REZ was extended to encompass this region without any community input and warns that the project could lead to the degradation of high-quality agricultural land, pose threats to endangered species, and adversely affect the wellbeing of residents who cherish their land and lifestyle.
One Nation’s Policy Stance
Tyrrell is urging the government to reject the Nioka project outright, exclude the eastern section of the proposed REZ, and halt all large-scale energy developments within designated bushfire risk areas in agricultural zones.
This request aligns with One Nation’s stance against renewable energy and transmission initiatives on farming land, particularly those that could harm local flora and fauna or elevate the risk of bushfires.
However, the petition opposes a project in a region that has widely accepted solar and battery developments. The Nioka venture is adjacent to the 132 MW Glenrowan West solar farm, which has been operational since 2020, and is flanked by the 102 MW Glenrowan solar farm on one side and the 85 MW Winton solar farm on the other, according to Renewmap’s project tracker.
Across the Hume Freeway, other solar facilities include the 46 MW Mokoan solar farm, the 100 MW under-construction Winton North solar project, and the fully approved 200 MW Winton Energy Reserve gas power station.
A total of eight batteries are also under various stages of development and operation within a 10-kilometre stretch along this highway.
