RESIDENTS fear a solar plant proposal for dairy farming land at Lower Mount Walker would create an eyesore and ruin prime agricultural land.
Libra Energy wants to build a 150MWp Solar plant with a 850MW/3400MWh battery at Ross and Steve Blanch’s 540 square hectare dairy farm at 108 Blanchs Road.
An urgent residents’ meeting was held last Thursday at the Memorial Hall Rosewood to discuss the proposal.
It was attended by Division 4 Councillor Russell Milligan, Local State Member for the Scenic Rim Jon Krause, Jim Willmott of Property Rights Australia, and Kilkivan Action Group’s Katy McCallum, who has been campaigning against the Borumba Pumped Hydro Scheme.
Lower Mount Walker residents are worried the Libra Energy plant would have a negative visual impact, ruin productive arable land, and eradicate wildlife habitat on the council-mapped flood zone.
Critics of solar have said the actual cost of mining, manufacturing, and assembling these facilities outweighs the benefits it might bring.
There is also alarm hail-damaged solar panels would leak chemicals into the Bremer River.
Local State Member for the Scenic Rim Jon Krause said he understood residents’ fears.
“I commend 100 percent, and congratulate, the dozens of locals who have come together in action – even before this solar project has been formally submitted to the council,” Mr Krause said.
“Affordable, reliable energy is my priority for locals, and all Queenslanders.
“While renewable energy sources have a place, the billions invested in renewables has not stopped prices continually soaring.
“Clearly, there is no such thing as ‘free’ or even ‘cheap’ renewable energy.
“At the same time, the Queensland Government has overseen 1,000 days of major electricity generators being offline at Callide Power Station – driving prices up even further as 10 percent of Queensland’s electricity supply is missing.
“I can absolutely see why residents are concerned about the prospect of hundreds of hectares of solar panels facing them – in some cases, from just across the road.
“Under current government laws, however, there is no consultation with locals about this.
“It can be assessed by the council with no input from residents about the impact it would have on them.
“That needs to change, and that’s why the regulation of renewable energy projects needs highlighting.
“Lower Mount Walker, like so much of Scenic Rim Electorate, is terrific farming country.
“If solar installations are going to be permitted there, where will it end?
“Rural production is what the land use is zoned for, but this government has made extra rules to push these solar projects along – even on great farming country – because they are in a headlong rush to renewables.
“I want to see our farms protected in Southeast Queensland, as does the community.”
• Last year, data showed around 30 renewable energy projects lodged with the Federal Government for assessment would damage precious koala habitat.
The projects registered with the Department would remove habitat trees and potentially fragment koalas’ natural range, which has already been decimated.
