General News
2 December, 2024
Kealy locked out, Council in the dark over the Premier's Horsham visit
Premier's launch of Horsham solar and battery project kept secret
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy was barred from attending Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan's guest-only visit to Horsham on Wednesday, November 20.
The Premier was in Horsham for the launch of the solar and battery farm on the outskirts of Horsham.
Outside the bolted gate, Ms Kealy said, "I was met at the gate by security, who said it was a private function and I was not invited.
"The Premier is hiding in that marquee over there," she said.
"She is our state's Premier, and we are locked out of the launch of a project that will affect this community.
"Some of the landowners here told me they haven't even been told it has been approved," she said.
"I have questions for the Premier.
"Have the batteries added to the project been bunded to protect run-off into the Wimmera River?
"How will the project be funded, and who's paying for it?"
However, Ms Kealy did not get answers to her questions and wasn't the only one locked out.
Security and a bolted gate prevented landowners whose properties border the project from attending the launch.
Donna Johns' family farm is inside the proposed Avonbank Mine footprint at Dooen, and she was hoping to speak with the premier but was prevented from attending.
"After hearing from a source that Jacinta Allen was attending the site for the new solar farm announcement, I thought it would be a good opportunity to raise my concerns about our situation with the Avonabnk Minerals Sands Mining Project," she said, referring to the recent confusion surrounding the state of the Avonbank Mine's EES.
Just days before the premier's visit, the Dooen farming community received conflicting messages about whether the mine had been approved.
A spokesperson for WIM Resources told them it had been, but the government said it was under review.
"I was hoping for at least 5 minutes of her time to get some answers about our farms," Ms Johns said.
"When Emma Kealy was locked out, I thought I had no hope.
"Security guards ushered me out; it was obvious that she [Premier] disregarded the farming community, whose farms are impacted by mining and renewable projects in our area.
"We have been treated with such contempt; it's appalling behaviour by our labour government," she said.
Another farmer, whose property is within 500 meters of the solar project, said she was not invited or told of the launch.
ACM journalist Chris McLennan reported on the energy project on Thursday, following the launch, saying, "Critics are questioning how one of the nation's most financially struggling states could afford to build an expensive solar farm.
"The Victorian government announced Wednesday it was spending $370 million on a solar farm and battery being built just outside Horsham, in the state's west.
"According to energy experts, the solar farm has been shopped around for most of this year by Esco Pacific, a subsidiary of Sweden-headquartered OX2, for around half that price.
"In 2023, OX2 bought Esco Pacific and its Horsham solar project (among others) for $126 million.
"The government said adding a big battery was responsible for the added cost.
"Horsham Rural City Council approved planning applications for the then Esco Pacific solar farm in 2018 on the 485 acres of cropping land for $170 million. A public document was released in 2023," he said.
HRCC was not aware the Premier was in the municipality. The new council was sworn in on Thursday, November 21 and was not involved in the solar and battery project launch on Wednesday.
HRCC mayor Ian Ross said the door was always open to the premier, and he hoped that if she visited again, she would know she was welcome.
"The premier's visit was at an unusual time for the council as it had not been sworn in," he said.
The launch of the newly owned and named SEC Renewable Energy Park - Horsham is a 100% publicly owned, utility-scale renewable energy project in Victoria's west.
The Wimmera Mail-Times contacted the Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon. Lily D'Ambro, for comment on the funding, but a response was not received by publication.
sheryl.lowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au