Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Western Victoria Region

Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:57): (1185) My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning. The proponents of a six-turbine wind farm at Brewster, east of Beaufort, have withdrawn their application under the older regulations. They have since submitted a new very similar permit application subject to the new changes ushered in under VC261 within the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Locals are frustrated because under the new changes they cannot challenge the decision through VCAT, which cuts off a significant and relatively cost-effective legal avenue to challenge decisions. The reporting that justifies the proposal significantly downplays the breeding habitat of brolgas, given that they were only monitored at 8 am to 5 pm, business hours, as per the contractor. This has got to be a major concern for the government. Minister, I ask you to engage constructively with locals and review the proposed wind farm application. The process has not been fair. Many locals assumed their submission to the first process would be included in the second. It has not. More broadly, I encourage reforming the process to allow genuine consultation instead of putting up barriers to dialogue and engagement.