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A proposed battery and solar hub in West Gippsland is facing fierce backlash from local farmers and landowners, who argue the project ignores the state’s own strategic transmission blueprint.
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Locals claim the proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) and transmission infrastructure at Trafalgar East is located outside the designated renewable energy zone and does not align with the Victorian Transmission Plan.
Westbury landowner Trevor Nicklen said the transmission framework was intended to guide wind, solar and battery projects to appropriate locations based on strategic planning, environmental constraints and community considerations.
Mr Nicklen said the proposed location of the project, also known as the Giddi Battery Energy Storage System, was about 11.5 kilometres from the nearest renewable energy zone.
“Approving this proposal would undermine that approach and set a concerning precedent for further ad-hoc, poorly-sited development across rural Victoria,” he said.
Planning documents reveal project proponent, ib vogt Development Australia Pty Ltd, is seeking to develop a BESS and hybrid solar farm across two properties comprising 360 hectares.
The project’s proponent says the initial stage of the project will span about five hectares, similar to the footprint of existing sheds on the property used for a goat feedlot.
It is the third BESS project proposed for the Baw Baw Shire Council.
Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia is proposing a 200MW site at Shady Creek, while Zebre has selected a site at Yarragon North for additional renewable energy project.
Mr Nicklen said community consultation for the Trafalgar East project had so far been inadequate.
“Reliance on a single public drop-in session in Trafalgar does not represent an appropriate or meaningful level of engagement for affected communities, particularly those in Trafalgar East and Westbury who would experience the most direct impacts,” he said.
According to planning documents, the project is split into two stages.
The first features a 360-megawatt battery system, a substation, and a 220-kilovolt connection to the existing AusNet line.
The second stage would add another 200MW of battery storage alongside a 200MW solar array on land currently used for beef cattle grazing.
Mr Nicklen said the staged approach raised serious concerns about incremental development and the risk of cumulative impacts being assessed in isolation rather than as a whole.
“[It] would fundamentally and irreversibly alter the character, function and visual landscape of the area,” he said.
“Continuous operational noise in a quiet rural environment will adversely affect residents’ quality of life and these impacts are likely to negatively influence property values and disproportionately burden local landholders for infrastructure that primarily services the broader electricity network.
“More suitable locations exist within designated renewable energy zones or established infrastructure corridors in the Latrobe Valley, where impacts on high-value agricultural land and rural communities could be significantly reduced.”
Another landowner, Rachel Savige, Westbury, said her 37-hectare property would back onto the proposed battery and solar farm.
Ms Savige and her husband Anthony bought the property from Anthony’s parents four years ago and have plans to pass the property onto their children when they retired.
“Anthony’s parents have farmed in the area since they were very young and their parents farmed on the same farms more than 100 years ago,” she said.
“We are on generational farms that we want to leave to our kids, but these projects risk us being able to set our kids up for life because we have no idea what this project could do to the value of our land.”
She said the community consultation by ib vogt Development Australia Pty Ltd was held at 7pm on February 24, meaning many dairy farmers couldn’t attend the information session.
The session was held two months after a planning application was lodged for the project in December.
“We were made to feel stupid at the meeting because of the points we raised and it made us leave feeling angry and frustrated,” she said.
“Our farm insurance is already expensive enough as it is and we are not sure if this will lead to higher premiums down the track.”
A VicGrid spokesperson said renewable energy zones identified priority areas for development and were often supported by existing transmission infrastructure.
“By establishing these zones, we can better coordinate renewable energy projects and significantly reduce the need to build unnecessary transmission infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.
“Zones also enable VicGrid to set much clearer rules around how projects gain access to the grid, including expectations for how developers must engage with local communities and deliver economic benefits and social value.”
The spokesperson said all renewable energy project proposals inside or outside of a zone would be subject to detailed assessments against planning policies and relevant legislation.
“We want to ensure viable projects can connect in Victoria, while we deliver on reforms to improve community and Traditional Owner outcomes from the renewable energy transition,” the spokesperson said.
ib vogt Development Australia Pty Ltd senior development manager Terry Daly said the BESS containers and substation would occupy about five hectares of land, a similar size to the large agricultural sheds the infrastructure would replace.
Mr Daly said the project would replace nearby and “highly visible” coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley.
He said the site was chosen for several reasons, including its immediate access to existing high-capacity transmission infrastructure.
“The site currently hosts large industrial scale agricultural sheds and infrastructure,” he said.
“These sheds are actually higher than the proposed BESS containers that will replace them.
“This means minimal impact on agricultural land and very limited overall visual impact.”
Mr Daly disputed claims the project would irreversibly alter the character, function and visual landscape of the landscape.
“I would suggest this is not an accurate assessment, given that no new transmission is required, the scale of the BESS facility is similar in size and visual impact to the infrastructure already at this location that will be replaced and the location of the facility is actually quite difficult to see from outside the property itself, and has significant separation from neighbours,” he said.
He said the proponents of the project had “undertaken numerous different engagement activities”, including a dedicated website, a community survey which received 92 responses, door knocking, media and meetings from local community groups, including nearby fire brigades.
“There are a number of members of the community that have specifically contacted as to express support for the project,” he said.
“This aspect does not seem to be included in the local press.
“These people are pleased that in an area that has supported very large and intrusive coal mines and coal generators for decades are being replaced with cleaner alternatives.”
The government was contacted for comment but did not respond.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media’s Stock & Land. He is ACM’s former national machinery and agricultural technology writer. Bryce is also an executive committee member and former president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media’s Stock & Land. He is ACM’s former national machinery and agricultural technology writer. Bryce is also an executive committee member and former president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
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