Agriculture
18 October, 2025
Farmers fear solar farm ‘will be rammed through’
FARMERS Don and Meg Stewart had taken a wait and see attitude to talk of renewable energy factories.
FARMERS Don and Meg Stewart had taken a wait and see attitude to talk of renewable energy factories.
Last Thursday evening in Mitiamo when maps and brochures were put on tables at the recreation reserve, Don said: “The talk is now becoming reality”.
Solar panels could be within metres of his mother’s home and not much further from the property of Don and wife Meg.
Don said he was concerned for the potential impact on district farms and lifestyle if the Mologa solar farm was approved.
“This is rural land but the proposal is for an industrial factory,” he said.
“I’ve concerns about possible hikes in insurance premiums, loss of property values. I’m not here to debate whether it (solar farm) is good or bad but to get information and details around my concerns that also include floods and fires.
“I fear this will be just rammed through.”
Robert and John Pickles raised concerns about access to the proposed solar farm site. Indicative plans show only one access point
The Mologa site is near where Catalyst Metals has been taking gold samples for more than 15 years and now proposing to construct an exploration tunnel.
Robert said: “Miners have to jump all these hoops ... but not these guys.
“This is good farming land. There are sections that can flood - where will that water be pushed if there are solar panels everywhere?’
John echoed those concerns: “Flood banks (protecting the panels) will push water in all directions.”
Doug Leed was among more than 20 landowners at the Mitiamo session. He said his concerns were for neighbours and the impact a solar farm would have on rural land.
More than 100 people attended a forum last month organised by the newly-formed Loddon Valley Renewables Awareness Group where speakers urged landowners not to sign any agreements with renewable energy companies.
The Loddon Shire has been included in one of eight renewable energy zones proposed by the State Government.
The Government’s controversial VNI West transmission line goes through a northern section of the shire.
Read More: Mologa, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill