PREMIER Jacinta Allan has been labelled “no friend of country Victoria” after the release of the State Government’s final plan that increases the size of renewable energy zones in northern Victoria.
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub has been part of a chorus of criticism levelled at the Government.
“The only one conclusion I can draw on this matter is that the Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan, representing the regional/rural seat of Bendigo East along with her Cabinet are not friends of country Victoria,” Cr Straub said following Sunday’s release of the final Victorian Transmission Plan.
The Government wants 65 per cent renewable energy generation by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035.  
Several solar farms proposed for the Loddon Shire are already years behind schedule with work still to start while multiple foreign-owned wind speculators are targeting northern Loddon districts with planned projects that would sit in the north-west renewable energy zone.
“This plan has been sold as a way to keep the lights on, but it still leaves farmers in the dark,” said Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Brett Hosking.
“The Government has redrawn the renewable energy zones to suit developers, yet we still don’t know how much power will actually be built, what protections farmers will get, or what benefits will flow back into local communities.”
VicGrid said on Sunday: “If you live in or near a renewable energy zone, over time you will see more development of renewable energy generation and storage.”
“You can choose whether or not to host new renewable energy such as wind turbines, solar farms or batteries on your property. It’s your decision and we encourage you to talk to your neighbours about it.”
Victorian Farmers’ Federation members have already called for a 5km exclusion zone between projects and landowners refusing refusing to host projects while the Government wants fines of $12,000 for farmers and $40,000 for corporations refusing access to land for renewable energy projects.
The plan confirms doubling capacity of the Bendigo-Kerang power line.