The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is developing protocols and guidelines for solar farms, after concerns about their impact on prime agricultural land.
VFF president David Jochinke said the farmer group’s main concern was the loss of irrigated land, as well as the impact on valuable grazing country.
“We have quite developed protocols with wind farms, while solar developments haven’t had the same amount of scrutiny as other renewable energy sources,” Mr Jochinke said.
The VFF was working on a way of giving investors and landholders “a clear path forward.”
Mr Jockinke said solar plants in irrigation districts would not be paying for the maintenance of water infrastructure.
“Ideally we would like to see everyone contribute to the cost of maintaining infrastructure,” Mr Jockine said.
“If it does remove land and puts cost burdens onto the rest of the irrigation users, that’s huge concern for us.”
His comments come as another solar farm has been announced for Carisbrook.
The Carisbrook Solar Farm, about one kilometre east of the town, has been planned for about 260 hectares of rural land.
The property is currently primarily used for sheep grazing.
The Carisbrook project requires planning approval from Central Goldfields Shire in the form of a planning permit under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The solar farm proponents, ib vogt GmbH, are planning to hold a public meeting on the project in Carisbrook on May 3.
The State Government has also announced a three person planning panel will hear objections to four proposed solar farms in the Shepparton area.
The projects are located in Congupna, Lemnos, Tallygaroopna and Tatura East.
Shepparton district dairy farmer Natalie Akers said plans for solar farms in the area, worth $300million, were a case of the market outrunning planning regulations.
Ms Akers said the projects were planned for prime agricultural land taking extensive, modernised irrigation infrastructure out of production.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the government wanted to ensure all objectors had a say.
“Renewable energy projects create jobs, drive down power prices and boost regional communities, but that doesn’t mean they deserve a rubber stamp,” Mr Wynne said.
