Town delights as government cans renewable energy zone plans

Dookie residents relieved as government walks back renewable zone plans In short: The state government has walked back plans for a renewable energy zone in northern Victoria after backlash from residents. The proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone was criticised by Dookie residents over a lack of consultation and the area being prime agricultural land. The government says the next tranche of investment can instead be focused where projects can connect efficiently and unlock more renewable energy. Residents in the tiny country Victorian town of Dookie are celebrating after the state government canned plans to create a renewable energy zone in the region. The Central North Renewable Energy Zone was proposed to cover parts of the Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Benalla and Greater Bendigo local government areas. However a surprise announcement from the government scrapping the zone, which came after a fierce round of feedback from residents, allowed some farmers the "best night's sleep they've had in 12 months". "I think the power of the people came through," said Jodie Fleming, spokesperson for the Protect Dookie and GV Community group. The group was created in staunch opposition to the energy proposal, arguing there had been a lack of consultation about the zone, which the group said was not appropriate for prime agricultural land. "Dookie itself has only got 330-odd residents. However 11,760 Victorians signed a petition to say 'Don't put it there,'"Ms Fleming said. "We are producing food for not just Victoria but Australia. To put a renewable energy zone where we're feeding our nation is ridiculous." Ms Fleming said she believed the upcoming state election was "absolutely" a factor in the decision, and that a planned rally against the proposal would likely be converted to a big street party. Approved existing projects will continue The Victorian Farmers' Federation (VFF) was celebratory, but cautious. "While we welcome this decision, it's difficult to celebrate one community being listened to when others feel they were ignored by the same process," said VFF president Ryan Milgate. "We can only hope that this decision might be the first of many designed to regain the trust of regional communities." Victorian Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes said the proposed zone had been canned "following community feedback and expert advice". "The area covering the Campaspe River at Axedale to the Hume Highway at Glenrowan already hosts significant renewable generation, with existing and planned projects using much of the capacity available to plug into the existing grid," the statement read. "The next wave of investment can instead be focused where projects can connect efficiently and new transmission can unlock more renewable energy." VicGrid, the government body responsible for planning and development of Victoria's renewable energy zones, said the decision to abandon the proposed zone would not impact other projects that were already advanced. "As is always the case, landholders have the right to choose whether they want to host solar, wind and battery developments," a VicGrid spokesperson said. "Landholders have a choice and we encourage them to discuss potential developments with their neighbours." Liberal Member for northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, told Victorian Parliament on Wednesday the government was expected to explain why the region had been included as a REZ in the first place. "We expected the government to get up and put forward their reasons why they had included it in the transmission plan," Ms Lovell said. "But instead a government member got up and announced that the government had that day decided not to include it in the renewable energy plan."