State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has joined Shadow Minister for Energy David Davis and state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell in Benalla to hear directly from communities living alongside renewable energy developments.

Representatives from communities impacted by the Glenrowan West, Mokoan West and Goorambat renewable energy projects attended a roundtable discussion to share their experiences.

Ms Cleeland said the discussion focused on protecting regional communities from international companies she felt risked destroyed the environment and dividing communities.

She said participants raised issues including community consultation, transmission infrastructure, agricultural impacts, landholder rights and the need for lasting local benefits.

The MPs said the roundtable was an opportunity to share the Liberals and Nationals' commitment to energy security, including reinstating the 2km buffer, making community voice critical and central to all decisions, reinstating the VCAT right to appeal, allowing councils to contribute to permit approvals, and protecting prime agricultural land.

Ms Cleeland said regional communities’ voices wanted to be protected and genuinely heard, rather than silenced and objection rights destroyed.

“Communities like Glenrowan West, Mokoan West and Goorambat are living with the reality of these projects every day,” she said.

“They deserve genuine consultation, clear communication and confidence that their concerns are being listened to before decisions are made.

“Regional Victorians expect renewable energy projects to be planned responsibly, with respect for productive farmland, local communities and the people who call these areas home — that has not been the case under Labor.

“Under Labor, regional Victorians have been left to deal with the consequences of a reckless rollout.

“Communities feel abused and divided. Neighbours have been pitted against each other, dissent has been silenced, and some operators aren’t even offering the community fund support they promised.

“Families are living with the strain, land values have been smashed, insurance risk has gone up, and there are still no proper protections in place if a catastrophic fire or environmental crisis is triggered — the decommissioning guidelines themselves are deeply concerning.

“The Liberals and Nationals will protect prime agricultural land and the future of these communities.”

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Sunday, 25th December 2033

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