Labor’s dirty solar deal sells out Meadow Creek

The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has blasted the Allan Labor Government for approving the controversial Meadow Creek Solar Farm, calling it a “dirty deal that sells out regional Victoria and tramples local communities.”

Mr McCurdy said Labor’s Planning Minister had forced through the permit for the massive solar project at Meadow Creek Road, ignoring legitimate objections from local farmers, landholders, and even water authorities.

“Goulburn Murray Water initially raised serious concerns about the project’s risk to our local water supply catchment,” Mr McCurdy said. “Now suddenly, their opposition has disappeared. What changed? Who was leaned on; or worse, who was bought off? Victorians deserve to know.”

“This whole process stinks of arrogance and political interference,” he said. “Labor has made it clear that regional voices don’t matter. Decisions are made in back rooms by bureaucrats and city politicians who wouldn’t know Meadow Creek from Melbourne.”

The approved permit allows the removal of over two hectares of native vegetation, the development of flood-prone land, and construction within the Ovens River Special Water Supply Catchment, an area vital to the region’s water quality and agricultural productivity.

Mr McCurdy said it was deeply concerning that a project with such serious implications for local water and farmland had been waved through without genuine scrutiny.

“Labor talks about caring for the environment, but this is environmental vandalism wrapped up as green policy,” he said. “This isn’t democracy, it’s a democratic dictatorship, where the government decides what’s best and everyone else just has to cop it.”

“The Allan Labor Government’s contempt for country Victoria is on full display,” Mr McCurdy said.

This dirty solar deal is a betrayal of trust, a betrayal of the environment, and a betrayal of the people of Meadow Creek.”