LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Community voices must be heard on Meadow Creek proposal

Dear Editor,

Thank you to the many farmers and community members who gathered in Oxley for last week’s Rally in the Valley. Your commitment shows the Victorian Government and the Minister for Planning that the Meadow Creek solar factory is the right project in the wrong place. I raised this issue in Parliament this week to ensure your concerns are heard at the highest level.

With the June 10 deadline for final submissions fast approaching, I urge the Wangaratta community to have their say. This proposal will shape the future of our region, your voice matters.

We are not opposed to solar power or renewable energy. These technologies are essential to our energy future. But if we want to be truly sustainable, we must carefully consider where projects are placed.

Picking sites simply based on the presence of a willing seller near high-voltage lines is not good planning.

The Conroy family, John, Jess and their children, have been at the forefront of this campaign for fairness. Their leadership and resilience reflect the strength of this entire community.

As a former dairy farmer, I understand the pressure farming families face, especially when big decisions are made without proper community input.

The Victorian Government now has a choice to make: listen to local voices and respect community values, or press ahead with a plan that ignores both.

Tim McCurdy MP