Town delights as government cans renewable energy zone plans

Jodie Fleming says a planned rally against the proposal will likely be converted to a big street party. (ABC News: Andrew Mangelsdorf) Jodie Fleming says the proposal was unsuitable for the area. (ABC News: Andrew Mangelsdorf) "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 ," 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. Opponents of the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone say new energy projects should not be built on prime agricultural land.  (ABC Shepparton: Jo Printz) "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.