CALLS are growing for the Federal Government to finish and release its review into the way community consultation has been handled in the development of solar and wind projects.

With the Labor Government aiming to have 82 percent of the national energy grid powered by renewable energy by 2030, large scale projects and transmission lines have been rolling out across the country.

Many issues have been raised about the projects overtaking prime agricultural land and about a lack of community consultation from the developers and the government.

In response, energy and climate change minister Chris Bowen appointed Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer to review the way community consultation has been handled for renewable energy projects last July.

Now farming groups and the Nationals leader David Littleproud are calling for the minister to release the review.

NSW Farmers member and Dunedoo farmer Emma Bowman had seen firsthand poor community consultation on infrastructure projects in her local region, and believed the process was marred by a lack of communication and due diligence.

“To date, many farmers have had a very disappointing experience with the community consultation – or lack thereof – around the transmission lines set to run through their properties,” Ms Bowman said.

“Government developers don’t seem to want the input or knowledge that local farmers have to give and are instead using their powers of compulsory acquisition to draw a line on the map and build wherever they like, with little consultation.”

Ms Bowman said improvements to the community consultation process for renewable projects were vital to ensuring farmers could operate their businesses alongside the proposed energy infrastructure.

“Failing to properly consult farmers means many renewable projects aren’t being put in the right place – for example, there is project infrastructure such as roads being built on floodplains and transmission lines or solar panels being placed over our most valuable and productive land,” Ms Bowman said.

“There has also been inadequate consultation around water use, which is particularly worrying as we don’t know how much water these projects will leave for farmers and the community.”

Not just a NIMBY situation

National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said the review was a step in the right direction and presents am opportunity for the Government to dispel the uncertainty hanging over the heads of farmers.

“Farmers are often the last to find out about these projects to be rolled out across their land.

“This isn’t a NIMBY situation. Farmers support the transition to renewable energy, but they don’t want to see these projects being prioritised over growing food and fibre.

“Often there are far better solutions, like taking projects along fencelines or in unproductive paddocks but the energy companies rarely stop to listen to these smart solutions.”

FOI request put in for the review

Nationals leader David Littleproud has put in the Freedom of Information request for the review. He said it was important for the country to know the impact of renewable energy on farmland.

“We need to know how much productive agricultural land is earmarked, where is it earmarked and when will the projects be forced onto local communities?

“We also need to know how much these projects will cost taxpayers and what are the protection rights of property owners?

“We have time to pause, to plan and to use common sense. Sadly, it’s becoming obvious that renewables are losing their social licence because they are destroying the very thing they were designed to protect.”

A spokesperson for the minister for climate change and energy says the review will be released shortly.

“The Albanese Government received the Community Engagement Review, led by the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) Andrew Dyer, late last year,” the spokesperson said.

“We know Australia needs better implementation of good community engagement practices, which is why this report will be released shortly once the government has considered the report findings.

“The Opposition spent 10 years trying to stall the transformation to a cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy system and failed to make the necessary reforms to improve how our nation building energy projects are rolled out in communities.

“The Albanese Government is taking a different approach by working with communities, jurisdictions and the sector to get it right.”