In the serene landscapes of rural Victoria, where the Kiewa Valley’s rolling hills and verdant meadows paint a picture of tranquillity, a community finds itself at a turning point. The transition to clean energy, once viewed as a guiding light of hope, has now become a source of contention and uncertainty for the residents of Dederang and the broader Kiewa Valley.

As CEO of the Coalition for Conservation, the cries for help echoing from the Kiewa Valley have reached my ears. An unexpected heartfelt letter, penned by a staunch advocate from rural Victoria, Sharon McEvoy, Secretary and Spokesperson for Friends of the Kiewa and Alpine Valleys, lays bare the harsh realities faced by her community in the wake of rapid clean energy development.

Sharon shed light on the challenges her family faces amidst the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in Dederang, Kiewa Valley. The project, spearheaded by Mint Renewables and partially backed by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, has raised concerns among directly impacted neighbours, including four who are members of the fund supporting the venture.

The community’s grievances intensified as Mint Renewables apparently declined to attend a public meeting and opted instead for individual sessions with direct neighbours. This prompted the formation of Friends of the Kiewa and Alpine Valleys Inc., a group championing responsible renewables.

The community’s scepticism grew during a drop-in session attended by a hundred people on February 2. What some locals feel to be the proposal’s inconsideration for the community is starkly contrasted by Mint Renewables’ brochure, emphasising the importance of stakeholder support.

The environmental concerns raised by the community encompass dangers from bushfires, thermal runaway incidents, and potential harm to strategic agricultural land. With numerous residences in proximity to the proposed site, there’s a collective worry about the liveability of homes, ongoing business viability, and property devaluation.

The Kiewa Valley, renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, faces ecological threats from the BESS installation. The community fears permanent changes to the landscape and potential disruptions to wildlife habitats and water sources.

The plea for support extends to the broader principles upheld by coalitions supporting environmental enhancement, regional sustainability, and species preservation. The community questions the wisdom of potentially destroying the environment to ostensibly save it.

But perhaps the most poignant aspect of Sharon’s letter is the personal toll exacted on families like the McEvoys, as she ends the letter with a personal touch, sharing their struggles due to various renewable energy projects in rural Victoria. From Stawell to Colbinabbin, the spectre of renewable infrastructure looms large, casting a shadow over the lives and livelihoods of those who call rural Victoria home.

Ben, one of Sharon’s sons who invested his hard-earned savings from his AFL career into farming, now faces the prospect of his home becoming uninhabitable amidst the encroaching wind turbines and transmission lines. Matt, her other son, with his young family, is forced to put his house on the market, unable to bear the proximity of a solar farm and BESS in Colbinabbin. Sharon and her husband John, too, find themselves in the path of the proposed BESS in Dederang, their peaceful existence threatened by the looming presence of industrial infrastructure.

For the McEvoys, the ramifications of these projects extend far beyond the inconvenience often associated with the not in my backyard mentality. It strikes at the very core of their identity and livelihood. Their stories serve as a poignant reminder of the human toll exacted by the relentless march of progress.

The letter serves as a call for help in resisting the impending destruction of their community, land, and environment, asking for guidance to find a rural haven free from the adverse impacts of renewable infrastructure.

In Sharon’s eyes, the BESS project represents more than just a threat to their way of life; it is a stark reminder of the urgent need for balance and equity in the transition to clean energy. As she lays bare the challenges confronting her family, she implores us to heed their plight and strive for a future where progress is measured not only in megawatts and kilowatt-hours but also in compassion and justice for all who call rural Victoria home.

As CEO of the Coalition for Conservation, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the disappointments in our current approach to emissions reduction. While I am a staunch advocate for renewable energy, I am disheartened by the government’s haste and speed in pursuing emissions reduction targets without adequate planning and mapping.

I call upon governments at all levels to intervene and bring balance to the transition to clean energy. The energy transition must be guided not by the dictates of developers but by principles of justice, equity, and sustainability. It must be a transition that prioritises the well-being of communities, respects the rights of landholders, and safeguards the natural environment for future generations.

The government’s rush to implement clean energy projects has led to a disregard for the potential footprint on agricultural land and the invasion of farmers’ lives. Communities are rightfully unhappy with this approach, and it threatens to delay projects as we risk losing the social license necessary for their success.

We must rethink our strategy or we will be hitting a wall in our transition to zero emissions. We cannot sacrifice the well-being of rural communities and the integrity of our natural landscapes in the pursuit of short-term goals. The time has come for a more thoughtful and inclusive approach – one that balances the urgency of emissions reduction with the need for equity and environmental sustainability.

The challenges facing the Kiewa Valley are not unique. They are emblematic of a broader trend of environmental degradation and social injustice perpetuated by the unchecked pursuit of profit. As a nation, we stand at a crossroads – will we continue down the path of exploitation and inequality, or will we chart a new course guided by principles of fairness and compassion?

We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the plight of rural communities like Dederang. Let us rewrite the script of the clean energy narrative, weaving threads of equity and sustainability into every chapter. For the Kiewa Valley and beyond, the time for balance is now. It is time to listen, to learn, and to act – before it’s too late.