Getaway star Catriona Rowntree slams ‘secretive’ plans for renewable battery farm to be built next to her rural six-bedroom Victoria farmhouse and calls for proposal to be scrapped
As someone who has dedicated my life to exploring the beauty and serenity of rural Australia, I can wholeheartedly empathize with Catriona Rowntree’s plight. Her rural farmhouse in Victoria, where she found her new home with her farmer husband James, is under threat from a secretive renewable battery farm proposal that poses a safety risk and disrupts the harmony of the landscape.
Catriona Rowntree has heaped criticism on ‘secretive’ plans to build a renewable battery farm next to her rural farmhouse in Victoria.
53-year-old actress from “The Getaway” appeals to Geelong Council to support her request to prevent a major construction project from being built near her residence, arguing that it could potentially pose a threat to her safety.
At present, plans by AC Energy for constructing a 350 MegaWatt/700 Megawatt-hour lithium battery facility located at Little River, approximately 44 kilometers southwest of Melbourne, are under review by the state government.
Should the project be implemented, it will transform into one of the biggest battery energy storage facilities in the state, primarily focusing on managing electrical energy with the aid of lithium-ion batteries.
However, Catriona has since criticized the plans, asserting that she was taken aback by the suggestions as she first learned of them through a news article in her local paper.
She posted a heartfelt video on Instagram, expressing her disagreement with the proposed development. According to her, the location of the land in question falls within a fire-prone zone, creating a potential risk.
Additionally, the TV host pointed out that this secluded spot is safeguarded by an extensive land cover layer, designed to conserve and elevate important regions.
“Hi there! I’m reaching out to inform you that at around 5 pm, if you tune into ABC Stateside in Victoria, you will discover something that has been taking many of us in Victoria by surprise,” she expressed.
‘That is in an attempt to go green, we are losing our green!’
In a later interview on ABC, Catriona asserted that the State Government had been covertly attempting to pass their proposals, suggesting that the Geelong Council had not been informed about them.
She mentioned that we’re in an area with a high risk of fires, and the government has specifically marked this farm with a substantial protective overlay.
This very farm experienced the infamous fires back in 1969, and it’s no stranger to such incidents. Just yesterday, powerful winds reaching up to 100 km/h swept across this region once more.
‘The State Government is trying to sneak this through and the council did not know,’ she added.
1969 saw a devastating wildfire sweep across Little River and several surrounding districts near the You Yangs Regional Park. This fire destroyed numerous buildings and took the lives of many local residents.
Cat suggests it’d be wiser to locate the battery farm elsewhere, as there’s a higher risk of strong winds in the agricultural region.
She’s requested that the consultation period be prolonged because the deadline, which falls on September 7, is fast approaching. A decision regarding this matter is anticipated by the end of the year.
Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan acknowledged that the local community was taken entirely by surprise regarding the suggestions, and he pledged to address this matter with the State authorities.
In a recent gathering, as reported by the Geelong Advertiser, Mr. Sullivan stated that the community was taken by surprise.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a battery or a waste-to-energy incinerator; anything the state government has attempted to sneak past us needs to be openly discussed with the community. We will ensure this information is shared.
Instead of moving from Sydney to Victoria, Catriona chose to live there to join her farming spouse, James. Since then, she’s lovingly restored the old Victorian farmhouse that once belonged to his family, bringing it back to its original splendor, complete with six bedrooms.
Over the years, the farm that serves as home to Catriona, James, and their kids has been utilized in various movie productions, such as Ned Kelly and The Dressmaker.
Should the plans for development adjacent to her expansive land be carried out and become active, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would link directly to the current 220kV power grid system.
As per ACEnergy, this strategy aims to make Victoria more eco-friendly by managing power supply and demand effectively, increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the power grid, and lessening our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d say that unlike most energy storage solutions, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) offers unparalleled adaptability because it can dish out power whenever it’s needed. This makes it an invaluable asset for maintaining a sustainable and flexible energy supply.
The unit could also help to manage the impacts of power fluctuations and outages, while existing transmission lines would be used to minimise construction impacts.
2023 saw the acquisition of land earmarked for the Little River BESS. At present, this application is being evaluated by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
Should it get approved, ACEnergy anticipates initiating construction in the mid-year of 2025. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is planned to become operational towards the end of 2026.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Victorian government and ACEnergy for comment.
Under the streamlined process introduced by the Allan Labor Government, the state has given its approval for the initial renewable energy project that forms part of the new proposal.
Previously, initiatives involving renewable energy were made eligible for a streamlined development process aimed at helping promising proposals take flight more swiftly.
On Thursday, Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny gave the green light to the inaugural project under the revised system, with a projected processing time of merely nine weeks.
In the midst of a significant drive towards renewable energy, a $250 million Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has received approval in Joel Joel, located approximately 23 kilometers east of Stawell within the Wimmera region of Victoria.
As reported in the press statement, initiatives such as this one significantly contribute to reaching Victoria’s energy storage goals. By 2030, the aim is to have at least 2.6 gigawatts of energy storage capacity, and by 2035, the target is to have at least 6.3 gigawatts.
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2024-08-31 09:52