To obtain a planning permit for a Renewable Energy Facility in Victoria, a proponent or owner of the project (Meadow Creek Solar Farm Pty Ltd) must prepare a Planning Application that responds to the relevant requirements of the local Planning Scheme including the relevant planning controls (zones and overlays). A Planning Application for a Renewable Energy Facility must also address the application requirements listed under Clause 53.13 of the Planning Scheme.  

A proponent will lodge an application with the Minister for Planning who is the responsible authority for a Renewable Energy Facility development, via the Department of Transport and Planning.

Once all relevant information has been provided the Department will proceed with a public notice and referral, where community and stakeholders can make a submission on the proposal.

The Minister then reviews the information, responses from referral agencies and community submissions and makes a decision on the application.

A Cultural Heritage Management Plan is prepared in consultation with the Registered Aboriginal Party to ensure the protection of cultural heritage values on the site. This involves talking to Traditional Owner representatives about the plans, completing site visits and site investigations.

The site was selected for its strong solar energy potential with excellent access to wind and solar resources.

The project has been designed in line with Government guidelines that exist to protect high-value agricultural land from this type of development.

Meadow Creek Solar Farm is not prime agricultural land – the North East Catchment Management Authority categorises the region the site falls within to be ‘low agricultural capability’.

An Agricultural Land Use Assessment was prepared to assess the site’s suitability for agricultural activity, and the project’s impacts on agricultural land. This assessment identified that whilst the site has suitable soils to facilitate grazing or pasture, it contributes to 0.6% of the Wangaratta Shire’s agricultural land, contributing less than 0.004% of Victoria’s agricultural economic output.

The assessment also identified that the site does not have high-quality soils or rainfall to support high-value agricultural uses, and that the project has no detrimental impacts on agriculture.

Despite this, agricultural land uses such as sheep grazing will still occur in conjunction with the proposed solar farm.

We worked closely with our expert consultants throughout the planning and environment approvals to reach a design outcome that minimises ecological impacts on the immediate and surrounding environment.

A Biodiversity Assessment report and an Environmental Management Framework Plan (EMP) were prepared as part of the planning permit application. The Biodiversity Assessment identified an endangered species on the site – such as the Sloane’s froglet – and following assessments of the impact, concludes that the project is unlikely to lead to a significant impact.

The EMP ensures the protection of native vegetation and limits ecological impacts through management strategies and controls. New trees and vegetation will be planted to create green corridors for wildlife preservation and protection, while minimising any visual impacts on neighbouring properties.

A Transport and Traffic Impact Assessment was prepared to support the planning permit application. The assessment found that the surrounding road network is capable of accommodating future truck and worker vehicles and swept path analysis confirms that trucks can traverse all intersections along haulage routes.

Oxley-Meadow Creek Road is a part of Victoria’s gazetted B-Double Network and is suitable to accommodate heavy vehicle movements.

The assessment concludes that the site is suitable for the development of a solar farm from a traffic perspective.

The project’s planning permit application is supported by a Hydrology and Flood Risk Assessment, and Biodiversity Assessment report.

The Hydrology and Flood Risk Assessment concludes that so long as there is reinstatement of pervious groundcover on the site, additional runoff from the study area is unlikely to occur. The assessment finds that the proposed permanent structures in the solar farm sit outside the main flow paths and will not create significant flood impacts.

The project has been designed with consideration of flood modelling results to ensure physical structures are a minimum of 300mm from the 1% AEP flood level.

The Biodiversity Assessment notes there is very low potential for changes to water quality or quantity on the site, given the project has been designed to minimise impact on major aquatic habitat areas and incorporates buffers to reduce risk of indirect impacts to key waterways and watercourses.

In summary, the project will not create additional risks to flooding or water quality impacts on the site or surrounding area.

The solar farm will use bifacial double-glass solar panels, engineered with solar cells on both sides. These panels are specifically designed for utility-scale solar farms, and the bifacial design significantly enhances their energy generation efficiency.

For this project, we’ll use high-quality photovoltaic solar panels, made of glass, aluminium, copper, monocrystalline solar cells and sealants, to ensure durability and high performance.

Solar panels are designed to absorb sunlight, rather than reflect it. Solar panels can be positioned at different angles to ensure the panel reflections do not result in localised impacts. They are also coated with a specific glaze to mitigate glare.

In addition, trees and shrubs around the site boundary will shield any sight on the solar farm.

The Meadow Creek Solar Farm project is committed to supporting sustainable practices on the site.

When preparing the project design, we first look at the environmental values of the site including sensitive waterways, vegetation and habitats. Through careful design, impacts on the environment can be reduced significantly.

Every effort is made to design the solar farm in a way that protects high value trees and waterways remain protected.

Once the project design footprint is finalised detailed environmental assessments are prepared. These assessments help to identify the potential impacts of the project and are included in the project Planning Application.

Solar farms make a small amount of noise when operational, this is usually from the substation or electricity inverter. Noise will be considered as part of the projects design and assessments.