Council said it supported Victoria’s transition to renewable energy, but residents across the municipality had made it clear that the current approvals process was not working.
Council said major solar and battery projects were being assessed and approved without proper regard for local impacts, local voices or local futures.
It added that residents had been raising issues about bushfire risk, damage to agricultural land, pressure on local roads and infrastructure, and a lack of genuine consultation during planning processes.
Deputy Mayor Justin King said the message from the community was clear.
“Our community feel they are not being listened to by this government,” he said.
“They’re saying they want a seat at the table. They want their concerns taken seriously, not ticked off in a process designed in Melbourne with no real understanding of what it means for people living and farming out here.
“We have real concerns about the number of projects currently being considered for approval this close to an election. We are asking these approval permits be held until after November 24.
“Council moved a motion in July 2026 which drew a line in the sand around council’s position on large scale solar farms and battery storage. We have been working through this and will continue to engage with the community and wider networks.”
Council said it and the Benalla community were encouraged by the most recent announcement by the Victorian Government and VicGrid that the North Central Renewable Energy Zone designation had been abandoned.
But council emphasised that this abandonment of the REZ designation had no impact on all current in-process development applications, with the approvals continuing to be managed by the government via the Department of Transport and Planning.
Council has lodged five formal objections to large-scale proposals currently before the government, including applications for Glenrowan BESS (battery energy storage system), Goorambat East BESS, Winton Renewable Energy Stability and Storage Terminal, Mokoan BESS and West Mokoan Solar Farm.
Council said Benalla Rural City was host to what amounted to a state significant renewables hub, and the community had to benefit from it.
Cr King said Benalla’s location on the Hume Fwy corridor gave the region a real competitive advantage in attracting new industries.
“We want to see Benalla Rural City become a hub for the industries that go hand-in-hand with renewable energy, things like solar panel recycling, manufacturing and processing,” he said.
“Real jobs. Long-term investment. Something the community can point to and say they genuinely benefited from.”
Council said it was calling on all political parties to make community consultation and local benefit central to their renewable energy policy ahead of the November election.
