Greg Gall, Pip Rowe, Liz Hair, Trevor Reaburn and Jack Gall prepare posters for the upcoming solar development protests at Benalla Showgrounds.
Large-scale solar and battery developments aren’t coming to the north-east. They're already here: town after town, paddock after paddock.
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Goorambat and District Lobby Group spokesperson Jack Gall said that 15 of these projects were confirmed, under construction, approved or moving through planning across Benalla Rural City.
“More than 3000 hectares of farm zone, (has) already (been) turned over to industrial energy infrastructure, with no end in sight,” Mr Gall said.
On Saturday, September 19, GDLG is leading a protest at the Benalla Showgrounds.
“We’re calling on the government to stop approving these projects in this shire,” Mr Gall said.
“The No Nioka Solar (lobby group) and Protect Dookie and GV (lobby group) are standing with us.
“Fifteen projects in one small rural shire, and no cumulative assessment.
“Nobody in government has ever added up what this means for our roads, our emergency services, our water, our land values, our environment, our landscape.
“That’s reckless, and nobody’s accountable for it either.
“Since April 2024, these projects have been fast-tracked through a process that strips communities of the right to challenge them at VCAT.
“The planning minister decides alone.”
The Goorambat and District Lobby Group is holding a protest against large-scale solar and battery developments in the north-east.
Mr Gall said that a big issue with this was that whatever was approved now would shape this land for the next 40 years.
“We’ve followed every rule,” he said.
“We’ve made submissions. We’ve met with developers.
“None of it has mattered. We want people to hear what all these projects in our small rural shire are costing us.”
Mr Gall said GDLG was simply asking why was the government turning the region’s most productive food-producing land, land zoned for farming, into industrial infrastructure.
“This land grows food. Cover it in panels and batteries, and it stops, for 30 to 40 years, maybe for ever,” he said.
“We were told this power would run our homes, now some of it is earmarked for data centres, and we feel deceived.
“Our small volunteer brigades aren’t equipped for lithium battery fires.
“These fires can burn for hours, reignite after they’re extinguished and release toxic smoke. Contaminated runoff could reach our waterways, in a region that feeds into the Murray-Darling Basin.
“Winton Wetlands is a Wetland of Distinction recognised around the world.
“Almost 250,000 solar panels already surround it on Ashmead Rd.
“The proposed West Mokoan solar project adds another 616,000, almost 900,000 in total, reflecting light the way water does.
“Waterbirds mistake them for a lake, try to land and are killed.
“Who puts something that mimics a lake right beside a wetland?
“Fifty-nine growling grass frogs, a threatened species, were reintroduced here in February 2026.
“The critically endangered swift parrot has been confirmed at the site too.
“People choose to live here for the beautiful landscape and quiet, for room to breathe and land that goes on for ever.
“With each project approval we are losing that. The landscape becomes industrial scale infrastructure.
“We need everyone in Benalla Rural City to stand together and tell the government to stop these developments.
“Our farm zone is for farming. Put this infrastructure in industrial zones, where it belongs.”
If you’d like to join the protest, head to the Benalla Showgrounds on Saturday, September 19, from noon to 2pm.
Mr Gall encouraged attendees to bring their tractor, their ute and their kids so people could see what it looked like when a community stood together.
“Farm vehicles meet at the Benalla Saleyards at 10am to drive through town,” he said.
To register a farm vehicle for the protest, contact David on 0419 389 793 or Lance on 0438 641 344.
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