THE proposed Middle Hut Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project continues to be a talking point across the Doreen community, with calls to ensure concerned residents are acknowledged as part of the process.
A community information session was held on Saturday, August 29 at the Arthurs Creek Community Centre, with many residents understood to be disappointed at the lack of answers provided on the day.
Responding to the scenario at hand, a new group, the Arthurs Creek Green Wedge Alliance, has been created to bring resident concerns to relevant members.
A proposed meeting is now being held this Sunday, September 20 at 11am at the Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute Hall.
“Many people have been working incredibly hard to raise concerns about the proposed Doreen Middle Hut BESS, both individually and in groups,” the group wrote on its Facebook page.
“The Arthurs Creek Green Wedge Alliance has been formed by people from across our local community, to provide another way to get involved and have a voice.
“While our roots are in Arthurs Creek, everyone who shares our concern is very welcome. We hope to work alongside and support the other groups and individuals who are already doing so much.”
The key areas of concern, the group says, relates around location and amenity, battery, fire and emergency safety and environment and cultural heritage.
Frequent resident concerns have included the proposal’s compatibility with the Green Wedge Zone within the Nillumbik Shire Council, the environmental and landscape values, the potential loss of biodiversity and wildlife, emergency access and firefighting needs and the loss of amenity for nearby properties.
The session was attended by Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and Liberal candidate for Yan Yean Amanda Dow, where calls were made to ensure the project followed community engagement guidelines.
“The community engagement guidelines will be nothing more than a dead letter if the Carroll Labor Government is not willing to enforce them, and the Minister for Energy must ensure that proponents of renewable energy projects conform to the guidelines,” Ms Lovell said.
Ms Dow said residents needed engagement to have their concerns heard.
“I know that many residents of Doreen, Arthurs Creek and surrounding areas in the Green Wedge were disappointed not to receive answers from the proponents of the battery energy storage system. They deserve genuine engagement and real answers right now to their concerns with the BESS being planned in their community,” she said.
For renewable energy developers, VicGrid had recently released a revised version of community engagement and social value guidelines, stating that the minimum expectatrions for developers engaging with commuinities are to provide transparent information as soon as possible and engagement opportunities that reflect local and community needs.
The rules do not come into effect until July next year, but the government would “ensure developer engagement is consistent with the guidelines”.
The BESS proposal, according to information on its website, is yet to be determined size wise.
“The proposed Middle Hut BESS involves the development and installation of a utility-scale lithium-ion battery, an on-site switching station, and ancillary infrastructure at 260 and 340 Middle Hut Road, Doreen,” the website reads.
“At this stage, the size of the BESS is yet to be determined but will be approximately 290 MW/1160 MWh.
“The Middle Hut BESS is expected to connect into either the existing 330kV or 220kV transmission lines that crosses the site.
“When electricity demand increases, the stored energy can be released back into the grid, helping maintain a reliable and secure electricity supply.
“The project is not a data centre, nor will it generate energy. The project will store energy and will include battery storage units, inverter stations, electrical infrastructure, internal access roads, landscaping and other associated infrastructure required for safe operation.”
It was also confirmed by the State Government that an application has not been received as of yet, while also putting together some background.
“The Department of Transport and Planning has not received an application for this project,” a State Government spokesperson said.
“All proposals are considered on their merits in accordance with the relevant planning scheme.
“Green wedges play an important role in supporting agriculture, jobs, tourism and open space around Melbourne, which is why we are strengthening protections for them.”
