The head of a solar farm company has responded to criticisms from neighbours regarding a proposed $200 million solar farm and battery energy storage system in Bairnsdale, situated in the Gippsland region, asserting that "people have a right to develop."

The planned 150-megawatt solar farm has sparked concerns among some locals, who fear that it may mar their picturesque rural views and pose safety hazards. Issues raised include worries about visual aesthetics, fire safety, and the potential impact on nearby properties.

Michael Wickfeldt, a 62-year-old resident whose 86-acre hobby farm offers sweeping vistas of the Victorian Alps neighbouring the proposed site, recently voiced his apprehensions about the prospect of being surrounded by approximately 170,000 solar panels and a sizable 10-acre battery installation, describing them as "monstrous."

The Bairnsdale solar farm, located on Andersons Lane adjacent to the Moormurng state forest, is part of a series of significant projects being spearheaded by BNRG Leeson, a collaboration between Dublin-based BNRG Renewables and Melbourne's Leeson Group. This partnership boasts a project pipeline exceeding 500 megawatts of solar farm developments nationwide.

Spanning 176 hectares, the Bairnsdale project is slated for evaluation by Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) in the upcoming months under the state's Development Facilitation Programme (DFP), introduced in March. This programme has elicited controversy as it curtails communities' traditional rights to appeal against renewable energy facilities through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

As discussions around the Bairnsdale solar farm intensify, the clash between the imperative for sustainable energy solutions and the concerns of local residents underscores the complex balancing act required to navigate the evolving landscape of renewable energy development and community interests.

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