The Independent Planning Commission will hold an online public meeting tomorrow to gather views on the Walla Walla Solar Farm.
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The IPC determines state significant development applications where there is significant opposition from the community, and was referred the 300 megawatt proposal one month ago.
More than 30 registered speakers will address Commissioners Andrew Hutton and Professor Zada Lipman in a live-streamed video conference.
Greater Hume deputy mayor Doug Meyer and environment and planning director Colin Kane met online with the Commissioners last week.
"There's equal division across the shire about whether we should have solar farms in place on prime agricultural land," Cr Meyer said.
"I'm still of the opinion prime agricultural land should be for growing food.
"There's plenty of areas in Australia that don't grow the type of feed we've seen grown in the area this year.
"Whether that's accepted or not [by the IPC] is something we don't know, they discussed the point with us."
The Commission is not holding face-to-face public meetings due to COVID-19, and such consultations are separate to a public hearing, which is only held if a formal Ministerial request is made.
Cr Meyer was disappointed what could be the last public meeting before a determination is made would be virtual.
"I think they should have been held back ... so the whole of the community could have gotten involved," he said.
"There's some people who don't like to write letters, or don't have the skills to use Zoom ... and all of those people deserve to be heard."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Written submissions can be made until 5pm Thursday, November 12.
The IPC has also received the referral for the Jindera Solar Farm.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has recommended conditions of consent, which the IPC is not bound to.
Those conditions include: a maximum of 30 heavy vehicle movements a day during construction, a requirement for vegetation to minimise views for six residences within three years, and the development of biodiversity and fire safety plans.
