Dunmunkle Land Protection Group chairman Andrew Weidemann hosted a meeting with representatives from more than 12 of the groups, who gathered to discuss the energy-related issues.
“It is time we challenged the very simplistic view that coal is a brown energy source and all other forms of energy are green,” Mr Weidemann said.
“Energy which rips through highly productive agricultural land and reduces our capacity to produce food is not green.
“While it is not the job of Australian farmers to determine or fix Australia’s energy issues, as farmers we feel it is time to inform the broader community about what is really going on, and to seek to protect Australia’s food security.”
Mr Weidemann said the meeting did not capture all of the concerned entities across Victoria, but attracted a significant number of groups, each with a strong number of members and supporters, which materialised that there was a clear policy failure.
“Over the past 24 months, as a result of Australia and Victoria’s energy policies, hectares of agricultural land and native habitat have been placed under threat from energy providers seeking to reap the benefits of poorly thought-through policy,” he said.
“Globally, agriculture has to feed 8.2 billion people, a figure predicted to rise to 10 billion by 2050.
“Australian agriculture feeds our nation and provides 14 per cent of the country’s export revenue.
“Victorian farmers punch well above their weight by producing one quarter of Australia’s agricultural produce, on a tiny 1.5 per cent of the country’s land mass.
“Victorian food production is now under threat from energy projects spread across the entire state, including battery energy storage systems, mineral sand mines, wind turbines and solar panels.
“In addition to destroying farms, communities are concerned about the ability of energy and mining companies to manage fire risk, contain noise and dust, as well as demands on water, the removal of native habitat, and the toll these projects will have on already inadequate and unsafe rural roads, which councils will be left to fix without any additional funding.”
Mr Weidemann said farmers were concerned that energy and mining companies showed a lack of respect for the farmers in the communities they sought to operate.
“Of grave concern is the stress that farmers are being placed under as a result of this situation, resulting in very poor mental health outcomes,” he said.
“Many of the farms identified in energy licences granted by the government, have been owned, operated and sustainability managed and improved by several generations of farmers.
“These families live in fear they will be forced to leave their farms, thereby denying one or possibly two future generations the opportunity to farm their land.”
Mr Weidemann said the coalition of groups was putting current and aspiring politicians, energy and mining companies, and the investment community on notice and questioning their values.
“We want to see a pledge to deliver and support sensible, sustainable and ethical energy and given the vast area of uninhabitable land across this country, we think this should be achievable without destroying farms and iconic landscapes,” he said.
“Victorian and federal politicians must ensure that Australia’s energy policy does not rob one industry to fix another.”
The entire April 30, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire April 30, 2025 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!
