Television presenter Catriona Rowntree has found an ally in her fight to stop a battery-energy storage facility being built at Little River, just outside of Geelong.
Victorian Liberal Shadow Minister for Energy David Davis has joined the “Getaway” host in her bid to stop the development at the site, after she expressed concerns on social media.
Rowntree asked her 120,000 followers on Instagram, “What has Little River ever done to the Labor government?”
Her concerns centre on the Little River site being in an area which she believes is already prone to bushfires, where the risk profile could increase with a large lithium-battery in the area.
“This has been the scene of so many incredible movies and productions bringing in a fortune for the local government,” she said.
Movies filmed at Little River have ranged from the 1979 post-apocalyptic classic Mad Max, to the 2015 drama, The Dressmaker.
“This incredible area, Victoria Labor is now considering covering all of it. In their rush for renewables, they are considering all of these completely wrong locations.
“They want to put a lithium facility in a fire zone in Little River. What did Little River ever do to the Labor government?”
MP Davis commended Rowntree for speaking up for the residents of Little River.
“She did that for good reason because the government has not done the right thing there,” he told The Epoch Times.
“I have a lot of sympathy. I’ve actually been out there and seen the location.
“I had a look, and I met with Catriona and others.”
Rowntree Goes Political
Rowntree says discussions with the government have not progressed.“No one will talk to us. It’s been nearly seven months and we’ve heard nothing,” she said.
“So please, do not vote for Labor in the upcoming Werribee by-election.
“Please vote for Steve Murphy. He is the only person who has come out to try and help us.”
The Werribee by-election is on Feb. 8.
Murphy’s main opponent will be Labor’s John Lister, after the retirement of Victoria Labor Treasurer Tim Pallas, who convincingly retained the seat during the 2022 election.
Last month, Murphy—who has lived, worked and raised his family in Werribee for 30 years—told The Epoch Times he would listen to the concerns of all residents, with rising crime rates high on his agenda.
“All I can say is I’m going to be a strong voice and strong advocate for the community, to be able to get change happening,” he said.
“I believe we need change, and the people of Werribee can create that change.”
Solar Project in Central Victoria Attracts Similar Concerns
Meanwhile, Davis added the Cooba Solar Project renewable energy development site proposed for Colbinabbin in central Victoria may present similar dangers.“The batteries have unique sets of troubles, and when they’re located near bush and so forth, there’s a huge risk,” Davis said.
The Cooba Solar Project website says its site is expected to be operational from 2027, and will have a capacity of up to 500MW, which is enough clean renewable energy to “power 180,0000 Victorian homes.”
The Venn Energy-backed site will also include a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 300MW.
A Facebook page titled Colbinabbin Renewable Action Group has been created to oppose this project.
The page highlights the potential danger of lithium battery fires.
Energy Prices On the Up
The cost of energy bills in Victoria has already been a big talking point, with many working-class families unable to afford skyrocketing costs due to the rapid transition to renewable sources such as wind, solar and battery power.A report by the St. Vincent de Paul Society found Victorians paid the highest increases in Australia, with a 28 percent surge in the cost of electricity and 22 percent for gas.
“They [the Allan government] haven’t understood all this. They haven’t understood the damage they’re doing,” Davis said.
ACEnergy Says It Is Considering Fire Risks
ACEnergy has stated the Little River site presented a “low fire risk.”“Throughout our extensive feasibility studies and our engagement with parties including the City of Greater Geelong and emergency services like the Country Fire Authority (CFA) we have prioritised this concern.
“Throughout our consultation sessions ... we have prioritised ensuring that fire concerns are alleviated and that locals are aware of the extensive preventative measures in place.”
The company said it would incorporate bushfire management techniques as outlined in the CFA’s Design Guidelines and Model Requirements for Renewable Energy Installations (2022).
“These include creating significant fuel breaks, maintaining a substantial static water supply, ensuring easy access for firefighting efforts, and implementing robust evacuation and staff training programs.”
ACEnergy plans to start construction in the second quarter of this year, and it expects the site to be “energised” by late 2026.“BESS are deployed safely right across Australia and around the world. Compared to solar or wind farms, they have a relatively small footprint, with each BESS unit around the size of a shipping container, and smaller than many agricultural buildings,” the spokesperson said.
“The BESS units are equipped with advanced fire suppression systems, including aerosol fire suppressants, combustible gas detectors, smoke detectors and temperature detectors, which are designed to detect and extinguish fires promptly. This ensures a rapid response to any potential fire threats, mitigating risks to the facility.
The company said the site was chosen to minimise the environmental impact.
“It is located next to two quarries and has access to a transmission line which runs across the site, meaning it is ideally placed to provide the lowest-cost option for supporting stable, renewable energy for the state.”
