Yarragon BESS gets go-ahead

A second Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was approved in Baw Baw Shire on Friday, just one week after the first development received State Government approval.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny gave the green light to a BESS development on farm zoned land in Yarragon-Shady Creek Rd at Yarragon North.

The approval came one week after a BESS development was given the go-ahead at Trafalgar East, also in the farming zone.

A third application has been submitted to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on land at Shady Creek, while there are two proposals for farming land in Bunyip in Cardinia Shire.

While the loss of agricultural land was a primary concern for objectors, including Baw Baw Shire Council, the DTP assessment determined the development would not adversely affect use of the land for farming activities.

The $345 million development includes a 210-megawatt (MW) BESS and associated infrastructure, connection into the existing transmission network and a two lot subdivision to create an 18 hectare parcel for the BESS and a 32 hectare lot for the existing dwelling and agricultural uses.

The application was originally lodged by ZEN Energy Group. DTP acknowledged ZEN Energy Group was in liquidation and its activities would now operate under the new business name of Southern Charge, which would remain a joint venture participant in ZEBRE who owned the project.

There were 25 objections to the application, largely from surrounding property owners and farmers. Objectors have no right of appeal.

Baw Baw Shire also objected, raising multiple concerns including loss of agricultural land, land use compatibility with farming and noise and visual impacts.

The application showed plans for the BESS to be setback from the Yarragon-Shady Creek Rd access, with the nearest non-stakeholder dwelling located about 782 metres from the site.

In approving the application, the DTP stated the project would create local employment opportunities in both construction and operation stages.

While acknowledging agricultural land loss was a "commonly raised objection" and a primary concern of council, the assessment found the 18 hectares of land required for the BESS represented only 0.02 per cent of agricultural land within the shire.

The assessment determined the BESS would occupy only a portion of the overall site, "with the majority of the land remaining available for ongoing agricultural use."

"The proposal does not adversely affect the use of the land for ongoing farming activities (cropping and livestock grazing) on the remainder of the property, and it does not prevent or impede on the ability for surrounding properties in the farming zone to continue to use their land for agricultural purposes.
"The proposal has generally been sited to protect the key biodiversity values on site, respond to fire risk, and ensure only a minor reduction in local agricultural production," the report stated.
The officer's assessment said the project was supported by Plan for Victoria (2025), which sought to ensure regional communities would "attract and benefit from investment in renewable energy – wind, solar and battery storage – projects."
"While the project is not located within a declared renewable energy zone (REZ), it has been sited adjacent to the existing transmission line, minimising the requirement for additional infrastructure to connect the project into the grid," the report stated.
The final report stated the proposal had considered potential fire hazards and incorporated safety design recommendations in accordance with CFA requirements, including fire breaks, site access and appropriate separation.
One of the objectors provided an acoustic peer review, prepared by L. Huson and Associates Pty Ltd which claimed the proponent's noise assessment was defective. However, the officer's assessment did not agree with the findings of the review.