MOE CUP
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FRIDAY 18TH & SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER PAGES 13 TO 17
Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 October 2024.
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By LIAM DURKIN
Photograph: Liam Durkin
Planning to put locals first THE Liberals and Nationals have developed a new renewables plan, saying they will put locals first in the transition away from coal. The Coalition said locals haven’t had a voice amid the renewables push from the state government and multi-national corporations, and are committed to changing that should there be a change of government. The Liberals and Nationals' Regional Energy Development Policy will: -Reinstate the right of appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, ensuring that community voices are heard in the planning process; -Institute a default two-kilometre buffer zone around proposed wind towers to minimise the impact on residential properties and local communities; -Ensure major transmission and large-scale wind and solar generation projects face a rigorous and independent planning panel assessment; -Develop principles that ensure overhead lines adhere to strict setback requirements to minimise visual and environmental impact. -Ensure lower emission generators, high voltage transmission lines and large scale battery owners are required to comply with all relevant bushfire overlays, and; -Advocate to the commonwealth that any compensation received by landowners for hosting major
transmission lines, or for impacts caused by such projects, is exempt from taxation. “This policy will be a major breakthrough for regional communities," Leader of the Opposition and Traralgonborn John Pesutto said. “Our proposal restores the balance between the roll out of renewable energy and the changes to transmission networks. “We support the transition away from coal however this must occur in close consultation with regional communities. "A Pesutto Liberals and Nationals Government will reinstate the third-party appeal rights that Labor has stripped from regional communities because it is unfair and anti-democratic to deny those who are directly affected by these major projects from having a say.” The state government confirmed it is also working hard for the incoming energy transition, while taking aim at Mr Pesutto's leadership, which has come under increased fire due to the defamation case against former Liberal MP Moira Deeming. "John Pesutto is so desperate to keep his job that he’s caved to climate science deniers in the Coalition while he secretly signs onto Peter Dutton’s toxic, risky and expensive nuclear fantasy," a state government spokesperson said. "The last time the Liberal Party was in government they effectively banned wind farms and set our
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transition to cheap, clean renewable energy back years. "This plan will do the same thing - renewable energy projects will stall, investors will leave the state, power bills will increase, jobs will be lost, and Victoria will face an energy crisis of John Pesutto’s making. "We’re getting on and building for our future energy needs - quadrupling our renewable energy generation, driving down power bills, creating 59,000 jobs and bringing back the SEC." Leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh said he was determined to give locals a voice. “Leaving locals without a voice or an avenue of appeal was un-Australian," he said. “This announcement means the Liberals and Nationals will be putting locals first in the transition to renewables. “It will also allow a crackdown on unscrupulous operators, who for their own personal gain, want to get approval for projects then flip them to buyers unknown to the community. “Not only are we giving communities a voice, but we are also protecting them.” Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron said residents in the Latrobe Valley, like many across the state, have been left out of the conversation on renewable projects by the state government and multinational corporations.
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All is in readiness s for this year’s Moe Cup, which will be held Friday.Thousands are expected t to descend on Moe Racing Club for the club’s marquee meeting. PREVIEW - VALLEY SPORT
By TOM HAYES and LIAM DURKIN
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YOUR ballot packs for the Latrobe City Council election should have arrived in the mail. Voting in this election is by postal vote only. Ballot packs were sent last week, and locals enrolled to vote have until Friday, October 25, 2024 to make up their mind. Candidate statements were featured in last week’s Express, while the current sitting council met for the final time on Monday, October 7. There will be the same number of councillors in the next intake (nine) although they will each serve their own ward, moving away from the current three-ward structure. Seven of the current nine Latrobe City Councillors are seeking reelection, up against 13 potential replacements. Assessing candidate statements, lyrics from the Queen song ‘We Will Rock You’ are perhaps especially fitting: “Buddy you’re a young man, hard man shouting in the street gonna take on the world some day… waving your banner all over the place.” Those running will be hoping they end up signing the song that immediately follows We Will Rock You (fellow Queen aficionados will know exactly what that is). At this stage, that track can only be aligned to Sharon Gibson, as she is running unopposed in the Newborough Ward. For Cr Gibson, lyrics from the first verse of We Are the Champions are perhaps especially poignant: “And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few/I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through.” Ultimately though, those who have served on council previously and those who are running for the first time will surely attested that “it’s been no bed of roses/no pleasure cruise.” Latrobe City Council will be declared on Friday, November 15, 2024.