Vol. No. Vol. 2818No. 3127
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Wednesday,February January 11, 13, 2026 2016 Wednesday, GRAND CELEBRATION: Horsham Town Hall launched its season on Sunday, the celebration also marking the 10th anniversary of the redeveloped arts and entertainment venue. Guided tours of the theatre and art gallery, children’s activities, local produce tastings, and the release of its 2026 program, outlining a range of programs, performances, events and exhibitions, featured on the day. Pictured is Joseph Shepherd entertaining guests playing piano. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Key priorities outlined G
BY LAUREN HENRY
reater transparency and improved process in the planning and impact of mining, renewable energy and transmission line projects on agricultural land were among key policies adopted by the Across Victoria Alliance at its inaugural conference in Horsham on Monday.
AVA chairman Andrew Weidemann outlined six policy priorities: wholeof-government impact assessment to be complete before any major project approval; prime agricultural land to have statutory protection; forced farm entry laws repealed; transparent planning processes, supported by regulation commensurate with risk; water for communities and food to be a priority; and the Fire Services and Volunteers Levy repealed. The alliance plans to ramp up its
pressure on MPs and candidates about the key policies ahead of November’s state election. “The AVA primarily seeks to ensure the formal protection of farming land, and the food and fibre it delivers to the state, our nation and the global economy,” Mr Weidemann said. “Our inaugural conference has recognised the huge threat that a range of large-scale projects – wind turbines, transmission lines, battery energy storage, mineral sands mines – pose to Victoria’s food production. “Many of these projects are being installed on, or proposed for, prime agricultural land. “Whatever issues our state may face, be they energy challenges or critical resources required for supply chains and our modern life, the answer is not destroying prime agricultural land. “If we continue in the direction the Allan government is heading, farm-
ers, agriculture and food supply chain companies, and the agriculture department and its minister, will soon be obsolete. “The importance of food-production land must be recognised, and no one should have the right to enter a farm without the farmer’s permission, particularly with the biosecurity threat this poses. “Our farming members recognise that water is a scarce resource and over generations we have sought to use water as efficiently as possible for food production. “It is unacceptable that mineral sand mines have effectively been granted as much water as they need, thereby threatening water supply for rural and regional communities, livestock, and crop production.” As well as advocating for landowner rights, the alliance has also played a key role in the widespread opposi-
tion to the government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy – a topic of discussion at the conference. The alliance includes 27 groups with concerns about mining activity, transmission lines and large-scale renewable energy projects, and collectively has more than 140,000 members. Attendees at the conference were mostly made up of alliance members, as well as local government representatives from across Victoria. State MPs Bev McArthur, Liberal leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council, and One Nation’s Rikki Lee Tyrell were the only politicians to attend the full day of the conference. The conference attracted national media attention in the lead-up, and many metropolitan-based news outlets were in attendance. Premier Jacinta Allan was invited to speak at the event but did not respond to organisers, and publicly labelled the
conference a ‘misinformation convention’. Ms Allan also criticised Liberal leader Jess Wilson for being listed a guest speaker at a conference where One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce was speaking. Ms Wilson withdrew citing a scheduling conflict, with Mrs McArthur named as her replacement. The conference opened with a welcome dinner at Horsham Golf Club on Sunday night where Mr Joyce immediately won over the crowd with talk of landowner rights and criticism of both levels of government. On Monday, Nationals Victorian leader Danny O’Brien and Mrs McArthur topped a host of speakers, including experts, affected landowners, and leaders of the community-based member groups. • More stories, pages 6-7.
IN THIS ISSUE • Avonbank decision soon • Health and wellness feature • Volleyball development proposal Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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