By Ashlee Aldridge

Copyright abc

A $453 million battery storage facility planned for Victoria’s north-east has been approved by the state government.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the project in Beijing after meeting representatives from Trina Solar, the Chinese company building the 500-megawatt Kiewa Valley project.

Ms Allan was in the country to launch her China strategy, which she said aimed to make Victoria the state of choice for Chinese investment.

“And we are doing this as part of our strategy for more jobs for more people and working families in Victoria.”

The renewable energy project in the Kiewa Valley, east of Myrtleford, will store excess solar and wind power during the day and release it back into the grid at peak times, with enough capacity to supply up to 172,000 homes a year.

The project will create around 80 construction jobs and six ongoing roles once operational.

It comes after the approval of a 400-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system at Dederang, also in the Kiewa Valley, earlier this year.

Decision ‘upsetting and distressing’

Gundowring farmer Leo Mull said he was shocked when he heard the news the project had been approved.

“People are against it because of the dangers and the risks it will bring.”

Mr Mull said he had several concerns about the project, including the impact on the local environment, in particular the Kiewa River, and the negative effect on land values.

“There is that much that could be said, that has already been said, but we just haven’t been listened to,” he said.

Mr Mull said the local community would continue to oppose to the project.

“We’ve just got to try and fight the best way we can without ending up in jail,” he said.

“It is very upsetting and distressing.

“It is starting to make me shake a bit now actually.”

Dederang local Sharon McEvoy said she was surprised by the announcement.

“It just makes you feel sick to be honest — we feel like we’re not being listened to, we have no voice, and the government is just walking all over the top of us,” she said.

She said concerns about the project included noise pollution, the visual impact on the landscape and fire risks.

“This one is very close to the state forest,” she said.

“If a bushfire rips through, there is no way this thing can be saved.

“And no local volunteer firefighters can or will go anywhere near it because we’re not trained to fight any kind of fire near lithium-ion batteries.”

She said the community would now take stock, get together and give each other a hug before deciding what to do next.

“There are a lot of conditions on the planning permit, it’s not a fait accompli just yet,” she said.

“I guess our fight doesn’t end — they haven’t started building yet.”