Latest news with #AndrewWeidemann
The Guardian
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
An unlikely group of protesters fear Victoria's power bill is a threat to private landowners. Here's what we know
On Wednesday, an unlikely group of protesters gathered on the front steps of Victoria's parliament to oppose a piece of legislation that, at least on the surface, appears unremarkable. For this motley collective, which included farmers, prospectors, volunteer firefighters and animal advocates concerned about the plight of the wedge-tailed eagle, the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) bill is a major concern. They fear the bill will give the government power to access their land without their consent to build transmission towers as tall as 85 metres. If they resist, they could be fined thousands. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Standing behind a makeshift cage made from farm gates, the rally organiser Andrew Weidemann slammed the bill, saying it made farmers and their families 'feel like we're behind bars'. He blasted the government's 'stupid push for this renewables agenda'. In another cage, a man stood holding a sign that read: 'I disagreed with Jacinta.' Also in attendance was the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, who criticised the government for acting like a 'dictatorship' with 'draconian measures' that 'take away your rights'. When Battin said the Coalition would oppose the bill and repeal it if elected next year, the crowd cheered. So is this bill as alarming as some believe and what does it mean for Victorian property owners? Here's what we know. Introduced to parliament last month, the bill hands responsibility for planning the state's transmission network from the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) to the government agency VicGrid. It also gives VicGrid the responsibility for developing renewable energy zones. The bill creates two new funding streams to support communities impacted by the construction of energy infrastructure and legislates financial incentives for landholders, who will receive $8,000 per kilometre of infrastructure on their land annually. But it also provides VicGrid and their contractors power to access private land without consent when required to construct energy infrastructure. The bill states authorised officers can 'use reasonable force to gain entry' to private land 'if it is reasonably necessary to do so'. It also prohibits landowners 'obstructing, hindering, or delaying the entry of the authorised officer'. Individuals who resist face fines of up to $12,000, while body corporates could be slapped with fines of up to $48,000. Refusing to provide your name or proof of ownership could result in fines up to $4,000, while interfering with a notice of entry could attract a fine of $1,221. Only authorised officers can access land and the bill sets strict rules for them. They must give written notice of entry to the landowner or occupier at least 30 business days before entry and again 48 hours before. If the officer can't find the owner of the land, the notice can be published in a newspaper and posted near the property entrance. Only if an officer has been blocked or disrupted from accessing a property are they able to use force, and only after applying to the magistrates court for an entry order. The court order allows the officer and other approved people to enter, use reasonable force if needed, bring equipment and be accompanied by police. If at this point you attempt to block their access, the larger fines apply. A government spokesperson said these powers are intended to be used as a last resort – only when all avenues to reach agreement for voluntary access have failed. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended the bill. She said the government and private companies already have the power to forcibly access and acquire land. 'Whether it's for transport projects, for energy projects, for other projects, there are already arrangements in place for access to land. What this is providing is landowners – through VicGrid – a place where they can work through the these issues,' Allan said. She conceded some private companies' dealings with landowners had been 'not up to scratch' but said the new legislation would improve coordination. Allan said more high-voltage transmission lines were needed to connect homes and businesses to 'reliable, cheaper and more secure renewable energy' as it comes online and ahead of the closure of 'ageing coal-fired plants'. Battin responded: 'We're not anti-renewable energy but you can't do it by bulldozing through people's properties.' Yes and no. All levels of government – local, state and federal – have the power to compulsorily acquire private property in certain circumstances. In New South Wales, the government similarly set up its own body, EnergyCo, to lead the development of renewable energy zones and the transmission infrastructure needed to support them. EnergyCo holds compulsory acquisition powers but they are only exercised after at least six months of attempted negotiations for voluntary acquisition. The Victorian government says NSW, South Australia and Tasmania have fines for landowners for denying entry to authorised officers. In late 2024, VicGrid released a draft plan that identified seven renewable energy zones in the state that could host renewable projects, including wind turbines, solar farms and battery storage. Several travel through agricultural areas, angering farmers, who have also been subject to an increased emergency services levy in recent weeks by the Allan government (though it has been paused this year due to drought). That levy has also been criticised by volunteer firefighters, who joined Wednesday's rally, as well as animal activists who say windfarms pose a deadly risk to endangered wedge-tailed eagles. The VicGrid plan will be finalised later this year and will also include proposed transmission line routes. It includes projects already committed to or expected by Aemo, such as the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West and the Western Renewables Link, a 190km transmission line from Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne's north-west. Both projects have faced substantial delays, in part due to community opposition. But the government appears determined for them to press ahead. The bill is expected to pass the lower house on Thursday and then move to the upper house next sitting week.
West Australian
26-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Farmer fury over rare earths mine approval
A state government has promised regional jobs and growth after rubber-stamping one of the world's largest rare earths mines, but farmers say their concerns and rights have been bulldozed. Mining company Astron's Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project won Victorian state government approval on Wednesday, the last regulatory hurdle for mine's first stage, which will upend more than 1100 hectares of broadacre and livestock farmland in the state's west. The majority of impacted farmers in the tiny town of Minyip, 320 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, first heard the news when they were contacted by the media after Astron's ASX announcement. "All we've seen is, frankly, fluff from the mining company and the government department has followed suit with very poor connection with the people directly affected," third-generation grain farmer Andrew Weidemann told AAP. "It's very disappointing, given that the government has always been saying the mining company was supposed to be good corporate citizen and meet with people." Mr Weidemann said farmers would be taking their fight to the steps of parliament, and to the courts over a failure to provide impacted farmers with key documentation. Farmers say Astron's plans to gradually rehabilitate land as mining progresses won't be enough to return it to pre-mining productivity, due to the soil's unique clay structures and water retaining ability in one of the driest parts of the state. "This soil type has not been mined before - they're open about that," Mr Weidemann said. "We've seen where other mines have operated, particularly up at Ouyen ... where the land has still not been repaired back to anywhere near its potential usable state for agricultural purposes." Dust contamination, including from radioactive dust, is also a major concern for neighbouring farmers. Rare earths elements and mineral sands are used in a number of high technology and defence applications, including batteries, electric cars and wind turbines. Donald Mineral Sands, which would become the fourth-largest mine of its kind in the world, is projected to produce 7000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate and 250,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate each year, with a mine life of 41 years, Astron chief executive Tiger Brown said. "We've been working with the department (of energy and resources) on requirements and ensuring that our project stands up to Victoria's regulatory regime," he said. Roughly 200 jobs would be created during construction, along with another 180 to 200 full time jobs directly employed by the mine and Astron expected to inject $480 million of investment into the local economy. The Victorian government was kick-starting Victoria's "critical minerals boom", energy and resources minister Lily D'Ambrosio said. "All mining processes in Victoria are heavily regulated and the safety of the community, environment and infrastructure is built into key approvals," she said in a statement. The Donald Project's minerals will be sent straight to Astron's United States joint venture partner Energy Fuels for processing and sale in the US. "Energy Fuels plans to import the rare earth minerals from the Donald Project into the USA, where we will process them into separated oxides at our mill in Utah for domestic and other customers," Energy Fuels chief executive Mark Chalmers said in a statement.
Perth Now
26-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Farmer fury over rare earths mine approval
A state government has promised regional jobs and growth after rubber-stamping one of the world's largest rare earths mines, but farmers say their concerns and rights have been bulldozed. Mining company Astron's Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project won Victorian state government approval on Wednesday, the last regulatory hurdle for mine's first stage, which will upend more than 1100 hectares of broadacre and livestock farmland in the state's west. The majority of impacted farmers in the tiny town of Minyip, 320 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, first heard the news when they were contacted by the media after Astron's ASX announcement. "All we've seen is, frankly, fluff from the mining company and the government department has followed suit with very poor connection with the people directly affected," third-generation grain farmer Andrew Weidemann told AAP. "It's very disappointing, given that the government has always been saying the mining company was supposed to be good corporate citizen and meet with people." Mr Weidemann said farmers would be taking their fight to the steps of parliament, and to the courts over a failure to provide impacted farmers with key documentation. Farmers say Astron's plans to gradually rehabilitate land as mining progresses won't be enough to return it to pre-mining productivity, due to the soil's unique clay structures and water retaining ability in one of the driest parts of the state. "This soil type has not been mined before - they're open about that," Mr Weidemann said. "We've seen where other mines have operated, particularly up at Ouyen ... where the land has still not been repaired back to anywhere near its potential usable state for agricultural purposes." Dust contamination, including from radioactive dust, is also a major concern for neighbouring farmers. Rare earths elements and mineral sands are used in a number of high technology and defence applications, including batteries, electric cars and wind turbines. Donald Mineral Sands, which would become the fourth-largest mine of its kind in the world, is projected to produce 7000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate and 250,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate each year, with a mine life of 41 years, Astron chief executive Tiger Brown said. "We've been working with the department (of energy and resources) on requirements and ensuring that our project stands up to Victoria's regulatory regime," he said. Roughly 200 jobs would be created during construction, along with another 180 to 200 full time jobs directly employed by the mine and Astron expected to inject $480 million of investment into the local economy. The Victorian government was kick-starting Victoria's "critical minerals boom", energy and resources minister Lily D'Ambrosio said. "All mining processes in Victoria are heavily regulated and the safety of the community, environment and infrastructure is built into key approvals," she said in a statement. The Donald Project's minerals will be sent straight to Astron's United States joint venture partner Energy Fuels for processing and sale in the US. "Energy Fuels plans to import the rare earth minerals from the Donald Project into the USA, where we will process them into separated oxides at our mill in Utah for domestic and other customers," Energy Fuels chief executive Mark Chalmers said in a statement.
