Farmers hosting wind turbines take their case to parliament

Farmers who host, or are looking to host, wind turbines on their properties are joining a delegation to parliament in Melbourne this week. They will meet MPs from all sides ahead of the state election in November to counter a ”very noisy minority” drowning out the rural voice on renewable energy. 

Craig Henderson, a fifth-generation Wimmera grain farmer, is one of them. But he says the cost of speaking up has included a threat against his life.

❓What happened: Henderson is looking to set up his kids and grandkids for success to stay in the region by hosting wind turbines for the proposed Wilkur Energy Park, 11km south-west of Birchip. Farmers can receive up to $40,000 per year, per turbine, depending on the size.

🗣️: “I have two sons and a nephew on the farm,” Henderson told the Brolga, adding a note on grandchildren with a laugh, “the seventh generation is pretty keen to start as well.” 

Henderson is part of a delegation of 12 farmers and community members from across regional Victoria. They’re heading to parliament to explain how they believe renewable energy can strengthen farms and regional communities. 

Some background: Henderson farms in the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee, cultivating wheat, barley, lentils, hay, canola and peas. He’s been actively working the land since 1979, and he’s seen farming change and evolve significantly over this time. 

• “Dad used to be able to do all the bookwork and keep it in a shoebox,” Henderson said. Since then, the market has expanded globally and farm management styles have drastically shifted. 

This includes protecting operations against “variable weather conditions”.

• “Over the last 40 years, we’ve always looked at diversifying our income to mitigate risk to our farm business. 

• “[Hosting wind turbines is] a totally separate, diverse income on our farm that’ll help our business moving forward, but it also gives an opportunity for the community to have funds come into it.” 

Taking action: Henderson and his peers are spending two days in Melbourne meeting with MPs. 

🗣️: “I want to come down here, talk one on one, give a balanced profile on what’s really going on out there,” Henderson said. “The minority is very noisy, the same people, same protests saying the same thing.” 

A range of issues: Wind farms, solar farms, batteries, new transmission infrastructure and mining projects are becoming increasingly intertwined across West Vic. It can be difficult to find straightforward answers to local concerns about insurance liability, visual amenity, public transparency and decommissioning responsibilities when projects reach retirement age. 

New guidelines from VicGrid outlines a range of solutions that push developers to avoid contractual clauses that restrict discussions between neighbours and to deliver legitimate community benefits.

Data from research firm 89 Degrees East earlier this year found 66 percent of 202 residents polled in Western Victoria support the transition to renewables, with 13 percent opposed and 20 percent neither support nor oppose. Despite this, the same people polled were under the impression less than half of the community (46 percent) supported the shift. 

Henderson said everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the debate has become muddied with disinformation and political motives. 

• “We’re trying to make our farm strong for the future, they’re trying to get reelected.” 

Why does it matter? Henderson said “small communities are shrinking” and believes large-scale projects, like wind farms, inject considerable benefit into the local community. 

Yarriambiack Shire, where Henderson lives, is the one of the fastest shrinking shires in Victoria, and Henderson said the ability to strengthen the local economy and attract new residents would help improve schooling and business. 

• “It’s running out of steam, businesses have had a gutful of the antis [anti-renewable protestors] - they want more business in their towns.” 

The cost of speaking up: Henderson believes people who agree with renewable energy projects in regional Victoria aren’t speaking up “because then you’re a target”. 

🗣️: “I’ve had a circumstance where my daughter-in-law was introduced to someone in a post office, they said, ‘Oh, are you Craig Henderson’s daughter-in-law?’ And when she said yes, they said, ‘Well, he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get shot’.”