Council
8 July, 2026
Aviation concerns surround wind farm
CRUEL, disrespectful and narrow-minded were just some of the words which councillors used when discussing the granting of a planning application for the Mumblin Wind Farm which “doesn’t pass the pub test”.
Councillors united in slamming the Minister for Planning at last Tuesday’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, when councillors were set to discuss lodging a submission of objection to the proposed Mumblin Wind Farm due to aviation concerns at the nearby Cobden Aerodrome.
The plan was halted when the Department of Transport and Planning gave the wind farm the green light the Friday prior, in a decision which blindsided councillors.
The recommendation before council was to raise a supplementary submission to the Department of Transport and Planning raising specific concerns about potential aviation safety and operational impacts on Cobden Aerodrome.
The opposition was based on sweeping concerns the aerodrome’s operational capabilities, aviation safety and future growth opportunities had been overlooked, underestimated or outright ignored in rushing through the planning application.
Concerns also specifically surround the Mumblin Wind Farm inhibiting aerial firefighting efforts across a large area of the shire.
Councillor Jo Beard sought to make an addition to the recommendation, noting council’s “extreme disappointment” for the issuing of the permit.
The addition sought to reconfirm the shire’s objections to the approval of a permit which “failed to address key local impacts and showed no proper consideration for effects on local dairy farming, fire risk, aviation safety or native wildlife”.
The addition also noted a planning permit was issued despite Corangamite Shire Council believing a number of technical reports were either inadequate or missing critical information.
“It’s safe to say we were not necessarily stunned because we knew our backs were up against a wall as this process has been playing out,” Cr Beard said.
“But reality hit us on the Friday when we found out the permit had been approved.”
Cr Beard said the government had showed a “cruel dismissal” in granting the permit which ignored piles of submissions, which Cr Beard had on the desk in front of her, citing serious concerns surrounding the project.
This included utilising a dodgy practice of withdrawing an application only to reapply following the introduction of the state government’s Development Facilitation Program, which fast-tracks planning applications with less scrutiny and oversight.
“They withdrew their original application when the state government introduced the development facilitation program, which basically is a shortcut way to get your permit approved, which then removed our right as not only council but any third-party rights to question it,” Cr Beard said.
“There was no process for VCAT allowed and it basically took out all the layers of community engagement.
“The applicants knew exactly what they were doing and it was allowed.
“We could not get away with what they’ve been able to get away with in terms of lack of oversight around the information we’ve been providing.
“It’s not stuff we’re making up – it’s technical reports from pilots and farmers.”
Cr Beard said the granting of the application was a disappointing result which residents would have to live with.
“The impacts of what has been ignored is going to be felt for a long, long time,” she said.
“The pure disrespect through the process, that we all have to adhere to, but now the government can go off on a tangent and run it as they wish.”
Cr Beard said Department of Transport and Planning had acknowledged council regarding its prior submission against the application, but no further communication was provided – leading to lingering doubts any expert advice was even sought.
“This is the part I think is really disrespectful,” she said.
“To me that is a complete lack of respect and narrow-mindedness.
“It is a significant issue, that’s for sure.
“The worst part is it gives us that bad taste in our mouth where we’ve just got total distrust – not only with the Department of Transport and Planning, but also with the Minister for Planning and the planning team behind it.
“This does not pass the pub test, which makes for a sad day for local government.”
Councillor Geraldine Conheady, as seconder, referenced the government’s own materials on the recently-introduced Renewable Energy Zones – areas designed to group renewable energy generation in specific areas aligning with high-voltage transition lines.
The Mumblin Wind Farm falls outside of the South West Renewable Energy Zone.
“That was created by the state under which wind farm applications can bypass normal planning scrutiny via fast-tracked approvals,” Cr Conheady said.
“One of the worst elements is the removal of third-party rights to appeal to VCAT.
“ReFuture took that advantage to withdraw their application and re-apply under the DFP program – I recall at our meeting in January we raised the poor quality and incomplete information provided to the Minister by the applicant.
“That included contradictions, inconsistencies and missing facts – and we know that has occurred again.
“We specifically note the application ignored the aviation safety of the Cobden Aerodrome and any alignment with the Cobden Aerodrome Masterplan, which was already incorporated into the Corangamite Planning Scheme, and my understanding is the Minister needs to take account of that when making a decision.”
Cr Conheady said the failure to engage with the Cobden Aerodrome committee was a disappointing result.
“This applicant does have some history with poor community engagement – sadly, the department has not required any improvement in the quality of engagement that application undertakes,” she said.
“It highlights how regional communities are being undermined by this easy pathway that’s been created.
“It’s really sad it seems our valid concerns have been dismissed, and those of the local community who worked incredibly hard to gather data and information themselves.”
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