Locals can grab a coffee and quiz developers on the controversial Cooba Solar Farm project this Wednesday morning.
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Venn Energy is inviting locals to drop in for a coffee at the Colbinabbin General Store on Wednesday, August 12 for a chance to hear the latest on the Cooba Solar Farm and have their say.
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Locals of the Heathcote region are invited to come by from 7.30am to 10.30am to speak with representatives of Venn Energy about any concerns or ideas they have about the project.
The Cooba Solar Farm project is about to enter its construction phase, which is expected to take about two years.
The project has not been without controversy, with neighbouring landowners and Coalition MPs voicing strong opposition to its approval, citing concerns about the site’s suitability.
Venn Energy said the solar facility would take up 606 hectares of the 1000 hectares it is proposed for.
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Central to the opposition is the site’s rare soil type, with critics arguing the development conflicts with planning schemes designed to protect prime agricultural land.
Despite sustained opposition, the project was approved under an expedited pathway in June 2025, following a 2024 regulation that permits renewable energy projects to proceed without panel review or third-party appeals.
Once the solar farm is up and running, it will have a life expectancy of 30 years before it is decommissioned.
Venn Energy said the solar farm would produce 500 megawatts of power, enough to put electricity into 145,000 Victorian homes.
Venn Energy representatives will be on hand throughout the morning to answer questions and hear from the community.
