After a vast amount of protest in the community, the development of an ESCO Pacific Solar Farm has been approved by VCAT.

The Solar Farm will be built on a 7 kilometre stretch next to the Hume Freeway between Glenrowan and Winton.

Whilst Wangaratta Council supported the protest of the construction from residents, The Mayor of Wangaratta, Dean Rees, argues it will be great for the Wangaratta economy.

“It will produce jobs here in Wangaratta whether it’s for a short term during the building period or on a long-standing view, so to me that is good economic development.

I feel for the residents but you do not own the view over someone else's land,” he said.

The $150 million ESCO Pacific project will consist of 420,000 solar panels, connecting to the grid via the Glenrowan Terminal Substation.