News
4 March, 2025
Battery proposal is hot topic
Over 50 Kilcoy residents attended Somerset Council’s ‘Come and Chat’ event last Wednesday, February 19, with the hot topic of discussion being Enervest’s proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) in Hazeldean.
Enervest lodged a development application (DA) with Somerset Council in 2023 to build a battery storage facility (BESS) in Hazeldean, which would consist of approximately 256 inverters and 512 battery enclosures. This application followed a community engagement initiative, where Enervest conducted a Community Benefits Survey to gauge how they could support the local community if the project were approved.
Many concerned residents took the opportunity to voice their concerns during a meeting with councillors Helen Brieschke, Sally Jess, Tiara Hurley, Brett Freese, and Michael Bishop. The opposition group, Save Somerset, called the meeting "very positive," appreciating the chance to share their views, even though Council had already heard them. They also welcomed Council’s explanation of the DA process and what could and couldn’t be discussed.
However, some attendees expressed frustration, claiming the event was overtaken by discussions about the BESS project, preventing them from addressing other local matters. They described the event as being “hijacked” and turned into a “protest meeting.”
Somerset Council Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke, who attended the meeting, described the "Come and Chat" session as "a great success," noting it had the highest turnout since these informal sessions were introduced. She acknowledged that while not all concerns raised were within the local government’s jurisdiction, Council would continue to advocate for the community at the State and Federal levels where applicable.
In response to the BESS project concerns, Council informed residents that they had requested additional information from Enervest before proceeding with the assessment of the development application.
Other issues raised at the meeting included concerns about disability access to local shops, healthcare services, communication, and the Kilcoy bypass. New Blair candidate for the Gerard Rennick People First party, Kathryn Chadwick, also attended the session.
