A fire incident at the Victorian Big Battery in 2021 was attended by around 150 firefighters and more than 30 fire trucks. Image: Country Fire Authority.
RESIDENTS of Lower Mount Walker gathered at a Sunset BBQ hosted by the Lower Mount Walker Community Action Group (LMWCAG) to underline mounting concern over Libra Energy’s proposed Industrial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The group said it had repeatedly called for a public town hall with the developer – an open meeting they argue is essential for transparency and community safety – but claims the request has gone unanswered.
“All the community is requesting is an open forum, explaining the project and allowing everyone to ask questions and hear the answers together, in a safe space,” a community spokeswoman said.
Locals say the Bremer Battery Project threatens the quiet rural character of Lower Mount Walker, with concerns ranging from industrial lighting and noise to potential sediment and chemical contamination.
“Our precious rural amenity is at stake,” the spokeswoman said.
The proposal includes 550 shipping containers of lithium batteries on a rural-zoned site on Rosewood–Warrill View Road. Public mapping indicates no existing Powerlink substation nearby, meaning a new one would be required.
The spokeswoman questioned the project’s planning process. “If this project is so critical to infrastructure, why are political lobbyists involved? Why hasn’t it gone to tender? And why isn’t it located in a designated industrial precinct?”
Residents also raised fears about property devaluation near large-scale renewable energy installations. “The NSW Department of Lands indicates properties near wind farms recorded up to a 27% drop in value. What will 550 BESS containers mean for ours?” she said.
Fire risk remains a central issue, with attention on thermal runaway events in lithium batteries. Locals say their fire brigade has confirmed it is not equipped for large-scale chemical fires.
“We talked about BESS catching fire and the risk to adjoining batteries,” the spokeswoman said.
“After a BESS fire, high levels of contaminants can be found in soil – as seen after the 2025 Moss Landing disaster. What happens to our drinking water tanks, farming land, livestock, and the Bremer River?”
Residents also questioned how staff would access the facility during major weather events and what sediment might enter waterways during construction and operation.
Community members want clarity on security lighting, battery type, and evidence of any completed projects by Libra Energy.
