VFF Raises Concerns Over Horsham Chip Facility and Impact on Farmland

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has expressed concerns about the Victorian Government’s planning priorities, following the announcement of a proposed $300 million hot chip processing facility near Horsham.

VFF President Brett Hosking told FlowFM in a recent interview, that while the organisation welcomes the regional development and the value-adding opportunities it presents for farmers and members of the Wimmera community, its announcement raises questions about the government’s approach to coordinating projects across the region.

He said the VFF and other farming groups are concerned that the new facility - and the farmland its success will be reliant on - will be negatively affected by other projects proposed by the state government, including the VNI West Transmission project and the Avonbank Heavy Mineral Sands Project, which will be situated a mere few hundred meters away from the chip facility.

“It’s a great investment for our region – a food processing plant turning locally grown potatoes into hot chips – and everyone loves hot chips,” Mr Hosking said. “But within a few hundred metres of that site there’s also a proposal for a critical minerals sand mine, which could cause dust and contamination issues for that very facility.”

Mr Hosking added that the potato growers supplying the plant, mainly from the Ballarat region, are already under pressure from transmission line projects such as the Western Renewables Link and the VNI West Link.

“Those transmission lines are cutting right through potato farms,” he said. “That raises questions about the long-term security of supply for the plant. It feels like the government’s priorities are confused – are we focused on food production, renewable energy, or mineral extraction? Because putting all three together doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

He said the VFF is calling for a more coherent planning framework that balances the needs of food producers with the push for renewable energy and resource development.

“We don’t want to be eating our chips with a dusting of mineral sands on top,” Mr Hosking said. “We’re asking the government to explain how these projects fit together and where agriculture fits in their vision for Victoria’s future.”

The VFF's concerns come amid growing frustration among farmers facing these numerous large-scale developments across rural Victoria.

A recent Federation University study confirmed that many producers are feeling overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of new energy, mining, and infrastructure proposals - and what these projects mean for the future of their farmland.

"To put it simply, Victorian farmers are overwhelmed," Mr Hosking said.

"We've got transmission lines, we've got critical mineral sands mines, we've got renewable energy, whether it be wind turbines, solar farms, we've got big batteries being built.  And we've got a whole heap of farmers saying that they just want to farm." 

“Victoria has only two per cent of Australia’s farmland but produces a quarter of its food and fibre exports. Yet our members are constantly dealing with new projects, government-backed proposals, and even threats of compulsory land acquisition. It’s exhausting.”

He urged governments and developers to engage openly with communities and respect landholders’ rights to decline participation in unwanted projects. “Farmers are tired of having to call their lawyers for projects they never invited,” Mr Hosking said. “They want honesty, transparency, and the right to say no.”

Mr Hosking also encouraged farmers seeking information or support to contact the VFF directly. “We’ve built up a library of resources on these developments and can help communities navigate what’s going on,” he said. “And if you’re feeling the pressure, reach out – to us, to a neighbour, or to one of the rural support agencies. The burden is real, and we need to look after each other.”

Alongside its advocacy on planning and land use, the VFF recently welcomed renewed government funding for its Making Our Farms Safer program, which provides free on-farm safety assessments. Mr Hosking said the initiative remains “hugely popular” among farmers, offering “a fresh set of eyes” to identify practical improvements that make farming operations safer.