Town Hall was host to a series of heated battles last night as the environment took centre stage at the City of Greater Bendigo council meeting. 

In a night in which councillors voted to release a draft environmental strategy for public comment, conservation of bushland also become a flash point in two debates over planning and development. 

Councillors voted to reject the finding of an independent panel which slammed council’s plan to protect the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley areas from major development. 

Despite calls from councillor Peter Cox to send a strong signal to Spring Street that council was committed to pushing ahead with the plan, councillors Lisa Ruffell and Helen Leach voted against the city's recommendation. 

They also voted to rescind a decision from the last council meeting which approved a development application 2.7 hectare parcel of bushland in Kangaroo Flat. 

However it was perhaps discussion around the draft environmental strategy which saw some of the most stark divisions of the night. 

Cr Leach slammed the proposed 20-year vision, in a tirade against proponents of global warming and renewable energy.

“Solar panels are not innocent,” the Eppalock Ward councillor said. 

“In places in China they’ve stopped making them…because many are toxic.” 

It wasn’t the only international example Cr Leach cited. She said the Spanish economy had tanked because of a switch to renewables and Tasmania and Europe were suffering blackouts. 

The plan is now available for public comment and several councillors urged residents – particularly young people – to have their say on the city’s environmental future.