Greens candidate Cathy Olke unveiled an ambitious plan to create community-based solar farms on vacant roofs and lands in Melbourne. The plan is part of her political agenda as she campaigned for the by-election in the city on July 21 after Labor MP Bronwyn Pike resigned.

The proposal includes giving cash to communities and groups that would form solar farms across Melbourne.

Both the Baillieu government and Opposition criticised the Greens proposal for being financially reckless. The plan is hinged on discarding a $50-million agreement with HRL for a coal-powered plant and to redistribute the funds into a Community Renewable Fund.

Besides the solar farms, Ms Olke also proposed a new cross-town tram line across the city's inner north and bus services in lieu to the east-west road link. The Greens are against the east-west road tunnel that the state government identified as its top transport priority.

The proposed tram line from the North Melbourne railway station to Richmond and the upgrade to bus route 402 from Footscray to East Melbourne is expected to cost $1.6 million a year. However, the tram project would require the construction of two kilometres of track along Victoria Street at Melbourne's north. It would link route 55 to North Melbourne and route 24 to Richmond, and remove the need to travel into the city centre to reach across town.

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