Renewable energy zone win

Council had been pushing for consultation between VicGrid and the community ever since an area between Shepparton East and Benalla was introduced without prior public consultation.

The Central North REZ was established under the Victorian Transmission Plan to co-ordinate renewable generation and transmission development across Victoria.

Initially covering areas west of Shepparton, the REZ was reconfigured in the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan, after the initial consultation had concluded, with a new eastern section without any consultation.

This new section includes land of high agricultural value and cropping yield.

VicGrid took submissions this month about the zone, including one from council that was made after it reached out to the community for their views and also commissioned its own report.

Council did targeted interviews and an online survey that received more than 200 responses as part of its report.

Landholders expressed strong concern around the loss of productive farmland, landscape change and perceived inequities in benefit distribution.

The review did, however, note that renewable energy can coexist with agriculture if projects are strategically located on lower-productivity land.

The results of the report by consultants Sequana were tabled at the November council meeting.

The submission council put to VicGrid outlined its concerns and requested VicGrid refine the eastern REZ boundaries to exclude high-value farmland, flood-prone areas and land with significant infrastructure investment.

It also asked that irrigated land east of McEwen Rd from the western REZ area be removed.

The submission also asked that Traditional Owners be engaged to identify and protect cultural heritage sites, and that detailed environmental assessments — including impacts on nature reserves — be conducted.

Council also requested clarification of assumptions in scenario two of VicGrid’s modelling, particularly regarding wind generation and infrastructure needs, and asked for a targeted two-month community engagement program for the eastern REZ.

At the council meeting, Cr Geoff Akers said VicGrid needed to do proper community consultation.

Cr Akers spoke of the “very productive” dryland cropping land in the Dookie area, which saw an average wheat yield of 4.8 to six tonnes per hectare – 120 per cent above the state average – and canola yields that were 105 per cent above the state average.

“That probably should be retained in agriculture,” he said.

Land values in the Dookie area average $19,000 per hectare, which compares to the state average across wet and dry land of $17,000 per hectare.

Cr Akers also spoke of environmental reserves that needed to be looked at, as well as culturally significant sites that had not been properly identified and excluded.

Outside the meeting, Cr Akers said council would continue to advocate for boundary refinements and transparent engagement to ensure the REZ delivered environmental benefits without undermining Greater Shepparton’s agricultural economy.

“We need a consistent approach that protects our farming base while enabling renewable energy,” he said.

“Our region’s land isn’t just a business; it is many residents’ livelihood and part of the food supply chain.

“Losing productive ground to large-scale energy projects would have a profound impact on the agriculture industry.

“Renewables need to go where they won’t destroy prime farmland.”

Cr Sali said council had brought the issues of the REZ to the community, and VicGrid now needed to engage meaningfully with landholders before any decisions were finalised.

Cr Sali was concerned that if council had not raised this with VicGrid, the REZ would have “powered ahead” without the consultation that will now take place next year.

“It’s pleasing that they’ve listened and taken into account what we raised,” he said.

To read Sequana’s full Central North REZ review, visit tinyurl.com/2z3k8j9c