Renewables locations under review

By Geoff Adams

Jul 25, 2024

A map of northern Victoria showing the draft renewable energy regions, with blue as the areas most likely available for renewable energy projects and bright yellow as prohibited zones for wind farms. Yellow squares indicate solar farms. Source: VicGrid

A Strathbogie property owners group contesting a wind farm proposal will be making submissions to the Victorian Government’s review of renewable energy zones.

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VicGrid is asking communities, landholders, Traditional Owners and the energy industry to get involved and have their say on the development of the long-term strategic plan for the zones and major transmission infrastructure.

VicGrid, the government agency responsible for planning and developing the state’s energy zones, is also hosting meetings in Kerang, Rochester and Shepparton, as part of the consultation.

The Strathbogie Responsible Renewables Community Group is contesting a plan by Fera Australia to build a 600 megawatt wind farm in the Strathbogie Ranges.

Group committee member Catriona King said they would be making a submission to the review, referring to the potential impact on the environment, including native species and the effect on tourism.

VicGrid has released a draft of the Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, which set out how VicGrid will prepare the plan over the next 12 months.

The guidelines explain how VicGrid will determine how much renewable energy is needed to be generated where and by when, what transmission projects are required and how it will partner with communities and industry to make these decisions.

The study area will be narrowed down to smaller areas for investigation, and eventually, proposed Renewable Energy Zones through further engagement and analysis.

While initial investigations will be broadly based, ultimately only a portion of the study area will be needed to host new energy infrastructure.

VicGrid is now seeking feedback from the community and industry on the guidelines and the study area, and chief executive officer Alistair Parker said community input would play a crucial role at this stage and throughout the process of developing the Victorian Transmission Plan.

“We need the input of regional communities, farmers, landholders and First Peoples so we can get this right for all Victorians, reduce impacts and deliver real benefits,” Mr Parker said.

The Victorian Transmission Plan guidelines can be found on Engage Victoria, where people can provide feedback on the approach and the study area, as well as details of the community information sessions VicGrid is running across the state.

Consultation on the guidelines is open until August 25, while consultation on the study area is open until September 30.

There are some areas of Victoria where wind farms are prohibited due to “high landscape or environmental value”.

They include the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, Macedon and McHarg Ranges, and land within 5km of the Great Ocean Rd, Bass Coast and the coast east of Warrnambool.

Fera Australia is running a community information session at the Alexandra Secondary College hall on Saturday, July 27 from 10am to noon.

The VicGrid meetings are as follows:

Kerang

Kerang Memorial Hall, 4 Nolan St

Tuesday, August 6 from 4pm to 7pm

Wednesday, August 7 from 10:30am to 12:30pm

Rochester

Rochester Community House, 43/45 Mackay St

Wednesday, August 14 from 4pm to 7pm

Thursday, August 15 from 10:30am to 12:30pm

Shepparton

Riverlinks, 70 Welsford St