On 11 August 2023, a new referral was accepted for Western Renewables Link from AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd, for the Construction and operation of a 500kV double circuit transmission line between Bulgana and Sydenham. The project also proposes upgrades to the existing Bulgana Terminal Station, works to enable connection of the transmission line into the Sydenham Terminal Station and minor upgrades to existing terminal stations at Elaine and Ballarat.

A decision was made by the Minister on 22 August 2023 that an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is required for the recently amended proposal as specified above.

The Minister's reason for decision:

• The area of interest for the project supports significant environmental values, including native vegetation and ecological values, residential and agricultural and other land uses, heritage values, visual and landscape values and other social values, potential aggregate impacts on which are of at least regional significance.

• Multiple alignment and design alternatives for the project within the area of interest require rigorous and transparent assessment and refinement in relation to opportunities for avoidance and/or minimisation of potentially significant effects to inform both project and statutory decision-making.

• An EES process will provide a robust, transparent and integrated framework through which: i. the project’s potential environmental effects can be rigorously assessed, including in the context of the comparative effects of feasible siting, alignment, design and operational alternatives for key components of the project; and ii. the effectiveness and acceptability of proposed measures to avoid, minimise, manage and offset environmental effects and related risks can be evaluated/ examined.

• An EES responds to community interest in project siting, alignment and design alternatives by providing appropriate opportunities for public input.

• The construction of a new Sydenham Terminal Station is excluded from this decision as that is excluded from the referral, and is no longer proposed as part of the project.

AusNet Mondo is planning a 190 km overhead high voltage transmission line from Sydenham near Melbourne to Bulgana in western Victoria. The transmission line will cross Hepburn Shire from east to west through the Mt Prospect, Newlyn, Kingston and Smeaton communities.

Council is opposed to the project in its current location and form and will continue to advocate for better solutions. Council wants to see transmission line infrastructure placed underground or re-routed so as to avoid impacting on high quality agricultural land, attractive heritage landscapes and the wellbeing of local communities.

Supreme Court hands down ruling

The Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance (MCHPA) went to the Supreme Court in 2023 to challenge Minister for Energy Lily D'Ambrosio's decision to fast-track the VNI West and Western Renewables Link project. The Court ruled against the community group on 20 December 2023.

AEMO and Transgrid's Project Assessment Conclusions Report

Council has expressed concern at the overhead transmission lines proposed as part of the Victoria – New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West project.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Transgrid released a Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) into the VNI West project on 27 May 2023.

Council has welcomed some aspects and expressed concern about other conclusions outlined in the report. Council is also concerned about the impacts of new options on other regional communities that were previously not affected by the VNI West project. Read Council's latest media release from 30 May 2023.

Key points of the report

• Mount Prospect is no longer the preferred option for a terminal station.
• The proposed route of the transmission lines remains largely unchanged.
• The report recommends an increase in the overhead power lines from 220kV (kilovolt) to 500kV through our Shire. This requires significantly larger towers and exclusion zones which limits agricultural uses along the transmission route.
• Undergrounding of power lines has not been considered.

“Council is incredibly supportive of reliable renewable energy, but these projects will be part of communities for decades to come. They need to be well-planned and thought out. This has not been the case for VNI West nor the Western Renewables Link to date,” said Mayor of Hepburn Shire, Cr Brian Hood.

“We have worked closely with our community to oppose this project and this review is a positive sign that we may be listened to,” he said.

“The very large terminal station and power lines up to 80m high would be an incredible blight on our landscapes and have considerable adverse impacts on the highly-valuable and productive agricultural land in our Shire.”

Cr Hood reiterated the importance of meaningful engagement with impacted communities.

“We are grateful that levels of government are listening to our community’s concerns with this project and will be very interested in the alternative options that they propose,” he said.