Yarriambiack Mayor Andrew McLean said the updated position statement provided important clarity for proponents and the community alike.
“Council recognises the growing role renewable energy plays in the Victorian government’s future plans, but we also have a responsibility to ensure proposals are lawful, properly assessed and do not negatively impact our communities,” he said.
“This updated position gives clear guidance on what council can and cannot support, while ensuring road reserves and public land are managed in a way that protects access, safety and local amenity.”
Where a company holds a licence under the Electricity Industry Act 2000, council may consider requests for the installation of power infrastructure. In those circumstances, consent should not be unreasonably withheld, and council is required to provide clear reasons should consent be refused.
Cr McLean said council’s current approach reflected the practical realities facing rural councils.
“Renewable energy and transmission is a rapidly evolving and complex space – council simply does not have the resources to assess proposals that sit outside a clear regulatory framework,” he said.
“By setting clear expectations, we are being transparent with industry while ensuring council resources are used responsibly and in the best interests of our residents.”
As a result, council adopted the following position, now included in the revised position statement: Council cannot allow power infrastructure to be installed in road reserves or on council-owned land unless the applicant holds a licence under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 to connect renewable energy systems to the grid. Requests from licensed transmitters will only be considered following the provision of comprehensive legal advice – at the applicant’s expense – along with community consultation, and provided there is no negative impact on residents’ daily lives or on landowners’ access to their land and infrastructure.
Council’s revised position statement provides greater certainty for industry, landowners and the wider community, while ensuring it meets its legislative obligations and protects local amenity and access.
Cr Corinne Heintze commended the addition to the statement.
“It clearly states that by 2035, the state would like to upgrade the Murra Warra to Horsham to Bulgana transmission line to 500KV – it’s currently 220KV, I believe,” she said.
“That is where the proposed WestWind farm would be plugging into the grid.
“However, WestWind has another idea.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, and some steps seem to have been completely left out. So, I commend the addition to our statement.”
Resource Ready strategy
Yarriambiack Shire Council also adopted the Resource Ready North-Western Victoria Energy and Mining Impact and Readiness Strategy at last week’s meeting, joining eight neighbouring councils.
The strategy provided an independent analysis of the potential impacts from $27.7-billion in planned transmission, renewable energy, and mining projects across Buloke, Gannawarra, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Loddon, Northern Grampians, Swan Hill, West Wimmera, and Yarriambiack shires.
It identified the potential scale of renewable energy infrastructure and mining across the study area and the significant workforce demands including 9000 construction jobs and 2300 ongoing operational roles.
It also identified challenges such as severe housing shortages, labour market constraints, infrastructure pressures, and potential impacts on the region’s agricultural sector.
The strategy outlined actions in eight key themes to prepare the region, maximise community benefits, and reduce negative impacts if major projects are approved by state and federal governments.
In its motion to adopt the strategy, council moved it would also: commit to working with key stakeholders to implement the strategy’s recommended actions in partnership with other study area councils, State Government, and stakeholders; authorise the chief executive to advocate to state and federal government, where appropriate, for funding to implement priority actions identified in the strategy; and note that successful implementation requires substantial external funding and regional coordination beyond council’s existing resources.
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