About the WRL EES

The WRL Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) is an independent panel of experts from Planning Panels Victoria, appointed by the Minister for Planning.

The role of the IAC is to:

• Review the Environment Effects Statement (EES) and draft Planning Scheme Amendment GC209 (PSA) to the Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Ballarat, Hepburn, Moorabool and Melton Planning Schemes.
• Review public submissions.
• Hold a public Hearing to hear from the Proponent (AusNet Services) and submitters who want to speak to their written submission
• Provide advice to the Minister about the environmental effects of the project.

Detailed information about the Hearing, including about attending in person or online, submissions, documents tabled by parties, IAC directions and timetables can be found on the Engage Victoria website.

Audio from each sitting day of the Hearing will be recorded by Planning Panels Victoria and made available on the Engage Victoria website.

Note: WRL IAC Directions 50-51 regarding terms of use for audio recordings from the Hearing.

Proceeding: the official conduct of the Western Renewables Link (WRL) Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC), to consider the proposed project’s environmental effects, pursuant to the Environment Effects Act 1978. The proceeding may include, for example, a directions hearing, public hearing, expert evidence and deliberations.

Submitter: those who made a written submission during the WRL EES exhibition but did not request to speak at the Hearing. Submitters may attend the Hearing to observe.

Party: those who made a written submission during the WRL EES exhibition and requested to speak at the Hearing. Parties may present, respond and ask questions during the Hearing. 

Public submissions on the Western Renewables Link (WRL) Environment Effects Statement (EES) are now closed. The opportunity to make submissions was during the WRL EES public exhibition between 30 June and 25 August 2025.

Planning Panels Victoria received 534 submissions to the WRL EES. These are publicly available on the Engage Victoria website with personal information redacted.

Where community members are a party to the proceeding (see definition above), they will not be cross-examined.

Unlike in a court proceeding, an IAC hearing is not adversarial. Questions between parties are allowed at the discretion of the Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC), in limited and controlled circumstances.

Parties to the proceeding, including those without legal representation, may ask questions of expert witnesses called by other parties in accordance with WRL IAC Directions 42-44.

Directions 42-44 state that any party wishing to ask questions of experts must advise the IAC by 12 noon on the business day before the relevant expert is scheduled to present, including how much time they anticipate they require for each expert. 

Notification emails should be directed to Planning Panels Victoria viaoffice@planningpanels.vic.gov.au

Participants and observers can attend the Hearing in person or online using Microsoft Teams. Visit the Engage Victoria webpage for the Hearing location and online meeting link.

The WRL IAC has encouraged parties intending to ask questions of experts during the Hearing to attend in person where possible.

The Guide to Presenting at an EES Hearing at Planning Panels Victoria provides general information about the Hearing and what to expect.

Following the conclusion of the Hearing, the Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) will prepare a report for the Minister for Planning to inform the Minister’s assessment.

This report will include the IAC’s recommendations on the environmental effects of the Western Renewables Link project.

The Minister’s assessment is the final step in the Environment Effects Statement process and has several potential outcomes:

• A project (with or without limited modifications) would have acceptable environmental effects, having regard to overall project outcomes;
• A project would have unacceptable environmental effects;

A project would need major modifications and/or further investigations to establish that acceptable environmental outcomes would be achieved.

Under the Terms of Reference, the IAC must submit its report to the Minister for Planning within 40 business days of the final day of the Hearing to inform the Minister’s assessment.

The Hearing is currently scheduled to conclude in March 2026.

The WRL IAC’s report will be publicly available when the Minister’s assessment has been issued.

The Proponent (AusNet Services) has indicated that subject to project approvals, construction is anticipated to begin in Q1 2027 and be completed by Q4 2029. 

For more information visit the Western Renewables Link website.

Foley’s List barristers are offering a Legal Assistance Service that offers low-cost or no-cost legal support to eligible submitters in Planning Panel Victoria hearings.

Available to individuals and community groups, the service offers legal advice and representation to help participants navigate Planning Panels Victoria processes (subject to barrister availability). Assistance ranges from preliminary advice to full representation, with fees reduced or waived.

To participate, submitters must meet eligibility criteria. More information about the Service and eligibility criteria is available on the Planning Panels Victoria website, including how to apply for assistance.