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Overview

AusNet Services (AusNet) is the proponent of a 190 km overhead high voltage transmission line through western Victoria, known as the Western Renewables Link (WRL).

Moorabool Shire is proposed to host approximately 60 km of the 500kV line from the eastern shire boundary to the west. Adjustments to the final alignment were announced in August 2022.

An Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is required by the Victorian Government for major projects. Council has been involved in the EES planning process for the project since 2021 as a member of the Technical Reference Group, along with other impacted councils and key agencies. 

In this role Council has consistently advocated for the best possible outcomes for the shire and a fair and transparent process. Council has developed a range of community webinars and information on WRL-related topics to help empower and support its community.

The EES was publicly exhibited from June to August 2025 and the EES materials can still be accessed via the project website

The next step in the EES process is a public hearing, which will commence the week beginning Monday 27 October 2025, chaired by an independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee.

To access full timetables, directions and documents relation to the WRL EES public hearing, see Where We Are Now

Supporting material

  • Media release: Council supports a community event for WRL affected property owners.
  • Media release: Council releases a statement endorsing its submission to the Western Renewable Link (WRL) Environmental Effects Statement (EES)  at the 3 September 2025 Ordinary Meeting of Council.  
  • Media release: Council releases a statement about the proposed WRL Community Benefits Program.
  • Webinar: Council ran a webinar Understanding the EES process to assist community members as the process progresses.

     

About the Environment Effects Statement

The Minister for Planning issued the original scoping requirements for the EES exhibition period in December 2020, which outlined the issues that AusNet were to address in the EES. The project was re-referred and a new set of EES Scoping Requirements issued by the Minister in 2023, in response to changes to project scope.

Final WRL Environment Effects Statement Scoping Requirements 2023 (PDF, 1.1MB)

WRL EES Scoping Requirements FAQs (PDF, 1MB)

The EES was placed on public exhibition for a statutory timeframe of 40 business days from 30 June to 25 August 2025. The Minister for Planning appointed an independent inquiry and advisory committee to consider the EES and submissions, conduct a public hearing and provide a written report to inform the Minister’s review and assessment of the project. The Minister’s assessment is the final step to determining whether the project's environmental impacts are acceptable.

How Council is involved

Council is providing transparent information to the public and advocating for the Victorian and Australian Governments address community concerns with the project. Council also participated as stakeholders on the project’s Technical Reference Group that informed the EES process.  

Council is continuing to advocate for all levels of government to work together to achieve Australia’s renewable energy transition without unacceptable burden on communities and the environment. 

Advocacy efforts include numerous submissions to government consultation processes on matters relating to community benefit sharing and renewable energy generation and transmission infrastructure planning. Council has also put forward motions advocating for policy change to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

Green and Unseen campaign

Council has advocated for underground construction options for Western Renewables Link to be explored since the project was first announced. A campaign called Green and Unseen was launched by Council to communicate the issues with an overhead transmission line and urge for the line to go underground.  

 

 

Technical report reviews

Council has commissioned several independent reports to provide advice on technical aspects of the project, including:

Community information sessions

Council supported the Western Victorian Community Alliance with its EES community drop-in sessions. At the sessions, community volunteers assisted locals with structuring and lodging submissions. 

Council developed the following guides to help support community members during the public exhibition period:

EES Information Guide(PDF, 2MB)

EES Submission Structure Guide(PDF, 3MB)

Webinars

Moorabool Shire Council hosted several successful community sessions as part of a series inviting experts to share their knowledge on many technical topics relating to the project.

Preparing a submission to an Environment Effects Statement (EES) public review
 Presented by Louise Hicks, Barrister, and Jack Krohn, Senior Impact Assessor, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Wednesday 9 March 2022
Watch the recording

Update on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process
 Presented by Jack Krohn, Senior Impact Assessor, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Thursday 11 November 2021
Watch the recording

Understanding the Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in Western Victoria  
 Presented by Ben Ferguson, Director of Renewable Energy Zones Development Branch, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Thursday 25 November 2021
Watch the recording

Understanding the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process
 Presented by Jack Krohn. Senior Impact Assessor, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Wednesday 23 September 2020
Watch the recording
 Additional Q&A - DELWP
(PDF, 188KB) Additional Q&A - AusNet Services(PDF, 87KB)(PDF, 87KB)

Understanding compulsory land acquisition and compensation 
 Presented by Tony Rutherford, Shaun Whittaker and Jackson Dyer from Mills Oakley Law Firm
Thursday 8 October 2020
Watch the recording

Energy Safe Victoria Part 1 - Safety and High Voltage Transmission Lines
 Presented by Brett Fox and Gavin Jackson from Energy Safe Victoria
Wednesday 21 October 2020
Watch the recording
 Additional Q&A - Energy Safe Victoria(PDF, 330KB)(PDF, 330KB)

Energy Safe Victoria Part 2 - Farming and High Voltage Transmission Lines
 Presented by Brett Fox and Gavin Jackson from Energy Safe Victoria
Thursday 3 December 2020
Watch the recording
 Additional Q&A 2 - Energy Safe Victoria(PDF, 330KB)

Project timeline and resulting actions

Council has been advocating on behalf of the community with decision-makers throughout the process: 

 

More information

Any technical questions or feedback on the project should be directed to AusNet by calling 1800 975 975 or emailing info@westernrenewableslink.com.au or filling out an online form

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