Council's closing statement on WRL

Published on 03 December 2025

Moorabool Shire Council (Council) completed its main evidence at the Western Renewables Link (WRL) Environment Effects Statement (EES) public hearing this week.

Approximately 60km of the proposed WRL 190km overhead high-voltage transmission line project runs directly through Moorabool Shire from east to west.

Over four days of the hearing Council made its submission with legal representation and expert evidence, submitting that the project’s impacts had not been adequately assessed, avoided or minimised.

Where impacts had been identified, they were unacceptable.

Council’s view is that AusNet Services must complete further investigation into several parts of the EES before any decisions can be made about the project, including:

• Social impacts

• Economic impacts

•Bushfire impacts

• Agricultural impacts

• Visual impacts.

“Despite the additional costs, Council considers the undergrounding full or partial to be a feasible, future-focused approach that reduces unnecessary impacts,” Mayor Cr Steve Venditti-Taylor said.

Council will continue to attend the hearing for the evidence and submissions of other councils, agencies and community members. The hearing is currently scheduled to conclude in March 2026, when Council will also provide a closing submission.

To view Council’s full written submission online, visit All the background | Moorabool Shire Council.

To access detailed information about the EES and next steps, visit engage.vic.gov.au/Western-Renewables-Link-IAC

To access the daily hearing recordings, visit engage.vic.gov.au/WesternRenewables-Link-IAC/page/Recordings

Timestamps for these recordings can be viewed at moorabool.vic.gov.au/transmissionline