Horsham Rural City Council has endorsed a joint submission to VicGrid's Draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, joining eight other councils across North West Victoria in advocating for stronger community engagement, realistic planning assumptions and greater investment in communities hosting renewable energy infrastructure.
Jointly developed by nine councils, the submission responds to the development of Victoria's next Victorian Transmission Plan and calls for planning processes that better reflect local knowledge, recognise cumulative impacts and ensure regional communities benefit from the state's energy transition.
Mayor Cr Brian Klowss said regional communities were at the forefront of Victoria's renewable energy transition and must have a stronger voice in decisions that will shape their landscapes, industries and way of life for generations.
"Regional communities are helping deliver Victoria's renewable energy future, but they are also being asked to accommodate significant and lasting change," Cr Klowss said.
"If regional Victoria is expected to host the infrastructure needed to power the state's future, it is essential that local communities are genuinely heard and that their feedback shapes the decisions being made."
VicGrid's Victorian Transmission Plan will provide a 25-year outlook for transmission and renewable energy development across Victoria and will be updated every four years to respond to changing energy policies, market conditions and future electricity system needs.
The joint council submission calls for a planning framework that better recognises the lived experiences of host communities and the cumulative impacts of multiple large-scale projects occurring across North West Victoria. It also raises fundamental concerns about the adequacy and authenticity of VicGrid's community consultation, with councils reporting that repeated rounds of engagement have led communities to believe their input is not being meaningfully reflected in final decisions.
"Councils have participated in good faith through multiple rounds of consultation, but the experience for our communities has too often been that feedback is heard but not reflected in the decisions that follow," Cr Klowss said.
Cr Klowss said councils were increasingly hearing concerns from residents about the combined impacts of renewable energy developments, transmission infrastructure and emerging mining projects.
"Our communities are not experiencing these projects in isolation. They are managing the cumulative impacts of multiple developments occurring simultaneously, often over long periods of time," he said.
"We need planning processes that properly consider these impacts, including effects on community wellbeing, mental health, housing, local roads, workforce availability and essential services."
Among its recommendations, the submission seeks formal recognition of the Resource Ready: North-Western Victoria Energy and Mining Impact and Readiness Study as a key evidence base for planning and decision-making across the region.
The submission also calls for consultation processes that move beyond simply sharing information and clearly demonstrate how community and council feedback influences outcomes.
"People want to know that their views matter," Cr Klowss said.
"That means moving past one way information sessions and building genuine opportunities for participation where local knowledge helps shape options, not just responds to decisions that have already been made."
Cr Klowss said long-term planning must be supported by investment that enables regional communities to successfully manage growth and change.
"Our communities are helping deliver a state-significant transition, and that means governments must also invest in the infrastructure, services and workforce capacity needed to support that transition," he said.
"We want to see a funded strategic investment framework that ensures regional communities share in the benefits of these projects and are equipped to manage the pressures they bring."
The submission also includes recommendations on decommissioning requirements, community benefit transparency and the use of realistic development scenarios in planning. The full submission can be viewed on the Council's website.
Council's endorsement forms part of a coordinated regional approach involving councils across Western and North West Victoria, seeking a shared understanding of community impacts, genuine collaboration with VicGrid and the Victorian Government, and a fair and sustainable pathway for delivering the state's energy transition.
