General News
14 June, 2025
Energy Minister quietly visits councils
A Victorian front bench minister quietly visited the region this week to hold two closed-door meetings with council representatives to discuss key future issues for the region.
Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio visited Horsham and Warracknabeal on Wednesday, June 11, to discuss renewable energy, transmission infrastructure and mining.
Ms D’Ambrosio, who also holds the portfolios of Energy and Resources and the State Electricity Commission, was accompanied by Vic Grid chief executive Alistair Parker and Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora.
The trio met with Horsham Rural City Council mayor Ian Ross, chief executive Gail Gatt, and Yarriambiack Shire Council representatives to discuss concerns about the protection of prime agricultural land in the face of growing energy and mining developments.
“Our key concern is the protection of agricultural land and mapping that seems to show prioritisation of mining over prime agricultural land in this region,” Cr Ross said.
“The State Government need to urgently prepare a clear mapping of the State’s agricultural land quality that can then be used when considering land use planning projects across the state.”
The Yarriambiack Shire Council stated that the visit was the continuation of the delegation of councillors who met with Ms D’Ambrosio and planning minister Sonya Kilkenny at Parliament House on May 13.
Mayor Kylie Zanker said councillors used the meeting to push for greater community engagement and policy clarity on transmission projects and mineral sands mining.
“The visit was a closed meeting, where Councillors were able to continue their discussions with Minister D’Ambrosio and Mr Parker regarding the recently released Draft Victorian Transmission Plan, mining and the community division experienced across not only our local government area, but more widely across the region,” she said.
“We have developed a position statement and will continue to advocate strongly for our community.
“We sought clarification on projects planned outside the proposed renewable energy zones and the maximum megawatt capacity compared to the planned projects, which greatly exceed the limits in each REZ.”
Ms Zanker said they have conveyed their concerns to the Minister.
“Concerns were conveyed regarding mining rights taking precedence over a landholder’s rights, potentially leading to displacement from their land for mining activities,” she said.
“We see this as unjust and unfair, and do not support this action.”
The HRCC is seeking a collaborative approach in favour of the community.
“We aim to work with the State Government to ensure transparency in the approval processes for new projects, and to help secure long-term, strategic benefits for our communities as we navigate this economic transition,” Cr Ross said.
“At the same time, we are strongly advocating for the protection of rural and regional interests, particularly around the significant and lasting impacts these developments may have on local landholders and agricultural land use.”
Councils said they would continue to advocate to the State Government to ensure long-term community benefits are put in place to support everyone living in the regions.
Despite the significant visit, local media were neither notified nor invited to Minister D’Ambrosio’s visit to Horsham and Warracknabeal.
Wimmera Mallee News reached out to the Minister’s office regarding the media’s absence, and the office replied that, as the Minister was not supposed to make any announcement, there was no media opportunity.