General News
11 March, 2025
Region's councils united
Representatives from five Councils in the Wimmera have agreed to form an alliance to better address the impact of transmission lines, renewable energy, and mining on their communities.
In the early stages of the alliance, they were led by the Northern Grampians Shire Council, which has been meeting regularly for the past two years to address the impact on communities and the council.
Councillors and chief executives from Buloke, Gannawarra, Loddon, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack Shire Councils, along with representatives from the Municipal Association of Victoria and Rural Councils Victoria, met in Charlton in February to discuss the ongoing impact of transmission lines, renewable energy developments and mining, on their communities.
"These Councils encompass the planned route for the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector (VNI West) transmission line and represent 12.5% of Victoria's land mass," a spokesperson said.
The Buloke Shire hosted the meeting after a suggestion from the Northern Grampians Shire to try to explore common ground on transmission and renewable challenges all councils in the Wimmera, Mallee/Loddon region have been facing during recent years.
Northern Grampians Shire Council deputy mayor Justine Hide said the meeting highlighted issues affecting each municipality.
"Northern Grampians had been meeting almost every month for the past two years to discuss what was affecting its community and thought by extending it to all shires in the region specifically impacted they if would benefit more members of the community," she said.
"The transmission lines and mineral sand mines are affecting our communities, and as a combined voice, we thought we'd be stronger together.
"We decided to form a working group with representatives from each shire to share information and with that we could make better decisions for the whole communitiy.
"We believed by sharing collective information we would make better choices. In addition, if we decide to stand on a particular issue, we would be a stronger voice."
In 2024, NGSC passed a motion to create a position specifically tasked with managing the renewable projects and mining activity in its shire so that the council staff could concentrate on the council's core business.
"We have asked the state government to subsidise and/or fund the position because it is they have created these porject and its not fair that council have to fund the management of them," Cr Hide said.
"Equally, it is not fair that council staff must fit this additional work into their daily schedules."
The deputy mayor said that even if the government doesn't provide funding, NGSC will proceed with filling the position.
Buloke Shire Council mayor Alan Getley said several shared concerns were evident.
"We have common issues of serious concern in respect of major proposed transmission lines and the large number of renewable developments," he said.
"These concerns include the impact on our acute housing shortage during the construction boom, the lack of social licence, which has alienated many farmers, the environmental impact, the detrimental impact on roads and the impost this has had on Council resourcing.
"We realise we will have a stronger voice if we work together rather than individually.
"An outcome of the meeting is the formation of a working group with representatives of each council present."
The Yarriambiack Shire Council recently released a statement detailing its Position Statement on Renewable Energy and Transmission Lines. The decision was unanimous on January 29, 2025.
"The council aims to collaborate with neighbouring Councils that have similar objectives to achieve improved outcomes for their communities," mayor Kylie Zanker said.
"As a Council, we recognise the community angst and division that mining, renewable energy, and transmission distribution developments have caused within our Shire and region.
"We respect landholders' rights to negotiate with companies regarding their land use. We also request that our community acknowledges and respects landholders' decisions."