Council opposes proposed Renewable Energy Zone in Northern Grampians

Published on 23 July 2025

Northern Grampians Shire Council will advocate against the introduction of a proposed Renewable Energy Zone in the municipality following a vote at an unscheduled council meeting on Monday, July 21. 

Cr Murray Emerson presented a Notice of Motion at the meeting, moving: 

That council opposes the introduction of the proposed Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) for the Northern Grampians Shire region and continue to: 

  1. Advocate against the introduction of a Renewable Energy Zone in its current form, which encompasses extensive areas of prime farming land and

  2. Advocate for the rights of occupants to be in charge of their own destiny. 

In May this year, VicGrid published the draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan for community consultation.  

The draft plan identifies proposed Renewable Energy Zones for Victoria, as well as the transmission projects the State Government believes are needed in the next 15 years to ‘deliver reliable and affordable power to Victorians’. 

The draft plan includes a Grampians Wimmera Renewable Energy Zone, which is almost entirely within Northern Grampians Shire. 

The motion was carried, and the council is advising VicGrid of its resolution on the proposed REZ, ahead of the finalisation of the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan. 

People can find more information, including a copy of the draft plan, here

A livestream of the meeting is available online, via the council’s YouTube channel here.

 

 

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