Councillor Matters | Cr Justine Hide, March 20, 2026

Published on 20 March 2026

The Victorian Government has set ambitious targets of achieving 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and net‑zero emissions by 2045. These decisions are made solely at state level; consequently, Northern Grampians Shire Council has no decision‑making authority over the design or approval of the related projects, even as many in our community raise legitimate concerns. 

In preparation for this possible protectory for the state, as per the Local Government Act 2020, Northern Grampians Shire continues to plan and be prepared for the whole community.  

At our last council meeting, the council approved the endorsement of the document: Resource Ready: North-Western Victoria Energy & Mining Impact & Readiness Strategy. The final report was prepared for nine councils across north-western Victoria in response to the unprecedented scale of proposed renewable energy, transmission and mining projects in the region. 

The Study Area covers approximately 26 per cent of Victoria, which is a significant volume of the state, proving the seriousness of this topic with nine councils all working together.  

The study area includes two Renewable Energy Zones, major proposed transmission upgrades (including VNI West), 33 renewable energy projects, and 22 mining projects. Together, these projects represent an estimated $27.7 billion in capital investment and could support about 9000 construction jobs (phased over time) and approximately 2300 ongoing operational roles. 

However, the strategy also highlights serious readiness risks, particularly in housing availability, labour shortages, pressure on roads and infrastructure, competition for water and materials, impacts on agriculture, and limited local government resourcing.  

The region already experiences low rental vacancy rates, workforce constraints and ageing demographics, meaning the influx of major projects could strain existing systems without coordinated planning. 

Importantly, the strategy does not assess whether individual projects should proceed. Instead, it provides a regional framework to help councils prepare for cumulative impacts and advocate for better outcomes. 

Eight priority readiness themes are identified, including community engagement, housing, labour force development, infrastructure upgrades, agricultural protection, economic participation, managing competition for resources and strengthening local government capacity. 

Overall, the strategy calls for stronger state and federal government partnership, coordinated regional planning and targeted investment to ensure the energy and mining transition delivers lasting benefits for local communities while managing potential risks. 

I just want to say, this strategy does not signal an endorsement of the proposed projects. Doing this work is about the nine councils in the study zone fulfilling our roles in planning and preparing for the community should these projects proceed.  

Although you may not see or hear us councillors talking about transmission lines and renewable energy every day, I can ensure you this subject remains front and centre to much of our working week, as it does with council staff. If you would like to read the study, you can find it on council’s website, www.ngshire.vic.gov.au.