Hepburn Shire Council has reiterated its strong opposition to the Western Renewables Link (WRL), lodging a detailed submission to the Environmental Effects Statement and confirming it will present expert evidence at upcoming hearings.

The WRL is a major electricity transmission project designed to connect new renewable energy generation in western Victoria to the state’s power grid. Advocates for the project argue that additional transmission infrastructure is critical to reducing Victoria’s reliance on fossil fuels and meeting state and national climate targets.

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said Council would continue to oppose the current proposal, which would see 80-metre-high transmission towers constructed through the Shire. “Our prime agricultural land, which forms part of the Central Highlands food bowl, cannot be overrun with these towers,” Cr Henderson said. “For around four years, Council has fought to deter the AusNet Transmission Group’s plans, and we will not be backing down any time soon.”

Vicki Johnson, a member of Council’s Western Renewables Link Community Working Group, said the collaboration between Council and community members had been vital. “The adverse social and economic impacts from WRL will be far-reaching, causing a range of serious effects on the Shire’s biodiversity, visitor economy, sensitive landscapes, cultural heritage, bushfire management, and the long-term viability of agricultural land,” she said.

Council has consistently opposed the project’s proposed route and above-ground design since 2021, citing concerns about impacts on agriculture, tourism, land values, and mental health. However, Council has not proposed or costed alternative routes or technologies, such as undergrounding the lines, leaving open the question of how best to deliver transmission infrastructure that will enable the transition to renewable energy.

Supporters of the WRL say that new transmission lines are needed to connect wind and solar farms to the grid and help Victoria achieve its renewable energy targets. They argue that projects like WRL are essential to address climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and secure reliable electricity supply into the future.

Council is calling on the Victorian Government to consider the full impacts of the project before making a final decision. Its submission and related documents are available on the Western Renewables Link project page on Participate Hepburn.

This article is based on a media release for Hepburn Shire Council.