South Gippsland Shire Council map showing the density of rural dwellings.
South Gippsland Shire Council has voiced concerns over the potential impacts of renewable energy projects on the region’s rural landscape, agricultural productivity, and community wellbeing. In a recent submission to VicGrid’s Draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, the council highlighted the need for a more balanced and collaborative approach to renewable energy development.
These concerns come in response to VicGrid’s Draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, which introduce a new strategic land use assessment process for electricity system planning in Victoria.
VicGrid’s assessment aims to identify areas for potential future renewable energy development. The resulting study area indicates parts of Victoria that could host new energy system infrastructure, including wind and solar generation and supporting transmission lines.
Within this study area, VicGrid has categorised land into three tiers to prioritise investigations for renewable energy zones and transmission. Tier 1 areas, which are being prioritised for investigation, are characterised by high opportunities and low constraints for wind and solar development. Much of the South Gippsland area is rated as Tier 2, with a few areas noted as Tier 1.
The council’s submission supports renewable energy in principle, and recognises the changing energy landscape and the region’s natural advantages for wind energy facilities.
However, it is urging consideration of “the need to limit negative impacts on nationally significant agricultural and tourism land uses, especially if these impacts affect the economy, local character, natural landscape, culture, and environment.”
The submission reveals a complex set of challenges faced by South Gippsland. With over 1,500 agricultural businesses – more than any other Local Government Area in Victoria – the region contributes over $1 billion annually to the shire’s economy through agriculture and forestry. This economic significance is coupled with a high density of rural dwellings, with approximately 50% of residents living outside township centres.
A key concern raised in the submission is the proximity rule for wind turbines, which requires new installations to be at least one kilometre from existing dwellings. A map provided by the council illustrates the limited space available for wind farm development without landowner consent, given the region’s dispersed rural population.
The council’s submission also highlights a perceived lack of community engagement in the planning process. “The release of the Draft Guidelines and associated Study Area Map has created unnecessary angst and concern among the community,” the submission states. The council is calling for more inclusive and extensive community consultation, emphasising the need for rural and regional communities to be fully informed and involved in the development process.
The submission also raises concerns about the potential strain on local infrastructure, particularly roads, due to increased heavy vehicle traffic during construction and maintenance of renewable energy projects. The council is advocating for additional funding to manage these impacts.
As Victoria pushes towards its renewable energy targets, including 9GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, the South Gippsland case underscores the complex challenges faced by rural communities. Pubic submissions to the Developing the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan are open until 30 September at https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/victransmissionplan/participate Cara Schultz
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