Submission to VicGrid

Published Thursday, 22nd August 2024

South Gippsland Shire Council has developed a submission to VicGrid's draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines.

The submission highlights Council's support for renewable energy development in principle, but recognises the changing energy landscape. However, Council's support is measured, considering the need to limit negative impacts on our nationally-significant agricultural and tourism land, especially the impacts to our economy, local character, natural landscape, culture and environment.

The submission also includes:

• Feedback to VicGrid to ensure there is an easy to follow and coherent narrative to bring community and industry along on this journey.
• Council's commitment to working collaboratively with government, and genuine engagement and partnership with the community.
• Objectives identified from the Council Plan, Community Vision and Council's Economic Development Strategy.
• Council's position and response to the October 2022 Australian Government declaration of offshore wind investigation in Bass Strait.
• The objectives identified from Council's recently adopted Renewable Energy Impact and Readiness Study.
• South Gippsland Planning Scheme - recognition on significance of agricultural land in the Scheme and reference issues with housing and turbine proximity to dwellings in the Farming Zone (1 kilometre buffer).
• Economic data related to the value of agriculture.
• Council's advocacy priority related to local ports and application to the Australian Government's Regional Precincts and Partnership Program.
• Acknowledge and reflect points made from recent submissions.

You can read Council's submission here.