General News
7 March, 2026
Group wants planning ahead of projects worth $27.7B
The impacts of proposed projects cross multiple council boundaries, making a co-ordinated, joint advocacy approach both practical and necessary.
REGIONAL councils will use upcoming meetings to consider a report which calls for proper investment and due diligence from the state and federal governments to ensure communities are prepared for major energy, transmission and mining projects.
The Wimmera, Southern Mallee Council Alliance is a group of nine Councils, including Northern Grampians and Buloke, that commissioned “Resource Ready: North-Western Victoria Energy & Mining Impact and Readiness Strategy” to fully understand the type and nature of economic impacts the region could soon experience.
The impacts of proposed projects cross multiple council boundaries, making a co-ordinated, joint advocacy approach both practical and necessary.
“Our council has strongly supported our farming community over the last three years in respect of their serious concerns about the renewables rollout,” Northern Grampians Shire Council deputy mayor Cr Justine Hide said.
“We have also helped to initiate this impact and readiness strategy in order to meet our other obligations as a Council to plan for major economic change.”
Residents in Northern Grampians and Buloke shire areas are being affected by the VNI West transmission line project, a proposed 500 kV double-circuit transmission line that will connect Victoria and New South Wales. According to Mallee MP Anne Webster, there are 54 properties in Buloke and 78 properties in Northern Grampians potentially impacted by the project, however, the exact number of properties affected in the Northern Grampians Shire is not specified in the available information.
“We’re committed to making sure our community is ready for the opportunities and challenges these projects bring,” Buloke Shire Council mayor Graeme Milne said.
“Proper planning and investment will help us build a stronger future together.”
The report has identified potential opportunities, including thousands of construction and ongoing jobs, as well as potential challenges such as further compounding the housing crisis, pressure on council‑owned assets including roads, limited investment in key services like health, education and childcare, and impacts on farming.
The strategy proposes 44 evidence-based actions across eight priority themes, including community readiness, infrastructure development, housing solutions, workforce planning, and agricultural sector protection.
These have been mapped to responsible departments within the state government and include Prepare an agriculture impact assessment of mining and energy projects bespoke to the Northwest study area, taking into account the advantages and specialisations of the region and the potential for any cumulative impacts of major projects.
The alliance is calling on state and federal governments to fund the recommendations in the report and work collaboratively to ensure they are effectively implemented.
Some WSCA members have passed resolutions about specific transmission, renewable or mining projects or proposed renewable energy zones, and this does not conflict with endorsing the “Resource Ready” Strategy.
Endorsement of the strategy doesn’t indicate support or opposition for a particular project, but reflects councils’ role in planning and preparing communities.
Read More: Local