Delivering clean and affordable energy to Victorians shouldn’t come at our expense
Consisting of solar and wind farms, the Renewable Energy Zone in western Victoria is being developed to generate clean and affordable energy. The transmission of that renewable energy to customers in Melbourne is to be delivered by AusNet’s Western Renewables Link (WRL).
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Western Renewables Link (image source https://www.westvictnp.com.au) - not to scale
Western Renewables Link (image source https://www.westvictnp.com.au)
In 2019, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) selected AusNet Services, through its commercial arm Mondo to deliver the WRLP.
Construction of the WRL is to commence in 2023 and completion is planned for 2025
Western Renewables Link (image source https://www.westvictnp.com.au)
The importance of the Environment Effects Statement
The WRL is subject to an Environment Effects Statement (EES), the most rigorous environmental impact assessment process in Victoria.
The EES process is administered by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) on behalf of Victoria’s Minister for Planning under the Environment Effects Act 1978.
The purpose of the EES is to ensure that major projects are designed, constructed and operated to minimise adverse environmental and community impacts.
The EES gives decision-makers (such as Ministers and statutory authorities) the information they need to determine whether approvals should be granted and what conditions should apply.
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Go to: www.westvictnp.com.au/planning-and-approvals/
Commonwealth approval
The Commonwealth has determined that it will use the bilateral assessment agreement and rely on the Victorian Government’s assessment process (EES) to inform an approval decision under the EPBC Act 1999.