Wellington Shire Council continues to prioritise the community’s views in its considerations of renewable energy and transmission options.
In line with the findings of the Wellington Renewable Energy Impact and Readiness Study, published 23 March 2023, Council has outlined its support for the transition to renewable energy within Wellington Shire. This support relies on thorough consultation with the Wellington community and adherence to all statutory approval processes for individual projects.
Council’s position statement on renewable energy recognises the need to integrate new onshore transmission lines into the Latrobe Valley electricity network. It is also committed to working closely with the Victorian Government to ensure that any expansion to the electricity network is well-coordinated and aimed at preventing what could end up as a chaotic ‘spaghetti effect’ in transmission infrastructure.
While there is an urgency to expand the existing transmission network, Council understands that with estimates, a need for up to 12GW of additional transmission capacity to support the region’s renewable energy goals, planning the routes through Wellington, and Gippsland more broadly, is critical.
