FAQs

In selecting the proposed route, the feedback and concerns of landholders, the community and other stakeholders has helped shape the project's design and planning.

The route selection criteria are designed to avoid environmental, social and cultural impacts of the project, specific to the area, landholders and communities. Where impacts are unavoidable, the aim is to minimise the impact of the Western Renewables Link as far as practicable.

At the public hearing, the Independent Advisory Committee will consider the exhibited Environment Effects Statement (EES) and draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA), all submissions and evidence, the views of Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties, and any other relevant information before making recommendations to the Minister in a report. The Minister will then determine whether the environmental effects of the project can be acceptably managed, or whether major modifications and/or further investigations are needed to achieve acceptable environmental outcomes.

The Minister’s assessment may conclude that:
• a project would have an acceptable level of environmental effects, with regard to overall project outcomes;
• a project would have an unacceptable level of environmental effects; or
• a project would need major modifications and/or further investigations to establish that an acceptable level of environmental outcomes would be achieved. In this situation, a further assessment process may be required.

If the Minister’s assessment of the EES concludes that the environmental effects of the project can be acceptably managed, AusNet will then ask the Minister to prepare, adopt and approve the amendment consistent with the Minister’s assessment, without further formal notice, under Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic).