Western Victoria is emerging as an important renewable energy-generation region.
The resulting challenge we all face is the existing transmission infrastructure, through which this increasing amount of renewable power can travel, is not adequate. It’s a challenge that, with your understanding and involvement, the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project is rising to meet.
As we work to deliver this critical piece of infrastructure, we are committed to keeping you informed of progress throughout and just as importantly, to hearing directly from you.
The first piece of news we’re keen to share with you is that our project website www.westernrenewableslink.com.au is now live. Visit the website to find out more about the project and complete a simple survey to help us understand your engagement and communication preferences.
We had hoped to be meeting with you in person by now to discuss the project as well as planning and environmental matters, however social distancing requirements brought about by COVID-19 circumstances have of course altered those plans.
We have now moved our engagement to an online model but are conscious that not everyone has ready access to the internet and our digital platforms, so we also have telephone and alternative engagement channels available.
In addition to working with you through the engagement channels available, we’re also maintaining our focus on the environment and respecting both cultural and historic heritage. We’re engaging with indigenous and heritage stakeholders and will share the outcomes from those conversations with you in future updates.
Your input is vital to the project. We want to understand what is important to you; this will help us to maximise potential community benefits as well as identify and minimise potential project impacts.
We will continue to follow directives from the Victorian Chief Health Officer in relation to COVID-19 and would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families well in this challenging time.
We are looking forward to working with you to achieve this important infrastructure project that will involve major economic investment in western Victoria, creating new jobs during and after construction, as well as supporting Victoria's move towards a cleaner energy future.