The Western Renewables Link is subject to an Environment Effects Statement (EES) process, the most rigorous environmental impact assessment process in Victoria.
The EES process is administered by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), formerly 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 assess the potential environmental effects of the project and investigate feasible alternative project designs, alignments and other aspects within scope to avoid and minimise adverse environmental effects, as per the scoping requirements.
The Minister's assessment is the final step in the EES process and informs whether approvals should be granted by decision-makers (such as Ministers and statutory authorities) and what conditions should apply.
More information can be found on our EES Overview page.
An important part of the Western Renewables Link is ongoing engagement with communities and landowners. Community input is critical to all major projects to ensure that all potential impacts and opportunities are considered in the planning, approvals, and design phases.
A planning scheme amendment is proposed as the primary planning approval for the Western Renewables Link.
The Draft Planning Scheme Amendment will be displayed with the Environment Effects Statement for public comment.
More information can be found in our Draft planning amendment scheme fact sheet.
Should the project be approved, several other secondary approvals may be required including:
Decisions about whether to grant those approvals may only be made after the respective decision-makers have considered the Minister’s assessment, which is the final outcome of the EES process.
Cultural Heritage Management Plans will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 to investigate the potential impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage and identify how heritage can be best protected. This will be done together with Traditional Owners groups, Registered Aboriginal Parties and First Peoples - State Relations.
The Commonwealth Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has confirmed that the project is a ‘controlled action’ and will require assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. 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.